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Effect of parity and physiological state on intake, milk production and blood parameters in lactating mares differing in body size

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

M. Doreau ,
S. Boulot  and
W. Martin-Rosset
M. Doreau
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de la Lactation et de l'Elevage des Ruminants, INRA Theix, 63122 St-Genes-Champanelle, France
S. Boulot
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de la Lactation et de l'Elevage des Ruminants, INRA Theix, 63122 St-Genes-Champanelle, France
W. Martin-Rosset
Affiliation:
Unité de Recherches sur le Cheval, INRA Theix, 63122 St-Genes-Champanelle, France
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Abstract

Voluntary food intake, milk production and blood characteristics were measured in mares between the 3rd month before foaling and the first 5 weeks of lactation. The effect of breed during pregnancy was determined using 15 light mares and eight heavy mares (522 and 763 kg live weight (LW) after foaling respectively). The effect of parity was studied on light mares (seven were primiparous and eight were multiparous). In lactation, only four primiparous and four multiparous light mares were retained. Diet consisted of 900 g hay and 100 g concentrates per kg and was offered ad libitum. Voluntary food intake in pregnancy was higher for heavy mares than for light mares: 15·2 v. 10·3 kg dry matter (DM) daily. This difference was explained by differences in LW, since DM intake was the same when expressed as a fraction of LW or metabolic weight (M). Energy and nitrogen supply exceeded requirements, in the same way for light and heavy mares. No significant variations in blood measurements were observed between light and heavy mares, except for glucose. Primiparous mares ate less DM than multiparous mares in pregnancy: 9·7 v. 10·8 kg DM (P > 0·05), significantly so relative to LW and M. DM intake per kg LW or M depended on the parity. This difference had no effect on blood measurements, except for acetate. During lactation, no other differences in voluntary food intake were observed with regard to parity, whatever the week of lactation. Milk yield was higher for multiparous mares than for primiparous mares (16·6 v. 14·6 kg daily). Gross energy of milk varied according to a similar pattern, principally because of variations in fat concentration (20·2 v. 16·5 g/kg for multiparous and primiparous mares respectively). Energy balance was significantly more positive for multiparous than for primiparous mares.

Keywords

blood compositionfood intakemaresmilk production
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 53 , Issue 1 , August 1991 , pp. 111 - 118
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1991

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