Effects of Carbohydrate-free Diets on the Performance of Lactating Mink (Mustela vison) and the Growth Performance of Suckling Kits

The effects of carbohydrate-free diets on body weight changes, feed consumption, and plasma concentrations of nutrients, metabolites, and hormones in lactating mink and on growth performance in kits were investigated in a total of 108 litters during the lactation period of seven weeks. The litters were distributed in three experimental groups fed different ratios of metabolisable energy (ME) derived from protein and fat (61:38; 47:52; 33:66). The females and kits were weighed at parturition and 2, 3, 4, and 7 weeks after parturition. Blood samples were collected from females in the second, fourth, and sixth week of the lactation period. Carbohydrate-free diets fed to lactating mink can in principle support normal performance, health of the females, and growth performance of the kits. However, mink need a sufficient supply of available gluconeogenic precursors in the form of amino acids. In the present experiment, the diet with 33% of ME from protein contained insufficient amounts of gluconeogenic precursors for lactating mink, and three weeks post partum this group was excluded from the experiment. The differences in dietary protein level (61% and 47% of ME) and fat level (38% and 52% of ME) influenced the plasma concentrations of free fatty acids (FFA) and urea, but had minimal influence on plasma concentrations of other nutrients, metabolites, and hormones.