Nutritional, physiological, and behavioral effects of confinement on lambs
Date
1995
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Texas A&M University
Abstract
Forty 8-mo-old Rambouillet wethers were blocked by weight and temperament and randomly assigned to one of four treatments (n = 10 per treatment): housed in metabolism crates and fed a complete feed restricted to 3% of BW (CR); group-housed in a pen and fed a complete feed restricted to 3% of BW (GR); group-housed in the same pen as GR but allowed to consume a complete feed on an ad libitum basis (GA); and housed on pasture and allowed to consume a complete feed on an ad libitum basis (PA). The CR, GR, and GA lambs were fitted with spandex elimination-collection suits on d 1 of the study followed by a 5-d adaption period. Urine and fecal samples were collected at 0600, 1200, 1800, and 2400 on d 6 through d 10. Blood samples (7 ml) were collected at 1200 h by jugular venipuncture on d 0, immediately prior to being placed into treatments, and on d 2, 4, 6, and 8. On d 12 and d 13 blood samples were taken via jugular cannulae to determine adrenal response to ACTH injection. After 3 "basal" blood samples were drawn at-30,-15 and 0 min, ACTH was administered at the rate of 1 IU/kg to each lamb via the cannulae and samples were drawn at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 180, and 240 min. On d 15, lambs were placed in a 9 X 35 m open-field test arena in groups of four (one from each treatment). Nitrogen retention was greater for the GA lambs (P>.06) than for the CR and GR lambs. There were no treatment effects on plasma cortisol concentrations; however, concentrations appeared to be greater in the CR lambs. No treatment differences were found for cortisol response (P>.5) measured as an integrated area. During the 5-min open-field test , CR lambs traveled a greater distance and took more steps than the PA and GR (P<.05), but not the GA lambs.
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Includes bibliographical references.
Issued also on microfiche from Lange Micrographics.
Includes bibliographical references.
Issued also on microfiche from Lange Micrographics.
Keywords
animal science., Major animal science.