Kidney Fat Indices Research Articles

Food or rut: contrasting seasonal patterns in fat deposition between males and females of northern and southern sika deer populations in Japan

Abstract Overwintering is important for the survival of northern mammals, and northern ungulates deposit body fat. Researchers have interpreted fat deposition as an adaptation to food shortages during winter. However, it is likely that reproductive activities also affect fat deposition. We compared kidney fat indices (KFIs) of sika deer (Cervus nippon) between the northern and southern populations in Japan. In the northern population, the KFIs of adult males and females peaked during summer and autumn, respectively. In adult males, the KFIs abruptly declined during the rut (October), while in yearling males and fawns, they were low in summer. In the southern population, KFIs of adult males were high in summer but decreased in October. KFIs of adult females were low and increased in December–January. KFIs of fawns were low. These results suggest that most classes of the southern population did not deposit much fat during the summer except for adult males. The result that southern adult males displayed as much fat deposition as the northern males suggests that body fat was deposited not only for overwintering but also for reproductive activity of adult males.

Growth, haematology and serum biochemistry of albino rat fed diet containing raw and thermally processed Loofah Gourd (Luffa cylindrica Roem) seed meals

The competition for food and feed arising from scarcity of conventional livestock feedstuff has resulted into search for novel feedstuff that is currently not being utilized as food by man. Thus, the present study was carried out to evaluate the nutritional potential of thermally processed loofah gourds seed in rats was evaluated in a 21-day completely randomized design feeding trials. Forty-eight Wistar strain male albino rats of 46.57±0.55g were allotted to four dietary treatments (T1–raw, T2–boiled, T3–cooked and T4–toasted) loofah gourd seed meal (LGSM) with three replicates each. Data collected included feed intake (FI), weight gain (WG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and carcass characteristics. Haematological and serological variables were determined using standard laboratory procedures. Results revealed that thermal processing significantly (P<0.05) reduced FI by 9–13%. Rats fed toasted LGSM had significantly (P<0.05) highest (7.55) weight gain and best (2.31) FCR while rats fed cooked LGSM had significantly (P<0.05) lowest (4.58) WG and worst (3.96) FCR. Dressing percentage, kidney and abdominal fat and serum biochemistry indices were significantly (P<0.05) affected by thermal processing. The study showed that thermal processing of LGSM enhanced growth performance and had no adverse effect on the haematology and serum biochemistry of albino rats.

Lipid metabolism potential and mechanism of CPe-III from chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

The effects of CPe-III on hyperlipidemic mice were investigated, along with molecular docking and dynamics analyses between CPe-III and CETP. This study was conducted in order to explore the lipid metabolism potential and mechanism of CPe-III. CPe-III significantly (P<0.05) reduced serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and hepatic triglyceride levels and increased serum superoxide dismutase activity. CPe-III reversed liver changes induced by a high-fat diet and significantly (P<0.05) reduced kidney and epididymal fat indices. The activities of hepatic lipase and lipoprotein lipase, as well as fecal fat excretion, were significantly (P<0.05) enhanced. Furthermore, CPe-III was found to bind in the cavity of CETP, forming four stable hydrogen bonds. Hydrophobic interactions were the main driving force during binding. This study demonstrates that CPe-III improves dyslipidemia in mice. The binding of CPe-III to CETP demonstrates that CPe-III blocks cholesterol transport. These results indicate that CPe-III may be useful as an adjuvant element for hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis therapies.

