The biochemical assessment of energy status in the grazing lactating ruminant

E. Payne, T.E. Trigg, P.V. Rattray and G.B. Nicoll, D.C. Smeaton

Ruakura Animal Research Station, Hamilton and Whatawhata Hill Country Research Station, Hamilton

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1979, 39: 233-241

It was found that the ratio of oleic acid to decanoic acid was remarkably constant for fully fed cattle and was rather similar for sheep with a value of 5 to 7. Increases in the mean ratio for groups of ruminants into the range of 10 to 20 were indicative of tissue fat mobilization due to inadequate energy intake. The variability in individual values of the ratio was too great to permit individual assessment. The ratio changes within a week of change in intake in cattle, thus indicating at an early stage the likelihood of loss of body weight occurring in a particular situation, but this may not be operative in ruminants already in a depleted condition.

Keywords: NZSAPAB;