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Correlation between blood and milk serum leptin in goats and growth of their offspring

N. C. Whitley^*,1, E. L. Walker, S. A. Harley^*,2, D. H. Keisler and D. J. Jackson^*

^* Department of Agriculture, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne 21853; and Department of Agriculture, Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield 65804; and and Department of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211

¹ Correspondence: Trigg Hall, Backbone Rd. (phone: 410-651-6194; fax: 410-651-6207; e-mail: nwhitley{at}umes.edu).

Boer and Boer crossbred meat-type does were used in two experiments to determine whether goat milk serum contains leptin and to investigate possible correlations of milk and serum leptin in does and subsequent growth of their offspring. Blood and milk samples were collected within 2 h of kidding (d 0) from 20 (Exp. 1; spring) or 22 does (Exp. 2; the following fall). Blood milk samples were then collected again on d 0.5, 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, and 56 (Exp. 1) or d 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, and 21 (Exp. 2). Body weights of kids were recorded on d 0, and BW of kids and does were recorded weekly beginning on d 7 (kids) or 21 (does), with BCS also recorded for does beginning on d 28 for Exp. 1 and on d 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, and 21 for Exp. 2. Leptin was detected in colostral milk and was influenced by days postpartum, decreasing (P < 0.001) over time with an average of 4.4 ± 0.3 ng/mL (Exp. 1) and 18.1 ± 1.0 ng/mL (Exp. 2) on d 0 compared with 1.0 ± 0.3 ng/mL on d 56 (Exp. 1) and 2.9 ± 0.2 ng/mL on d 21 (Exp. 2). Day postpartum and milk serum leptin were negatively correlated (P < 0.001) for Exp. 1 (r = –0.27) and Exp. 2 (r = –0.46). For Exp. 1 only, blood serum leptin tended (P = 0.09) to be influenced by day, with a weak positive correlation (r = 0.15; P < 0.02). Weak positive correlations (P < 0.01) were found between blood serum leptin and doe BCS (r = 0.42 in Exp. 1, and r = 0.13 in Exp. 2) and doe BW (r = 0.44 in Exp. 1, and r = 0.26 in Exp. 2), with the absence of a stronger relationship likely due in part to the short time period measured and the lack of significant changes in BCS and BW during that time. In conclusion, leptin was present in milk and blood serum of does, and blood serum leptin was weakly correlated with doe BW and BCS, but it was not related to kid BW. Therefore, further studies are needed to clarify the relationships involving milk and serum leptin in goats.

Key Words: Correlation • Growth • Leptin • Meat Goats • Milk