Maternal Regulation of Milk Composition, Milk Production, and Pouch Young Development During Lactation in the Tammar Wallaby (Macropus eugenii )1

This is the first study of milk composition in any member of the wallaby genus Thylogale. Milk samples (n = 44) were collected after oxytocin injection from 12 females carrying pouch young aged 2–30 weeks followed by sampling of the mothers until weaning by Week 39. The lactation period could be partitioned into early (Weeks 2–20), mid (Weeks 21–30) and late (>30 weeks) stages. Although milk concentrations changed little during lactation the energy content increased almost 4-fold from 540 ± 39 kJ (100 mL)–1 (mean ± s.e.) to 1908 ± 102 kJ (100 mL)–1. Carbohydrate concentrations decreased from 13.3 ± 0.1 g (100 mL)–1 (early lactation) to 10.9 ± 0.9 g (100 mL)–1 in mid-lactation, falling to 4.8 ± 0.9 g (100 mL)–1 in late lactation. Lipid increased from 6.3 ± 1.1 g (100 mL)–1 to 12.5 ± 4.1 g (100 mL)–1, reaching 31.4 ± 5.0 g (100 mL)–1 in late lactation. Protein increased from 3.3 ± 0.1 g (100 mL)–1 to 9.7 ± 1.6 g (100 mL)–1 in mid-lactation to 14.0 ± 1.5 g (100 mL)–1 in late lactation. This relatively high level of lipid and protein in late lactation may be the cause of the more rapid growth and, hence, shorter pouch life of the Tasmanian pademelon (Thylogale billardierii) compared with the well studied tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii).

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Milk Consumption and Energetics of Growth in Pouch Young of the Tammar Wallaby, Macropus-Eugenii

Australian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1071/zo9880217 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 36 (2) ◽

pp. 217 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

B Green ◽

JC Merchant ◽

K Newgrain

Keyword(s):

Milk Production ◽

Energy Content ◽

Post Partum ◽

Growth Efficiency ◽

Mass Gain ◽

Tammar Wallaby ◽

Milk Consumption ◽

Macropus Eugenii ◽

Consumption Rates ◽

Conversion Efficiencies

Milk consumption rates of young tammar wallabies, Macropus eugenii, were measured during the first 32 weeks of lactation by means of 22*Na turnover. Milk consumption rates were low during the first 18 weeks or so of lactation, rising from 1.2 to 9.0 ml d-'. Milk consumption rose to 43 ml d-' at 30 weeks post-partum. Changes in milk consumption were paralleled by increases in the size of mammary glands and weight gain by the sucklings. The mass gain for each millilitre of milk consumed (crude growth efficiency) averaged 0.23 g ml-I during the first 26 weeks of lactation, but then increased to more than 0.35 g ml-'. The increased growth efficiency was associated with massive increases in the lipid and energy content of milk from 26 weeks onwards. The conversion efficiencies of milk protein and energy to body materials were intermediate (55-87%, 23-36%, respectively) to those of other mammals, which suggests that the slow growth of pouch young during the first 17 weeks of lactation is the result of restricted milk production by the mother. Milk production and the growth of young were closely correlated with maternal mass (r=0.96; r=0.80, respectively) at 16 weeks post-partum.

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Marsupial milk: a fluid source of nutrition and immune factors for the developing pouch young

Reproduction Fertility and Development ◽

10.1071/rd18197 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 31 (7) ◽

pp. 1252 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Elizabeth A. Pharo

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Strategy ◽

Tammar Wallaby ◽

Milk Composition ◽

Phase 3 ◽

Fluid Source ◽

Macropus Eugenii ◽

Milk Components ◽

Immunological Factors ◽

Lactation Cycle ◽

Australian Marsupial

Marsupials have a very different reproductive strategy to eutherians. An Australian marsupial, the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) has a very short pregnancy of about 26.5 days, with a comparatively long lactation of 300–350 days. The tammar mother gives birth to an altricial, approximately 400 mg young that spends the first 200 days postpartum (p.p.) in its mother’s pouch, permanently (0–100 days p.p.; Phase 2A) and then intermittently (100–200 days p.p.; Phase 2B) attached to the teat. The beginning of Phase 3 marks the first exit from the pouch (akin to the birth of a precocious eutherian neonate) and the supplementation of milk with herbage. The marsupial mother progressively alters milk composition (proteins, fats and carbohydrates) and individual milk constituents throughout the lactation cycle to provide nutrients and immunological factors that are appropriate for the considerable physiological development and growth of her pouch young. This review explores the changes in tammar milk components that occur during the lactation cycle in conjunction with the development of the young.

