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Reproduction and Lactation Studies with Bitches Fed Semipurified Diets¹

Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison

A study of certain dietary effects upon pregnancy, parturition and lactation in the bitch has been made. Bitches fed the semipurified basal ration bore pups with lower body weights at birth and a decreased survival rate up to 48 hours. The site of interference appeared to be intrauterine with a subclinical fetal malnutrition. Supplementary protein, fresh liver or liver L improved birth weight and greatly increased survival to weaning. The addition of methionine was without beneficial effect. It has been shown that the food intake demand of the pregnant bitch increased at mid-pregnancy, that it increased progressively with each week of lactation to a peak during the 4th or 5th week. The upper physiological limit of food intake was nearly 3.5 times the maintenance level; this increase in demand for food was associated with the number of nurslings suckled. Litters larger than 4 subjected the lactating bitches used in these studies to a marked stress, due to their difficulty in eating sufficient food.

Manuscript received 21 November 1957.