Nutrition

Question 1

What is the target BCS of a bitch/queen prior to breeding?

Answer 1

(5/6 out of 9)

Question 2

How many times more than the typical maintenance water intake (60ml/kg BW) should a queen/bitch be intaking during lactation?

Answer 2

(2-3x higher; at least 2x during the entire pregnancy)

Question 3

When should a bred bitch be put on a gestation/lactation diet?

Answer 3

(At about 4 weeks into gestation (which is also about when you can ultrasound to confirm pregnancy so yay something lines up))

Question 4

To get kcal/day for a bitch in early gestation, what do you multiply the RER by?

Answer 4

(1.8 to 2)

Question 5

To get kcal/day for a bitch in late gestation, what do you multiply the RER by?

Answer 5

(2.2 to 3.5)

Question 6

What is the equation for kcal/day for a lactating bitch?

Answer 6

(kcal/day = RER x 1.9 + 25% per puppy)

Question 7

When should a bred queen be put on a gestation/lactation diet?

Answer 7

(At the time of breeding)

Question 8

Which of the essentially fatty acids is pertinent to the cat only? Dog only?

Answer 8

(Cat - arachidonic acid; dog - alpha linolenic acid)

Question 9

Where is DHA sourced from (which makes this source important in a bitch/queens diet)?

Answer 9

(Marine (fish) source; DHA is important for retinal and neurologic development in the feti)

Question 10

A non-fiber carbohydrate deficiency is associated with hypoglycemia in the mother of which small animal species?

Answer 10

(Dogs, they have a reduced ability to respond to hypoglycemia when compared to cats)

Question 11

What is a bitch at risk for if their diet does not have enough calcium?

Answer 11

(Tetany and possible eclampsia; particularly in small breeds, bitches with large litters, post whelping/during lactation)

Question 12

(T/F) Dry food is more energy dense than canned food on an as fed basis.

Answer 12

(T)

Question 13

Under or over conditioned cows are associated with a higher risk for ketosis after gestation.

Answer 13

(Over conditioned cows)

Question 14

What nutrient has reduced bioavailability if the dam is intaking excess phosphorus, zinc, and/or molybdenum?

Answer 14

(Copper)

Question 15

Why is adequate gestational copper intake particularly important in cattle?

Answer 15

(Increased incident of physitis in calves with low copper; copper is important for endochondral ossification and milk is a poor source so if gestational intake is adequate the fetus can store enough copper in its liver until it is weaned)

Question 16

Which of the VFAs is an important precursor for lactose?

Answer 16

(Propionate)

Question 17

Does a higher or lower NDF indicate a better quality forage?

Answer 17

(Lower NDF is higher quality)

Question 18

Should the NDF of the forage consumed during early or late gestation be lower?

Answer 18

(Late gestation i.e. NDF should be lower in late gestation)

Question 19

When should concentrates be discontinued in terms of weaning?

Answer 19

(1-2 weeks prior to weaning)