Evaluation of local feed resources as alternatives to fish meal in terms of growth performance, feed utilisation and biological indices of striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) fingerlings

A 16-week feeding experiment was conducted to evaluate growth performance, feed utilisation and body indices of striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) fed diets where fish meal protein was replaced with protein from local feed resources. The reference diet contained fish meal as the main crude protein (CP) source, whilst in the six test diets 20 to 100% of the fish meal CP was replaced with CP from local ingredients (soybean meal, cassava leaf meal, sweet potato leaf meal, groundnut cake, golden apple snail meal and shrimp head meal).Final body weight (BW) and total weight gain (WG) were lowest for the cassava leaf meal diet (P<0.05), whilst there were no differences in BW and WG between the other diets. Final BW, WG and daily weight gain were numerically highest for the shrimp head meal diet. Fish survival rate, feed intake, feed utilisation and fish fillet proportion did not differ between the reference diet and the test diets (P>0.05). The viscera-somatic, hepato-somatic, kidney and intra-peritoneal fat indices differed between treatments (P<0.05).The results suggest that fish meal protein in feed for striped catfish fingerlings can be replaced with protein from locally available plant and animal ingredients without compromising growth performance, feed utilisation and carcass traits.

Seasonal body condition indices of mountain reedbuck &lt;i&gt;Redunca fulvorufula&lt;/i&gt; in two areas of South African Highveld: the grassland and Karoo biomes

Mountain reedbuck (Redunca fulvorufula) occupy marginal habitat that is rarely used by cattle. They are fecund, produce good quality meat and have the potential to be cropped commercially. Body condition indices including dressing % (DP), kidney fat indices (KFI), leg fat percentages (LFP) and leg muscle percentages (LMP) were investigated at two nature reserves in the Free State Province, South Africa, to examine seasonal and sexual differences and apply the findings to management decisions. Forty-one animals were shot at Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve (Sterkfontein) during eight separate operations over a twoyear period. Forty-four animals were shot at Tussen die Riviere Nature Reserve (TdR) during three periods. All results reported are for adult animals. At Sterkfontein, DP was lower in spring compared to autumn, KFI were lower in spring than winter, and LFP were lower in spring than winter and autumn. At TdR, KFI in males were lower in summer than winter. Seasonal patterns of body condition were mainly related to seasonal weather patterns and changes in reproductive condition. For effective harvesting, mountain reedbuck should be cropped in autumn and winter. This would give any remaining animals a better chance of surviving the spring period before the rains when grazing conditions are at their worst.

Validating Predictive Models of Nutritional Condition for Mule Deer

Abstract: We developed new, and validated existing, indices of nutritional condition for live and dead mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). Live animal indices included a body condition score (BCS), thickness of subcutaneous fat and selected muscles using ultrasonography, and body mass. Dead animal indices included femur, metatarsal, and mandible marrow fat, 3 kidney fat indices, and 2 carcass scoring methods. We used 21 female deer and 4 castrates (1‐11 yr old) varying widely in nutritional condition (2‐28% ingesta‐free body fat). Deer were euthanized and homogenized for chemical analysis of fat, protein, water, and ash content. Estimates of fat and gross energy (GE) were regressed against each condition indicator using regression. Subcutaneous fat thickness, a rump BCS, and rLIVINDEX (an arithmetic combination of subcutaneous fat thickness and the rump BCS) were most related to condition for live animals (r2 ≥ 0.87, P &lt; 0.001) whereas the Kistner score and kidney fat were most related to fat and GE for dead animals (r2 ≥ 0.77, P &lt; 0.001). We also evaluated range of usefulness and sensitivity to small changes in body condition for all models. In general, indices with moderate or highly curvilinear statistical relations to body fat or those based on only one fat depot or a small number of ranking scores will have limitations in their use. Our results identify robust tools for a variety of research and monitoring designs useful for evaluating nutrition's effect on mule deer populations.

Bone marrow and kidney fat indices in male and female (gravid and non-gravid) springbok in the Northern Cape

Kidney Fat Index (KFI) is the most used indicator of body condition for African ungulates and regarded most reliable. The possible use of Metatarsus Marrow Dry Weight (MMDW) as an alternative for KFI and femur marrow dry weight as indices of body condition for Antidorcas marsupialis (springbok) was investigated in this study. The KFI of males was lower than that of both non-gravid and gravid females. Non-gravid females had a KFI lower than that of gravid females. In non-gravid females the MMDW was lower than that of males as well as gravid females. For gravid females the MMDW was higher than that of non-gravid females. It can be reasoned that MMDW is less sensitive than KFI to variations in body condition, but it is reasonably sensitive for pregnancy. The possible use of MMDW as an indicator of body condition is important due to the unreliable availability of kidneys and kidney fat, as well as femur bones.

