Associations of feed efficiency with circulating IGF-1 and leptin, carcass traits and meat quality of lambs.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of feed efficiency classifications on live animal measurements, circulating IGF-1 and leptin concentrations, and carcass, non-carcass and meat quality traits of lambs. One-hundred and two lambs approximately 70 days-old with initial live weight of 24.6 ± 3.

Flaxseed Oil or n-7 Fatty Acid-Enhanced Fish Oil Supplementation Alters Fatty Acid Composition, Plasma Insulin and Serum Ceramide Concentrations, and Gene Expression in Lambs.

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of flaxseed (FLAX) oil or 16-carbon n-7 fatty acid -enhanced fish oil (Provinal; POA) supplementation on serum, liver and skeletal muscle fatty acid concentrations, serum ceramide and plasma insulin concentrations, and gene expression. Lambs [n = 18; 42 ± 5.6 kg body weight (BW); 7 months] were individually fed one of the three treatments: (1) control (CON), no oil supplement, (2) FLAX; at 0.

Ovarian follicular development, hormonal and metabolic profile in prepubertal ewe lambs with moderate dietary restriction and lipid supplementation.

To evaluate the effects of moderate dietary restriction and lipid supplementation on ovarian follicular development, hormonal and metabolic profile, thirty-five prepuberal ewe lambs were blocked by body weight and randomly assigned to treatments: ALUS (control) - unsupplemented-diet ad libitum (3.5% ether extract, n = 9); R-US - intake restricted to 85% of the ALUS diet (n = 9); AL-LS - lipid-supplemented-diet ad libitum (9.8% ether extract, n = 8); R-LS - intake restricted to 85% of the ALLS diet (n = 9), from 95 ± 8 days of age until estrus or 7 months of age.

Manipulation of Omega-3 PUFAs in Lamb: Phenotypic and Genotypic Views.

A number of studies have shown that dietary omega-6 and omega-3 long-chain fatty acids can be incorporated into muscle tissue of ruminants despite the biohydrogenation of dietary fatty acids in the rumen. The main focus of this review is on eicosapentaenoic (20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic (22:6n-3) fatty acids because health authorities around the world consider the sum of these fatty acids as the basis of classifying a food as a source or good source of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). A high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids are hydrogenated in the rumen, leading to a higher concentration of 18:0, but some escapes the rumen to be absorbed intact by the small intestine.

Colostrum composition of Santa Inês sheep and passive transfer of immunity to lambs.

This study aimed to analyze the chemical composition and the IgG concentration of the colostrum, transitional milk, and mature milk of Santa Inês ewes as well as the transfer of passive immunity to lambs. Thirty-two pregnant ewes and 38 lambs were used. Ewes were milked immediately after lambing and at 12, 24, 36 h and 10 d postpartum.