A higher proportion of female lambs when ewes were fed oats and cottonseed meal prior to and following conception
C. E. Gulliver A B D , M. A. Friend A B D , B. J. King A B , J. F. Wilkins C and E. H. Clayton C D E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Locked Bag 588, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia.
B Co-operative Research Centre for Future Farm Industries, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia.
C NSW Department of Primary Industries, Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, Australia.
D EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation (NSW DPI and Charles Sturt University), Locked Bag 588, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: Edward.Clayton@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Animal Production Science 53(5) 464-471 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN12279
Submitted: 9 August 2012 Accepted: 30 October 2012 Published: 22 February 2013
Abstract
Diets high in omega-6 (n-6) fatty acids in mice have been associated with a higher proportion of female offspring, however, the specific effects of dietary fatty acids on the sex ratio of sheep has not previously been reported. The aim of the present study was to determine whether feeding ewes a diet differing in n-6 for 6 weeks before and 3 weeks following conception would increase the proportion of female lambs born. Merino × Border Leicester ewes (n = 296) were allocated to receive either a diet high in n-6 (70% oat grain, 8% cottonseed meal, High n-6 diet) or, a control diet low in n-6 (88% legume silage, Low n-6 diet), for 42 or 53 days before and 17 days after conception, using a stratified block randomisation procedure based on body condition score and liveweight. Following synchronisation, oestrus was detected daily during natural mating with rams. After mating, all ewes grazed improved pastures as one group until lambing. Plasma n-6 concentrations were greater (P < 0.001), the time to parturition was shorter (P < 0.001) and the proportion of female offspring was higher (58.2 vs 43.5%, P = 0.010) when ewes were fed the High n-6 diet compared with the Low n-6 diet. Further research is required to determine whether the observed differences in sex ratio were due to specific alterations in n-6 fatty acids, or other differences in the diets not specifically related to n-6 such as saturated fat or energy density.
Additional keywords: omega-6, prostaglandin, sex ratio, time of oestrus.
References
AFIA (2006) Calculation of metabolisable energy. Method 2.2R. In ‘AFIA Laboratory Methods Manual’. pp. 81–84. (Australian Fodder Industry Association: Balwyn, Vic.)Austad SN, Sunquist ME (1986) Sex-ratio manipulation in the common opossum. Nature 324, 58–60.
| Sex-ratio manipulation in the common opossum.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bagga D, Wang L, Farias-Eisner R, Glaspy JA, Reddy ST (2003) Differential effects of prostaglandin derived from omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on COX-2 expression and IL-6 secretion. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 100, 1751–1756.
| Differential effects of prostaglandin derived from omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on COX-2 expression and IL-6 secretion.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXhsFGkurs%3D&md5=64f755bfa5ae6cd957140db3bc29d702CAS |
Bell A (2007) Measuring herbage mass – the median quadrat technique. NSW Department of Primary Industries Primefact 324, 1–4.
Boufaïed H, Chouinard PY, Tremblay GF, Petit HV, Michaud R, Belanger G (2003) Fatty acids in forages. II. In vitro ruminal biohydrogenation of linolenic and linoleic acids from timothy. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 83, 513–522.
| Fatty acids in forages. II. In vitro ruminal biohydrogenation of linolenic and linoleic acids from timothy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cameron EZ (2004) Facultative adjustment of mammalian sex ratios in support of the Trivers-Willard hypothesis: evidence for a mechanism. Proceedings. Biological Sciences 271, 1723–1728.
| Facultative adjustment of mammalian sex ratios in support of the Trivers-Willard hypothesis: evidence for a mechanism.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cameron EZ, Linklater WL (2007) Extreme sex ratio variation in relation to change in condition around conception. Biology Letters 3, 395–397.
| Extreme sex ratio variation in relation to change in condition around conception.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Clayton EH, Hanstock TL, Kable CJ, Hirneth SJ, Garg ML, Hazell PL (2008) Long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the blood of children and adolescents with juvenile bipolar disorder. Lipids 43, 1031–1038.