Development of Predictive Models of Nutritional Condition for Rocky Mountain Elk

Despite its preeminence as a game species in North America, little research exists to validate nutritional condition indices for Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsonii). We developed and calibrated indices of nutritional condition for live and dead Rocky Mountain elk. Live-animal indices included 20 serum and 7 urine chemistry variables, a body-condition score (BCS), thickness of subcutaneous fat and selected muscles using ultrasonography, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and body mass. Dead-animal indices included femur and mandible marrow fat, 3 kidney fat indices, and 2 carcass-scoring methods. Forty-three captive-raised cows (1.5 to 7 years old) were randomly divided into 3 seasonal groups (Sep, Dec, and Mar). Within seasonal groups, elk were fed different diets to induce a wide range of condition; all were fed identical diets 7 days prior to sampling to eliminate short-term nutritional effects. Cows were euthanized and homogenized for chemical analysis of fat, protein, water, and ash content. Estimates of fat and gross energy (GE) were compared to each condition indicator using regression, with age and season as covariates. Relations between condition and thyroxine (T 4 ) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) varied seasonally, and the relation between condition and mandible marrow fat varied among ages. Subcutaneous fat depth and BCS were most related to condition for live animals (r 2 ≥ 0.87, P < 0.001); carcass scores and kidney fat were most related to fat and GE for dead animals (r 2 ≥ 0.77, P < 0.001); and IGF-1 and T 4 were the only serum and urine indices at least moderately related to condition (r 2 ≥ 0.54, P < 0.001). Nearly all other serum and urine indices, bone marrow indices, and BIA were either poorly correlated with condition or exhibited highly nonlinear relations. These results identify several indices of condition useful for assessing nutritional condition of live or dead elk, and indicate a number of previously used techniques that correlate poorly with total body fat.

Kidney fat and marrow fat indices of the sika deer population at Mount Goyo, northern Japan

Fat deposits are effective indicators of the nutritional status of wild populations of ungulates. Three fat indices (kidney fat, femur marrow fat and mandible marrow fat) of sika deer (Cervus nippon) at Mount Goyo, northern Japan, were compared. The kidney fat index (KFI) was suitable for good and intermediate nutritional status, but could not precisely reflect poor conditions. Bone marrow fat indices (MFI) were not good indicators because samples with high MFI values did not distinguish between samples whose KFI values were different, and samples collected in non‐winter seasons did not cover the range of poor conditions. It is therefore recommended to use both the KFI and the femur‐MFI complementarily.

Demographic responses of arctic hares Lepus arcticus placed on two predominantly forested islands in Newfoundland

During January‐April 1989. we monitored survival, reproduction, and body condition of 19 radio‐collared arctic haresLepus areticusintroduced to two predominantly (80%) forested islands. Merchant (66 1 ha) and Burke (82 6 ha), in Placentia Bay, Newfoundland By late April, bone‐marrow fat (42 7%) and kidney fat indices were lower than found in populations on the mountain barrens of western Newfoundland However, most island hares gained weight overwinter, and litter sizes (mean. 4 2 in utero) and testis weights (mean, 8 3 g) were as large or larger than recorded from other introduced and natural populations in Newfoundland The distribution of telemetry locations, tracks and feeding sites indicated that hares frequented the scattered barrens (totalling c 30 ha) on both islands in greater proportion than available These results suggest that, in the absence of snowshoe hares and mammalian predators, forested regions interspersed with small patches of barrens can sustain arctic hares

