Effects of protein and energy intake, body condition, and season on nutrient partitioning and milk production in caribou and reindeer

Abstract

We used captive caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) to study the effects of energy intake, protein intake, dietary protein:energy ratio, date, and body condition on (i) body fat versus body protein deposition and (ii) maternal tissue deposition versus milk production. Energy intake was the only variable significantly affecting body mass (BM) changes in either breeding or nonbreeding adult females. Lactating and nonlactating females had comparable efficiency coefficients for net energy retention (60 and 65%, respectively), but the daily maintenance requirement for lactating females (457 kJ/BM0.75) was twice that for nonlactating individuals (232 kJ/BM0.75). In both lactating and nonlactating females, the proportion of tissue deposited as fat rather than protein increased between spring and fall but decreased with increasing fatness. Energy intake increased protein deposition in lactating females but increased fat deposition in nonlactating females. Milk water volume increased with maternal energy intake and decreased with calf age. However, production of milk dry matter, milk fat, and milk energy were not affected by maternal energy or protein intake, maternal body condition, or calf age. Production of milk lactose correlated with maternal energy intake, while production of milk protein correlated with the maternal dietary protein:energy ratio.