| Long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the blood of children and adolescents with juvenile bipolar disorder.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXhtlSgsb3J&md5=f30e31167c9a7da5dfd92fa138bc84bfCAS |
Clayton EH, Wynn PC, Mailer RJ, Piltz JW (2010) Total lipid and fatty acid profiles in fresh and ensiled forages grown in Australia. In ‘Proceedings of the Australian Society for Animal Production. Vol. 28’. (Eds RC Dobos, PL Greenwood, JV Nolan) pp. 56. (Australian Society for Animal Production: Armidale)
Clayton EH, Gulliver CE, Piltz JW, Taylor RD, Blake RJ, Meyer RJ (2012) Improved extraction of saturated fatty acids but not omega-3 fatty acids from sheep red blood cells using a one-step extraction procedure. Lipids 47, 719–727.
| Improved extraction of saturated fatty acids but not omega-3 fatty acids from sheep red blood cells using a one-step extraction procedure.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38Xms12ksr8%3D&md5=9682b5fe24fc26208fd8b574bf6c5992CAS |
Coakes SJ, Steed LG (2001) ‘SPSS: analysis without anguish. Version 10.0 for Windows.’ (John Wiley & Sons Ltd: Sydney)
Dun RB (1963) Recording the lambing performance of ewes under field conditions. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 3, 228–231.
| Recording the lambing performance of ewes under field conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fountain ED, Mao J, Whyte JJ, Mueller KE, Ellersieck MR, Will MJ, Roberts RM, Macdonald R, Rosenfeld CS (2008) Effects of diets enriched in omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids on offspring sex-ratio and maternal behavior in mice. Biology of Reproduction 78, 211–217.
| Effects of diets enriched in omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids on offspring sex-ratio and maternal behavior in mice.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXht1Kru78%3D&md5=64fe440f68ce435c305a4154916b9254CAS |
Grant VJ, Chamley LW (2010) Can mammalian mothers influence the sex of their offspring peri-conceptually? Reproduction (Cambridge, England) 140, 425–433.
| Can mammalian mothers influence the sex of their offspring peri-conceptually?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXht1Cmsr7M&md5=ac81afe1ca1a8928bafa7be7610c1eb2CAS |
Grant VJ, Irwin RJ, Standley NT, Shelling AN, Chamley LW (2008) Sex of bovine embryos may be related to mothers’ preovulatory follicular testosterone. Biology of Reproduction 78, 812–815.
| Sex of bovine embryos may be related to mothers’ preovulatory follicular testosterone.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXltVOgu7k%3D&md5=8224d115daa860a438dbb8f88e17f054CAS |
Green MP, Spate LD, Parks TE, Kimura K, Murphy CN, Williams JE, Kerley MS, Green JA, Keisler DH, Roberts RM (2008) Nutritional skewing of conceptus sex in sheep: effects of a maternal diet enriched in rumen-protected polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 6, 21
| Nutritional skewing of conceptus sex in sheep: effects of a maternal diet enriched in rumen-protected polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gulliver CE, Friend MA, King BJ, Clayton EH (2012) The role of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in reproduction of sheep and cattle. Animal Reproduction Science 131, 9–22.
| The role of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in reproduction of sheep and cattle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38Xjs1alu7Y%3D&md5=ded217f96693a599d73da77384cfa4d4CAS |
Gulliver CE, Friend MA, King BJ, Robertson SM, Wilkins JF, Clayton EH (2013) Increased prostaglandin response to oxytocin in ewes fed a diet high in omega-6 fatty acids. Lipids
| Increased prostaglandin response to oxytocin in ewes fed a diet high in omega-6 fatty acids.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gutiérrez-Adán A, Perez G, Granados J, Garde JJ, Perez-Guzman M, Pintado B, De La Fuente J (1999) Relationship between sex ratio and time of insemination according to both time of ovulation and maturational state of oocyte. Zygote (Cambridge, England) 7, 37–43.