Body Composition and Condition Evaluation of White-Tailed Deer Fawns

Sixteen white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawns were captured between November and April 1984-1986 near Chicago, Illinois, to evaluate relationships between body composition and condition indices. Body fat (bled, ingesta-free basis) of the fawns ranged from 2.3 to 48.9%, dry-matter basis. Of 6 morphometric indices, chest girth had the highest correlations with body mass, gross energy, and fat. Of 45 postmortem indices, carcass mass and composition, viscera mass and composition. Kistner score, kidney fat mass, and gastrocnemius protein ahd the highest correlations with body mass and composition. Kidney fat indices, kidney fat mass, and black fat thickness were related to body fat concentration by logarithmic functions. Kistner score and gastrocnemius fat concentration were each linearly related to body fat concentration. Femur marrow fat and mandible marrow fat concentrations were each related to the negative inverse of body fat concentration. Serum triiodothyronine had the closest relationships with body energy content and body fat concentration of the 11 blood and serum constituents were analyzed. Multiple regression analysis indicated that body gross energy content could best be predicted in live fawns by a combination of live mass and triiodothyronine and postmortem by a combination of viscera mass and live mass or gastrocnemius fat mass, kidney fat mass and kidney mass, or gastrocnemius fat mass and liver mass

EFFECT OF DIET ON CONDITION INDICES IN BLACK-TAILED JACKRABBITS

Changes in blood, urine and physical condition indices in 23 adult male black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus) with ad libitum feeding and 25% feed restriction were measured over a 2 wk period from 30 May to 12 June 1988. Feed restricted jackrabbits had (1) lower post-trial body weights and kidney fat indices, (2) higher femur marrow fat, serum bilirubin and cortisol concentrations, and adrenal cortex width, and (3) depressed immune function. No single index alone could best measure the nutritional status of these jackrabbits.

Seasonal changes in rumen papillary development and body condition in free ranging Chinese water deer (Hydropotes inermis)

Available information on the history, population dynamics, body weight and kidney fat indices in free‐living Chinese water deer at Whipsnade Zoo were briefly reviewed.Fifty eight culled animals were examined quantitatively for changing rumen papilla morphology through different seasons using surface enlargement factors (SEF). The results show a much reduced SEF of below four in winter and rarely above eight in spring, summer and autumn. This is atypical for the entire group of concentrate selectors and even for intermediate feeding types. The inference from the data is that the seasonal rumen development was poorer than expected perhaps indicating that this population was undernourished.

Bone Marrow Fat and Kidney Fat Indices of Condition in Collared Peccaries

Bone Marrow Fat and Kidney Fat Indices of Condition in Collared Peccaries

White-Tailed Deer Food Habits and Nutritional Status as Affected by Grazing and Deer-Harvest Management

White-Tailed Deer Food Habits and Nutritional Status as Affected by Grazing and Deer-Harvest Management

