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. 2021 Nov 17;11(11):3292.
doi: 10.3390/ani11113292.

Effects of the Physiological Status and Diet on Blood Metabolic Parameters in Amiata Dairy Donkeys

Federica Salari  1 , Cristina Roncoroni  2 , Iolanda Altomonte  3 , Carlo Boselli  2 , Giovanni Brajon  4 , Mina Martini  1   5
Affiliations

Effects of the Physiological Status and Diet on Blood Metabolic Parameters in Amiata Dairy Donkeys

Federica Salari et al. Animals (Basel). .

Abstract

Body weight changes and blood metabolic parameters in jennies feeding two different diets and in three physiological statuses were investigated (maintenance vs. pregnancy; maintenance vs. lactation). The relationships between blood metabolic profile and milk quality were also evaluated. Fourteen jennies were allocated to two groups (1: pregnant/lactating; 2: non-pregnant, non-lactating). Pregnant jennies and maintenance jennies (during the first 10-week measurement period) fed a diet consisted of ad libitum grass hay (diet 1); lactating jennies and maintenance jennies (during the last 10-week measurement period) fed ad libitum grass hay plus 2 kg/head/day of concentrate (diet 2). Blood sampling was performed on the jennies of both groups; individual milk samples were also collected during the first 70 days in milk. Higher blood NEFA (p < 0.05) were found in pregnant compared to maintenance jennies (diet 1) (68 vs. 37 μmol/L). Lactating jennies showed higher (p < 0.01) average blood NEFA (268 vs. 26 μmol/L) and glucose (66 vs. 55 mg/dL) compared to the maintenance (diet 2). Blood glucose was positively correlated to milk fat (p < 0.05), while negative significant correlations between de novo milk fatty acids and NEFAs were observed. Positive correlations between plasma B-HBA and somatic cell count (p < 0.01) were also found.

Keywords: B-HBA; NEFA; blood urea nitrogen; donkey feeding; jenny; lactation; milk fatty acid; milk quality; pregnancy; somatic cell count.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Trend of the blood metabolic parameters evaluated in the lactation and maintenance jennies fed with Diet 2. A,B,C,D = p < 0.01 Abbreviations: BUN: blood urea nitrogen; NEFA = Non Esterified Fatty Acid; B-HBA: Beta-Hydroxybutyrate.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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