| Relationship between sex ratio and time of insemination according to both time of ovulation and maturational state of oocyte.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gutiérrez-Adán A, Lonergan P, Rizos D, Ward FA, Boland MP, Pintado B, de la Fuente J (2001) Effect of the in vitro culture system on the kinetics of blastocyst development and sex ratio of bovine embryos. Theriogenology 55, 1117–1126.
| Effect of the in vitro culture system on the kinetics of blastocyst development and sex ratio of bovine embryos.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jamison HM, Carter RC, Gaines JA, Kincaid CM (1961) The effect of breed of sire on body size of lambs at birth. Journal of Animal Science 20, 154–158.
Jefferies BC (1961) Body condition scoring and its use in management. Tasmanian Journal of Agriculture 32, 19–21.
Kimura K, Spate LD, Green MP, Roberts RM (2005) Effects of D-glucose concentration, D-fructose, and inhibitors of enzymes of the pentose phosphate pathway on the development and sex ratio of bovine blastocysts. Molecular Reproduction and Development 72, 201–207.
| Effects of D-glucose concentration, D-fructose, and inhibitors of enzymes of the pentose phosphate pathway on the development and sex ratio of bovine blastocysts.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXnt1ygu7c%3D&md5=eacc626f18524e37eba571fe582eab7bCAS |
King BJ, Robertson SM, Wilkins JF, Friend MA (2010) Short-term grazing of lucerne and chicory increases ovulation rate in synchronised Merino ewes. Animal Reproduction Science 121, 242–248.
| Short-term grazing of lucerne and chicory increases ovulation rate in synchronised Merino ewes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3cfgtVWlsg%3D%3D&md5=412f223d516973d41b5e09db87d2e82bCAS |
Kohno H, Okamoto C, Iida K, Takeda T, Kaneko E, Kawashima C, Miyamoto A, Fukui Y (2005) Comparison of estrus induction and subsequent fertility with two different intravaginal devices in ewes during the non-breeding season. The Journal of Reproduction and Development 51, 805–812.
| Comparison of estrus induction and subsequent fertility with two different intravaginal devices in ewes during the non-breeding season.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXhsV2gsrw%3D&md5=302918e5237a7ffd08206906143e69ceCAS |
Lepage G, Roy CC (1986) Direct transesterification of all classes of lipids in a one-step reaction. Journal of Lipid Research 27, 114–120.
Littell RC, Henry PR, Ammerman CB (1998) Statistical analysis of repeated measures data using SAS procedures. Journal of Animal Science 76, 1216–1231.
Mathews F, Johnson PJ, Neil A (2008) You are what your mother eats: evidence for maternal preconception diet influencing foetal sex in humans. Proceedings. Biological Sciences 275, 1661–1668.
| You are what your mother eats: evidence for maternal preconception diet influencing foetal sex in humans.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
NHMRC (2004) ‘Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes.’ 7th edn. (Australian Government: Canberra)
Outen GE, Beever DE, Fenlon JS (1976) Direct methylation of long-chain fatty acids in feeds, digesta and faeces without prior extraction. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 27, 419–425.
| Direct methylation of long-chain fatty acids in feeds, digesta and faeces without prior extraction.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaE28XksVeit7k%3D&md5=06920a9169fa566f08b458bfc2c1f253CAS |
Packer EJ, Clayton EH, Cusack PMV (2011) Rumen fermentation and liveweight gain in beef cattle treated with monensin and grazing lush forage. Australian Veterinary Journal 89, 338–345.