Reproductive Biology of White-Tailed Deer in Manitoba

This study is based on 159 female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) collected during the winters of 1961, 1962, and 1963 from, in order of decreasing habitat quality, the Turtle Mountain, Duck Mountain, and Whiteshell areas of Manitoba. Conception rates were high for adults and yearlings but relatively low for fawns. Ovulation rates and average numbers of fetuses per pregnant doe were high for adults from all areas but the ovulation rate was significantly higher for adults from Turtle Mountain. Both rates were high for yearlings from Turtle Mountain but relatively low for yearlings from the Whiteshell and Duck Mountain. Considering all age-groups, fertility was highest in Turtle Mountain, followed by Duck Mountain, and lowest in the Whiteshell. The rate of ova loss among adult does from Turtle Mountain was significantly higher than among adults from the other areas. This may be due, indirectly, to flushing. Kidney fat indices showed that deer from all areas lost condition at the same rate during winter. A general comparison of winter environment between the Whiteshell, which was closed to hunting, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan indicates that lower temperatures in the Whiteshell cause deer there to suffer more from malnutrition during average winters than do deer in the Upper Peninsula and hence to have relatively higher numbers of stillbirths and postnatal losses of fawns. Lighter snowfall in the Whiteshell allows deer to cover more of their summer range in winter than do Upper Peninsula deer, thus helping to explain why over-utilization of browse in the Whiteshell is not the serious problem it is in the Upper Peninsula. Winter weather appears to be sufficient to prevent deer irruptions in the Whiteshell and to hold maximum density well below that reached in the Upper Peninsula. It is postulated that similar controls function in the rest of Manitoba. White-tailed deer in Manitoba have a high level of fertility but densities are relatively low compared with most good deer areas in the United States. Irruptions, characterized by severely decreased size and fertility; the formation of browse lines; prevention of forest regeneration; and eventual mass die-offs, do not occur in Manitoba, apparently because winter environmental conditions during average years result in over-winter losses and an unusually high percentage of stillbirths and postnatal losses of fawns. Consequently the average annual increment is relatively small. This study was undertaken in 1960 with the support of the Manitoba Wildlife Branch and was completed in fulfillment of research requirements for a M.Sc. degree from the University of Alberta. I wish to express sincere gratitude to Eugene F. Bossenmaier, Chief Biologist, Manitoba Wildlife Branch, for suggesting the study initially, for his continued advice and encouragement, and for his helpful criticisms of this manuscript. Sincere gratitude is also extended to Dr. W. A. Fuller and to Dr. J. C. Holmes, Department of Zoology, University of Alberta, for their guidance during the final year of the study and for their criticisms of the manuscript. Dr. W. G. E. Evans, Department of Entomology, University of Alberta, also gave helpful criticisms. Special thanks are extended to Conservation Officers of the Manitoba Department of Mines and Natural Resources who collected specimens for the study. Appreciation is expressed to Dr. G. I. Paul, Department of Statistics, University of Manitoba, for his advice on statistical analysis of the data. I also wish to thank L. J. Verme of the Michigan Department of Conservation for his comments on the manuscript.

Kidney and Marrow Fat as Indicators of White-Tailed Deer Condition

Comparisons of kidney fat indices and fat content of femur marrow from 34 female whitetailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) showed that kidney fat is not a reliable indicator of physical condition during mobilization of femur marrow fat. A method involving the complementary use of the two measurements is suggested as a means of assessing physical condition over its entire range. This paper shows the relationship of kidney fat indices to the fat content of femur marrow in female white-tailed deer and presents a method for the complementary use of the two measurements in assessing physical condition. Riney (1955) studied various methods of evaluating the condition of red deer (Cervus elaphus) in New Zealand and concluded that weight of kidney fat expressed as a percentage of kidney weight is a valid index of total body fat over the entire range of physical condition. This method was applied to 66 female white-tailed deer collected in Manitoba from December, 1962, through April, 1963. The indices thus obtained decreased regularly over the winter until the second week of March when the poorest deer had indices as low as 8. But during the next month only 1 of 15 deer collected had an index below 8 although their general appearance indicated that several of the 15 were in poorer condition than any of those collected previously. Since Harris (1945) and Cheatum (1949) found that marrow fat is the last fat reserve to be mobilized in deer, I obtained the percentage of fat in femur marrow from 34 of the 66 deer to determine whether or not further deterioration in condition had escaped detection by the kidney fat index method. MATERIALS AND METHODS Kidney fat weights were obtained using a method described by Riney (1955) and an index for each animal was calculated using the fat from both kidneys in order to minimize variation. The percentage of fat in the central 2 inches of femur marrow 397 cent water. Of the dry matter about 75 percent is sucrose, and the balance includes salts of sodium and potassium plus nitrogenous compounds. In Table 1 the nutritional values of the sugar beet root and field corn are compared (Morrison, F. B. 1956. Feeds and feeding: A handbook for the student and stockman. 22nd ed. The Morrison Publishing Company, Ithaca, New York. vi+ 1165pp.). In recent years Canada geese have gradually been educated to feed on agricultural crops on the refuge and have thus developed a taste for sugar beets. From a nutritional standpoint, sugar beet roots and crowns rate considerably lower than field corn, but, at least during the dry season, they provide an important source of succulent browse. Received for publication March 26, 1964. This content downloaded from 157.55.39.249 on Wed, 03 Aug 2016 05:23:52 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 398 Journal of Wildlife Management, Vol. 29, No. 2, April 1965