Maintenance Energy Requirements of Exercised Labrador Retrievers

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the maintenance energy requirements of exercised and active Labrador Retrievers. Two similar studies were performed over the course of two years. Study 1 utilized 40 Labrador Retrievers (22 Male/18 Female) and Study 2 utilized 56 Labrador Retrievers (28 Male/28 Female). All dogs were fed the same basal diet (Study 1, ME=3987kcal ME/kg; Study 2, ME=3988kcal ME/kg), and were exercised for 14 weeks per study. In Study 1, all dogs performed one long endurance run per week increasingly incrementally from 8.046km to a final long run of 24.14km. All dogs also performed retrieving sprint runs twice weekly (increasingly incrementally from 549m to 1097m) that mimicked an AKC retriever hunt test. In Study 2, all dogs performed two long endurance runs per week, increasing incrementally from 8.046km to a final long run of 24.14km. All dogs wore Actical® accelerometer and Garmin® GPS collars during exercise to quantify work effort. During the long endurance runs, the dogs ran alongside an all-terrain vehicle and were free to run, play, and swim. All feed intake and refusals were weighed each day for each dog to determine energy consumption. All dogs were scanned using a dual energy x-ray ab-sorptiometry machine for body composition at both baseline and at the conclusion of the study, to determine fat and lean mass gain and loss. To determine the approximate kcal value per Actical® accelerometer unit, 10 additional Labrador Retrievers (5 Male/5 Female) were exercised on a high performance treadmill while wearing Actical ® collars. Open-circuit indirect calorimetry was utilized to determine energy expenditure while the dogs ran on the treadmill at a prescribed speed and distance. The caloric value of one Actical® accelerometer unit was calculated based on energy expenditure readings and used to approximate the energy expenditure of the dogs running in the field. 1. Finke, M. D., 1991. Evaluation of the energy requirements of adult kennel dogs. J. Nutr. 121:S22-S28. 2. Patil, A.R., and Bisby, T.M., 2001. Comparison of maintenance energy requirement of client-owned dogs and kennel dogs. Purina Nutrition Forum, St. Louis, MO. 3.Wichert, B., Opitz, B., et al., 1999. Energy requirements of pet dogs. P. 90 in Proceedings, 24th WSAVA, 3rd Conference of the ESVCN, Lyon. Data pooled from both studies resulted in an average calculated basal MER of 169kcal ME/kg BW 0.75 for exercised Labrador Retrievers (Table 1, Figure 1). This basal MER was significantly higher than the values previously reported at 95kcal ME/kg BW 0.75 for pet dogs 3 and 138kcal ME/kg BW 0.75 for laboratory Labrador Retrievers 2 (p<0.0001). The average calculated MER including weekly exercise, pooled from both studies, was 192kcal ME/kg BW 0.75 (Table 2, Figure 2). Male Labrador Retrievers had a higher average basal MER of 184kcal ME/kg BW 0.75 , and higher MER including exercise of 207kcal ME/kg BW 0.75. Female Labrador Retrievers had a lower basal MER of 155kcal ME/kg BW 0.75 , and lower MER including exercise of 179kcal/kg BW 0.75. Throughout 14 weeks, the higher the energy output, the more efficient the dogs became at utilizing their energy intake. Feed intake and activity output are shown in Figures 3 & 4. A significant difference was observed between the two studies basal MER (p=0.0024) likely due to difference in temperatures as Study 1 was performed from February-May 2013, and the second study was performed during the warmer months of June-September, 2014. • Based on the findings in the present study, the basal MER of active Labrador Retrievers was determined to be 169kcal ME/kg BW 0.75. The basal MER of active male Labrador Retrievers was determined to be 184kcal ME/kg BW 0.75 , and the basal MER for female Lab-rador Retrievers was 155kcal ME/kg BW 0.75. • The MER including exercise of active Labrador Retrievers was determined to be 193kcal ME/kg BW 0.75. The MER including exercise of male Labrador Retrievers was determined to be 207kcal ME/kg BW 0.75 , and the MER including exercise of female Labrador Retrievers was 179kcal ME/kg BW 0.75. • The MER of Labrador Retrievers varied between seasons, with a higher observed MER during the cooler spring months and a lower MER during the summer months. All dogs were housed individually in climate controlled kennels at night and were aired in outside yards during the day for approximately 4-6 hours. All dogs were fed once daily in the morning, after exercise on exercise days. All dogs had free access to automatic waterers. Maintenance energy requirements (MER) of ca-nines can vary based upon breed, age, body weight, and temperature. Labrador Retrievers, the United States' most popular dog breed, have reported MER that can vary from 103kcal ME/kg BW 0.75 in senior laboratory Labradors 1 to 138kcal ME/kg BW 0.75 in average laboratory Labradors 2. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the MER of highly active Labrador Retrievers that performed strenuous running exercise weekly.