Pursley JR, Silcox RW, Wiltbank MC (1998) Effect of time of artificial insemination on pregnancy rates, calving rates, pregnancy loss, and gender ratio after synchronization of ovulation in lactating dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 81, 2139–2144.
| Effect of time of artificial insemination on pregnancy rates, calving rates, pregnancy loss, and gender ratio after synchronization of ovulation in lactating dairy cows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXlvVCmtrc%3D&md5=a9378436b500576fb65b099279cdca8dCAS |
Robertson SM, Friend MA, Broster JC, King BJ (2011) Survival of twin lambs is increased with shrub belts. Animal Production Science 51, 925–938.
| Survival of twin lambs is increased with shrub belts.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Robinson RS, Pushpakumara PG, Cheng Z, Peters AR, Abayasekara DR, Wathes DC (2002) Effects of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids on ovarian and uterine function in lactating dairy cows. Reproduction (Cambridge, England) 124, 119–131.
| Effects of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids on ovarian and uterine function in lactating dairy cows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XmtFaksLo%3D&md5=6c99314b37eb7d6d74fac6257e6cb22aCAS |
Rosenfeld CS, Roberts RM (2004) Maternal diet and other factors affecting offspring sex ratio: a review. Biology of Reproduction 71, 1063–1070.
| Maternal diet and other factors affecting offspring sex ratio: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXnvVGqtrY%3D&md5=6ba66c72e8fb1775ca29e6a2a858f402CAS |
Rosenfeld CS, Grimm KM, Livingston KA, Brokman AM, Lamberson WE, Roberts RM (2003) Striking variation in the sex ratio of pups born to mice according to whether maternal diet is high in fat or carbohydrate. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 100, 4628–4632.
| Striking variation in the sex ratio of pups born to mice according to whether maternal diet is high in fat or carbohydrate.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXjt12nsrs%3D&md5=3914c4d95654d26bb55e7cfc19856b22CAS |
SAS Institute Inc (1997) ‘SAS/STAT software: changes and enhancements through release 6.12.’ (SAS Institute Inc.: Cary, NC)
SCA (1990) ‘Feeding standards for Australian livestock – ruminants.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)
Scollan N, Hocquette J-F, Nuernberg K, Dannenberger D, Richardson I, Moloney AP (2006) Innovations in beef production systems that enhance the nutritional health value of beef lipids and their relationship with meat quality. Meat Science 74, 17–33.
| Innovations in beef production systems that enhance the nutritional health value of beef lipids and their relationship with meat quality.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28Xms1Grsb8%3D&md5=fc041262217d24b9e0783c65105ac871CAS |
Thatcher WW, Guzeloglu A, Mattos R, Binelli M, Hansen TR, Pru JK (2001) Uterine-conceptus interactions and reproductive failure in cattle. Theriogenology 56, 1435–1450.
| Uterine-conceptus interactions and reproductive failure in cattle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XjslyqsQ%3D%3D&md5=d712d5fdd36f5a37c26350a9efbad33aCAS |
Trivers RL, Willard DE (1973) Natural selection of parental ability to vary the sex ratio of offspring. Science 179, 90–92.
| Natural selection of parental ability to vary the sex ratio of offspring.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaE3s%2Fls1Wqsg%3D%3D&md5=9ae456dfae278da9e24cf319621d78d7CAS |
Viñoles C, Meikle A, Forsberg M (2004) Accuracy of evaluation of ovarian structures by transrectal ultrasonography in ewes. Animal Reproduction Science 80, 69–79.
| Accuracy of evaluation of ovarian structures by transrectal ultrasonography in ewes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Viñoles C, Meikle A, Martin GB (2009) Short-term nutritional treatments grazing legumes or feeding concentrates increase prolificacy in Corriedale ewes. Animal Reproduction Science 113, 82–92.
| Short-term nutritional treatments grazing legumes or feeding concentrates increase prolificacy in Corriedale ewes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wang Z, Goonewardene LA (2004) The use of MIXED models in the analysis of animal experiments with repeated measures. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 84, 1–11.
| The use of MIXED models in the analysis of animal experiments with repeated measures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wilkins JF (1997) Method of stimulating ovulation rate in Merino ewes may affect conception but not embryo survival. Animal Reproduction Science 47, 31–42.
| Method of stimulating ovulation rate in Merino ewes may affect conception but not embryo survival.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK2sznsl2jtg%3D%3D&md5=4628e19e12d3dca3972bcda5ea9deeefCAS |
