Nutritional restriction of ewes during late gestation compromises foetal and post natal metabolite provision

Abstract

Metabolic adaptation to nutritional restriction during late gestation, in twenty twin-bearing adult Shropshire ewes, was studied. During the last 6 weeks pre-partum, ewes were fed either a low (L) or high (H) energy diet, and all received the H diet post-partum. Nutritional restriction during late gestation resulted in a more catabolic and ketogenic state of the ewe, with birth weights of the lambs being substantially reduced. Moreover milk yield was also reduced as a consequence of the period of nutritional restriction indicating that mammary development was affected.