Body composition in mink (Mustela vison) kits during 21-42 days postpartum using estimates of hydrogen isotope dilution and direct carcass analysis

We compared carcass analysis and hydrogen isotope dilution methods to measure total body water (TBW) and body composition in a small altricial carnivore, the mink. Dilution space (D) of mink at 21-42 days of age (n=20), was determined after subcutaneous administration of tritiated water. The same animals were then used to determine TBW and body composition by carcass analysis and to derive predictive empirical relationships between TBW and total body fat, protein and energy. A separate validation set of 27 kits was used to test the accuracy of predicting body composition from TBW. D overestimated TBW by a consistent and predictable 4.1% (R(2)=0.999, P<0.001). Our estimates of fat, protein and energy content, using equations derived from TBW, were not significantly different than those obtained from direct carcass analysis (P>0.980) in either the initial or validation set of mink. TBW was shown to decrease from 81 to 76% and total body protein to increase from 14 to 19% of LBM of the kits from 21 to 42 days of age. Although a rapidly changing hydration state was apparent in neonates, we conclude that when this is taken into account, accurate estimates of body composition can be obtained from hydrogen isotope dilution.