• Login
    View Item 
    •   Home
    • Massey Documents by Type
    • Theses and Dissertations
    • View Item
    •   Home
    • Massey Documents by Type
    • Theses and Dissertations
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    The effect of nutritional fetal programming on post-pubertal male reproduction in sheep : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Veterinary Studies at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

    Icon
    View/Open Full Text
    02_whole.pdf (3.464Mb)
    01_front.pdf (929.8Kb)
    Export to EndNote
    Abstract
    There is evidence that the in utero environment affects or programmes postnatal development and performance of offspring. Previous investigations have been conducted to establish the effects of dam nutrition on the development and reproductive performance of rams following various nutritional regimes of the ewe during pregnancy. This study further examines the effect of nutritional treatments of ewes during pregnancy on post-pubertal male reproductive performance. Sixty-two ram offspring, obtained from twin-bearing ewes that were fed at one of three different nutritional treatments in early pregnancy (Day 21-50, Low (LD21-50) vx. Maintenance (MD21-50) vs. High (HD21-50)), and one of two different nutritional treatments in mid to late pregnancy (Day 51-140), Maintenance (MD51-140) vs. High (HD51-140), were utilised in this study. Reproductive performance was measured using the accepted indicators of scrotal circumference, and semen quality and quantity (visual density, motility, quantitative sperm density and morphology) to establish if there was any effect of maternal nutrition on these parameters. The influence of seasonality was also investigated. Ewe nutrition during D 21-50 or D 51-140 had no effect on scrotal circumference, semen quality nor quantity. The rams in this study generally conformed to previously described seasonal patterns of reproductive activity. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that under these conditions, post-pubertal male reproductive function and capacity and therefore fertility appear to be unaffected by prenatal maternal nutrition, and that rams maintain their cyclical reproductive response to seasonal cues.
    Date
    2013
    Author
    Fermin, Lisanne M
    Rights
    The Author
    Publisher
    Massey University
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/10179/4793
    Collections
    • Theses and Dissertations
    Metadata
    Show full item record

    Copyright © Massey University
    Contact Us | Send Feedback | Copyright Take Down Request | Massey University Privacy Statement
    DSpace software copyright © Duraspace
    v5.7-2020.1
     

     

    Tweets by @Massey_Research
    Information PagesContent PolicyDepositing content to MROCopyright and Access InformationDeposit LicenseDeposit License SummaryTheses FAQFile FormatsDoctoral Thesis Deposit

    Browse

    All of MROCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    Copyright © Massey University
    Contact Us | Send Feedback | Copyright Take Down Request | Massey University Privacy Statement
    DSpace software copyright © Duraspace
    v5.7-2020.1