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Changes in protein supply rapidly affect immunity to nematodes in lactating ewes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2017

J.G.M. Houdijk*
Affiliation:
Animal Nutrition and Health Department, Scottish Agricultural College, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK
I. Kyriazakis
Affiliation:
Animal Nutrition and Health Department, Scottish Agricultural College, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK
F. Jackson
Affiliation:
Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik EH26 0PZ, UK
R.L. Coop
Affiliation:
Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik EH26 0PZ, UK
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Extract

There is an increasing body of evidence to support the view that the periparturient breakdown of immunity to parasites has a nutritional basis; an increased supply of metabolizable protein (MP), at times of MP scarcity, would reduce abomasal nematode egg excretion and worm burdens in periparturient ewes (Houdijk et al., 2001). It has been suggested that an increased MP supply may rapidly improve expression of immunity to gastrointestinal nematodes; immunity improved within one week when the MP demand of lactating ewes was reduced, at times of MP scarcity (Houdijk et al., 2003). Here, it was assessed if changes in MP supply can result in similarly rapid changes.

Type
Theatre Presentations
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 2004

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References

AFRC, 1993. Energy and protein requirements of ruminants. CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon, England.Google Scholar
Houdijk, J.G.M., Jessop, N.S. and Kyriazakis, I. 2001. Nutrient partitioning between reproductive and immune functions in animals. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 60: 515525.Google Scholar
Houdijk, J.G.M., Kyriazakis, I., Jackson, F. and Coop, R.L. 2003. Reducing the degree of protein scarcity rapidly increases immunity to nematodes in ewes. Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science; 30.Google Scholar