Browsing by Author "Singh, Ishwani"

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    Assessing current feeding practices of farmers and energy requirements of working farm dogs in New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Animal Science at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2013) Singh, Ishwani
    Working farm dogs in New Zealand (NZ) where studied in this thesis, and were found to usually be fed once a day on a diet consisting of 50% TUX Energy biscuits and 50% homekill (50:50). Diet composition does not change between peak and off-peak work periods. Instead the amount fed changes, with dogs fed more during peak periods. The digestibility of the average diet of the working dog is high and working farm dogs fed 50:50 or 100% homekill meets all energy and minimum nutrient requirements, including essential amino acids, calcium and phosphorus as set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). The calcium: phosphorus ratios were high in both diets (1.85:1 in 100% homekill and 1.93:1 in 50:50). However, these minimum requirements are defined for the household pet dog and may not fulfil the requirements of working farm dogs. Actical® activity monitors were calibrated with doubly labelled water to estimate activity associated energy expenditure in the dog. A constraint of this study of the weight range and number of dogs used and may only be useful for dogs weighing between 18 and 26 kg. However, when using activity monitors, the basal metabolic rate (BMR) has to be estimated. The mean energy requirements for Heading dogs and Huntaways were different between peak and off-peak periods, with dogs requiring more energy from their diets during peak periods. Global positioning systems were used to measure the distances covered by farm dogs in this study (10 ± 0.7 km/d during off-peak periods and 20 ± 1.3 km/d during peak periods), with these results similar to distances that sled dogs cover while training (Grandjean and Paragon, 1993a), and they are also similar to data obtained from Australian cattle dogs. Currently there are no nutritional guidelines which state the requirements of a working dog, and the findings from this work show that the farm dogs in NZ may not be receiving the energy required for work from their current diet.
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    Hindgut digestibility in the dog (Canis familiaris) : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Animal Science at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2006) Singh, Ishwani
    Digestibility trials are important tools used by nutritionists to establish the nutrient requirements of an animal. The most common method used is total faecal collection, which involves the total collection of faeces over a limited period of time. Digestibility trials can also use indigestible markers, such as chromium oxide and titanium oxide, which eliminate the need for a total faecal collection and instead uses sub-sampling methods. The major aim of this thesis was to compare the suitability of chromium oxide (Cr₂0₃) and titanium dioxide (Ti0₂) as indigestible markers in dogs. Due to constraints in the study design (limited space in the facility and therefore a requirement to house dogs in pairs), it needed to be established if Ti0₂ interfered with the chemical analysis of Cr₂0₃ before any animal trials were undertaken. Different concentrations of both markers were added to freeze dried dog faeces. The indigestible markers were then analysed for in the laboratory and recoveries calculated. lt was established that there was no interference of the analysis by either marker. After a pilot study confirmed that coprophagy did not occur in the dogs, the first study (Chapter 2) used 12 entire female Harrier hounds housed in pairs in 6 concrete floor pens. The dogs were fed twice daily with one of 4 treatment diets; a high nutrient diet containing Cr₂0₃ or Ti0₂ or a low nutrient diet containing Cr₂0₃ or Ti0₂. Daily intake was recorded for each dog. Each dog received each of the 4 diets over 4 consecutive evaluation periods of 14 days each. This study showed that 100% recovery of markers was not achieved in the dogs. Recoveries of Cr₂0₃ were 58% and 76% respectively for high and low nutrient diets, and recoveries of Ti0₂ were 80% and 74% respectively for the same two diets. These results suggest that Ti0₂ is currently the best indigestible marker for use in dogs. Study 2 (Chapter 3) used 5 adult female Beagle dogs with surgically prepared ileal cannulas. The ileal cannulation was conducted according to the method of Walker et al. (1994), and the dogs were housed individually in floor pens in temperature controlled rooms. The dogs were fed 5 commercial AAFCO approved diets with free access to water. Dogs were randomised in a replicated 5x 5 Latin-square design with 14 day periods, consisting of a 10 day adaptation period and a 4 day ileal and faecal collection period. lt was found that there were significant differences between ileal and faecal digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, organic matter and carbohydrates of the nutrients that we tested, indicating that there was significant metabolism of nutrients in the hindgut of the dog.