Full text

Maintenance Energy Requirements of Exercised Labrador Retrievers
Presented by Jessica L. Varney, Jason W. Fowler, Trenda C. McClaughry, Mary Ann Boggess, and Craig N. Coon at Four Rivers Kennel, LLC
The objecve of this study was to determine the
maintenance energy requirements of exercised and
acve Labrador Retrievers.
Two similar studies were performed over the course of two years.
Study 1 ulized 40 Labrador Retrievers (22 Male/18 Female) and Study 2 ulized 56
Labrador Retrievers (28 Male/28 Female). All dogs were fed the same basal diet
(Study 1, ME=3987kcal ME/kg; Study 2, ME=3988kcal ME/kg), and were exercised
for 14 weeks per study. In Study 1, all dogs performed one long endurance run per
week increasingly incrementally from 8.046km to a nal long run of 24.14km. All
dogs also performed retrieving sprint runs twice weekly (increasingly incrementally
from 549m to 1097m) that mimicked an AKC retriever hunt test. In Study 2, all dogs
performed two long endurance runs per week, increasing incrementally from
8.046km to a nal long run of 24.14km. All dogs wore Accal® accelerometer and
Garmin® GPS collars during exercise to quanfy work eort. During the long endur-
ance runs, the dogs ran alongside an all-terrain vehicle and were free to run, play,
and swim. All feed intake and refusals were weighed each day for each dog to de-
termine energy consumpon. All dogs were scanned using a dual energy x-ray ab-
sorpometry machine for body composion at both baseline and at the conclusion
of the study, to determine fat and lean mass gain and loss.
To determine the approximate kcal value per Accal® accelerometer unit, 10 addi-
onal Labrador Retrievers (5 Male/5 Female) were exercised on a high performance
treadmill while wearing Accal ® collars. Open-circuit indirect calorimetry was u-
lized to determine energy expenditure while the dogs ran on the treadmill at a pre-
scribed speed and distance. The caloric value of one Accal® accelerometer unit was
calculated based on energy expenditure readings and used to approximate the ener-
gy expenditure of the dogs running in the eld.
1. Finke, M. D., 1991. Evaluaon of the energy requirements of adult kennel dogs. J. Nutr.
121:S22-S28.
2. Pal, A.R., and Bisby, T.M., 2001. Comparison of maintenance energy requirement of
client-owned dogs and kennel dogs. Purina Nutrion Forum, St. Louis, MO.
3.Wichert, B., Opitz, B., et al., 1999. Energy requirements of pet dogs. P. 90 in Proceedings,
24th WSAVA, 3rd Conference of the ESVCN, Lyon.
Data pooled from both studies
resulted in an average calculated
basal MER of 169kcal ME/kg
BW0.75 for exercised Labrador Re-
trievers (Table 1, Figure 1). This
basal MER was signicantly high-
er than the values previously re-
ported at 95kcal ME/kg BW0.75
for pet dogs3 and 138kcal ME/kg
BW0.75 for laboratory Labrador Retrievers2 (p<0.0001). The average calculated MER in-
cluding weekly exercise, pooled from both studies, was 192kcal ME/kg BW0.75(Table 2,
Figure 2).
