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Energy Metabolism and Nutrient Oxidation in the Pregnant Mink (Mustela vison) as a Model for Other Carnivores^1,2,

Division of Animal Nutrition, Department of Animal Science and Animal Health, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark

The mink is a strict carnivore and a seasonal breeder, which may be used as an experimental model for other carnivores. The present investigation comprised a total of 44 balance experiments, each including a 24-h measurement of heat production by indirect calorimetry, carried out from mating until close to parturition. For observations with a nonprotein respiratory quotient between 0.7 and 1.0 (n = 42), quantitative oxidation of nutrients was calculated. The weight gain of the uterus during pregnancy was studied in 41 females killed either before mating, before implantation, after implantation or in mid or late true gestation, and energy retention was calculated. Heat production did not increase with advancing stage of gestation. Mean energy retention was low and in some individuals with repeated measurements even negative, indicating that part of the energy requirement for pregnancy may be supplied by mobilization of body reserves. This was reflected by a high level (42%) of fat oxidation in relation to total heat production. Protein oxidation accounted for 38% of heat production. The weight gain of the uterus during pregnancy could be described by logarithmic functions. Energy deposition in fetal tissue was low and only averaged 350 kJ 47 d after mating.

KEY WORDS: • energy metabolism • substrate oxidation • pregnancy • fetal growth • mink • carnivore

¹ Presented as part of the Waltham Symposium on the Nutrition of Companion Animals in association with the 15th International Congress of Nutrition at Adelaide, SA, Australia, on September 23–25, 1993. Guest editors for this symposium were Kay Earle, John Mercer and D'Ann Finley.

² Financially supported by the Danish Agricultural and Veterinary Research Council, grant 13-4506-1.

³ To whom correspondence should be addressed.