Effect of the Level of Animal Fat in the Diet on the Maintenance, Reproduction and Lactation Performance of Dogs

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Abstract
The maintenance, reproduction and lactation performances of Cocker Spaniel dogs fed since weaning a basal ration either with or without the addition of 4 or 8% fat (anti-oxidant stabilized choice white grease) or 18% sucrose were observed. The addition of 4 or 8% fat or 18% sucrose increased the efficiency of the ration for maintenance of the females prior to breeding. The reproduction performance of bitches fed the basal ration plus 4% added fat was somewhat better than the performance of bitches fed the basal ration. The addition of 8% fat to the basal ration appeared to reduce the reproductive capacity of the bitches as judged by the number of pups dead 24 hours after birth, and the weight of the pups at birth, although this result may be due in part to the larger number of pups born per litter for this group. The reproduction capacity of bitches fed 18% added sucrose was poor. The average rate of gain of pups from bitches fed 4% added fat was higher than any of the other groups tested. This difference was primarily due to greater weight gains in the second litter for this group as compared to those for the basal ration, and was statistically significant. The average rate of gain of pups from bitches fed 8% added fat or 18% added sucrose was slightly less than that for pups from bitches fed the basal ration. The addition of 4 or 8% fat to the basal ration increased the average food and calorie efficiencies of the lactating bitches when compared to the basal ration. On the basis of all criteria used, the results obtained were excellent when 4% animal fat was added to the basal diet.

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