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Changes in Milk Composition During Lactation in the Tammar Wallaby (Macropus Eugenii)

Australian Journal of Biological Sciences ◽

10.1071/bi9800035 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 33 (1) ◽

pp. 35 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

B Green ◽

K Newgrain ◽

J Merchant

Keyword(s):

Milk Proteins ◽

Tammar Wallaby ◽

Milk Composition ◽

Total Solids ◽

Macropus Eugenii ◽

Milk Samples ◽

Whole Milk ◽

Sodium And Potassium

Milk samples were obtained at regular intervals throughout lactation from tammar wallabies (M. eugenii). Total solids represented only 12 % (w/w) of the milk at the commencement of lactation and gradually increased to about 40% at 36 weeks. Milk proteins represented 4% (w/w) of whole milk during the first 18 weeks of lactation, followed by a rapid increase to around 13 % (w/w) at 36 weeks. Sodium and potassium concentrations were high in early samples of milk but declined to minimal values at 30 weeks. The milk was isosmotic to the plasma at all stages.

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Effect of Herbal Galactogogue (Sanjivani biokseera) on Milk Yield and Milk Constituents in Lactating Kankrej Cattle at Organised Farm

THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCES AND BIOTECHNOLOGY ◽

10.21887/ijvsbt.15.2.10 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 15 (02) ◽

pp. 39-41

Author(s):

H H Panchasara ◽

A B Chaudhari ◽

D A Patel ◽

Y M Gami ◽

M P Patel

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Milk Production ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Milk Composition ◽

Nutritional Requirements ◽

Not Given ◽

Distinct Effect ◽

Lactating Dairy Cows ◽

Group I ◽

Effect Of Feeding

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding herbal galactogogue preparation (Sanjivani biokseera) on the milk yield and milk constituents in lactating Kankrej cows. Thirty-two lactating Kankrej cows in their 1st to 6th lactation were taken for the experiment from 3 days after calving up to 52 days postpartum. All the animals were fed as per the standard seasonally available roughages and concentrates to meet their nutritional requirements. The cows were randomly divided into two uniform groups of 16 cows in each according to initial milk yield and milk composition. The animals in group-I were not given any supplement and served as control. The animals in group-II were given Sanjivani biokseera (Naturewell Industries) @ 60 g per day for 1-month, commencing 3 days after calving, in addition to the usual feeds/fodders. A clear difference was observed in milk yield from day 8 onward of experiment between groups with significant (plessthan0 0.05) higher values from day 16-52 in cows fed herbal galactogogue as compared to control, but no such distinct effect on milk constituents was observed on day 52 when analyzed. The use of herbal galactogogue significantly (p lessthan 0.05) increased the overall average of 52 days milk production, which was 9.34 ± 0.21 lit/day in supplemented as compared to 7.75 ± 0.26 lit/day in control animals. It was concluded that herbal galactogogue (Sanjivani biokseera) could increase milk yield in lactating dairy cows through its galactopoetic property and improved rumen environment.

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HIGH MOISTURE GROUND EAR CORN, HIGH MOISTURE BARLEY OR SODIUM HYDROXIDE TREATED BARLEY FOR LACTATING COWS: MILK PRODUCTION AND RATION UTILIZATION

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4141/cjas83-018 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 63 (1) ◽

pp. 155-162 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

L. KUNG Jr. ◽

B. W. JESSE ◽

J. W. THOMAS ◽

J. T. HUBER ◽

R. S. EMERY

Keyword(s):

Sodium Hydroxide ◽

Key Words ◽

Milk Production ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Milk Composition ◽

Dry Matter Intake ◽

High Moisture ◽

Acid Detergent Fiber ◽

Lactating Cows ◽

Fecal Ph

Whole barley was treated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) in laboratory trials. Dry matter disappearance from nylon bags in the rumen of whole barley treated with 2.5, 3.5, or 4.9% NaOH for 30 h was 59.6, 72.4, and 93.0%, respectively, compared with 82.2% for untreated ground barley. In a subsequent lactation trial, 24 Holstein cows (eight per treatment) were fed high moisture ground ear corn, high moisture rolled barley or high moisture whole barley treated with 3.5% NaOH. Milk persistencies tended to be greater for cows fed high moisture rolled barley, next for ground ear corn and least for NaOH-treated barley. Milk composition was similar for all treatments. Dry matter intake was greatest for cows fed ground ear corn and lower for those fed the barley diets. Alpha-linked glucose and pH of feces were similar for cows fed ground ear corn and high moisture rolled barley diets, but fecal pH was lower and alpha-linked glucose concentrations three times greater for NaOH-treated barley. Digestibility percents of dry matter, acid detergent fiber and nitrogen were 61.4, 25.3, 64.7 for ground ear corn; 64.4, 38.0, 67.1 for high moisture rolled barley; and 56.8, 43.2, 54.8 for NaOH-treated barley, respectively. Rumen grain turnover estimated by excretion of ytterbium in feces was greatest for NaOH-treated barley (9.09%/h), intermediate for ground ear corn (6.10%/h) and lowest for high moisture rolled barley (4.93%/h). Key words: Dairy, sodium hydroxide, high moisture grains

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