Male Labrador Retrievers had a higher average basal MER of 184kcal ME/kg BW0.75,
and higher MER including exercise of 207kcal ME/kg BW0.75. Female Labrador Retriev-
ers had a lower basal MER of 155kcal ME/kg BW0.75, and lower MER including exercise
of 179kcal/kg BW0.75.
Throughout 14 weeks, the higher the energy output, the more ecient the dogs be-
came at ulizing their energy intake. Feed intake and acvity output are shown in Fig-
ures 3 & 4. A signicant dierence was observed between the two studies basal MER
(p=0.0024) likely due to dierence in temperatures as Study 1 was performed from
February-May 2013, and the second study was performed during the warmer months
of June-September, 2014.
• Based on the ndings in the present study, the basal MER of acve Labrador Retrievers
was determined to be 169kcal ME/kg BW0.75. The basal MER of acve male Labrador Re-
trievers was determined to be 184kcal ME/kg BW0.75, and the basal MER for female Lab-
rador Retrievers was 155kcal ME/kg BW0.75.
• The MER including exercise of acve Labrador Retrievers was determined to be 193kcal
ME/kg BW0.75. The MER including exercise of male Labrador Retrievers was determined
to be 207kcal ME/kg BW0.75, and the MER including exercise of female Labrador Retriev-
ers was 179kcal ME/kg BW0.75.
• The MER of Labrador Retrievers varied between seasons, with a higher observed MER
during the cooler spring months and a lower MER during the summer months.
All dogs were housed individually in climate con-
trolled kennels at night and were aired in outside
yards during the day for approximately 4-6 hours.
All dogs were fed once daily in the morning, aer
exercise on exercise days. All dogs had free access
to automac waterers.
Maintenance energy requirements (MER) of ca-
nines can vary based upon breed, age, body
weight, and temperature. Labrador Retrievers, the
United States’ most popular dog breed, have re-
ported MER that can vary from 103kcal ME/kg
BW0.75 in senior laboratory Labradors1 to 138kcal
ME/kg BW0.75 in average laboratory Labradors2. The
purpose of the present study was to invesgate the
MER of highly acve Labrador Retrievers that per-
formed strenuous running exercise weekly.
Objecve
Conclusion
Results Experimental Design
Basal MER kcal ME/kg BW 0.75 Table 1
Study 1 Study 2 Pooled
Overall 183.02 155.34 169.18
Males 189.46 177.94 183.7
Females 175.16 134.29 154.73
Calorie expenditure per kilometer during running exercise was calculated based on an
average speed of 16.17kph.
Introducon
Animals and Housing References
Calorie Expenditure per KM
KM Ran 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
46.57 53.92 61.25 68.55 75.83 83.07 90.29 97.49 104.66 111.8 118.91
Avg Kcal/kg
BW0.75 per
KM
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 KM Ran
126 133.07 140.1 147.11 154.09 161.04 167.98 174.88 181.76 188.61 195.43
Avg Kcal/kg
BW0.75 per
KM
100
120
140
160
180
200
220
240
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1011121314
kcal ME·kg BW0.75
Week
Maintenance Energy Requirements
(kcal ME·kg BW0.75)
MER All MER Males MER Females
0
100
200
300
400
500
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11121314
kcal
Week
Average Activity Output per Day (kcal)
Activity All Activity Males Activity Females
1500
1700
1900
2100
2300
2500
2700
2900
3100
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1011121314
kcal ME
Week
Feed Intake (kcal ME)
Intake All Intake Males Intake Females
MER Including Exercise kcal ME/kg BW 0.75 Table 2
Study 1 Study 2 Pooled
Overall 203.9 181.92 192.91
Males 209.47 203.69 206.58
Females 197.1 161.65 179.38
0
50
100
150
200
250
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1011121314
kcal ME·kg BW0.75
Week
MER Including Exercise (kcal ME·kg
BW0.75)
All Male Female
Figure 1 Figure 2
Figure 3 Figure 4