Weight gain, reproduction, and survival of Syrian hamsters fed five natural ingredient diets

Five natural ingredient diets were fed from weaning until 75 weeks of age to groups of 50 male and 50 female Syrian hamsters. Two of the diets were commercially available, and the other three were formulated and prepared in our laboratory. All females were mated with males fed the same diet, and three litters from each female were observed until weaning. The parent generation of animals was maintained until 50% of the longest surviving group had died. At the time all survivors were killed. Growth rates were similar with all diets, however, body weights were significantly different in both sexes for mature animals fed different diets, with animals fed one of the commercial rations weighing less than animals fed any of the other diets. The percentage of the pairs delivering, the number of offspring weaned per litter, and the body weights of the offspring were similar for animals fed the five diets. However, the total number of offspring weaned was greatest with a diet containing corn, soy, and alfalfa; and the percentage of stillborn litters was lowest with the corn, soy, and alfalfa diet and one of the commercial diets. Death rates were significantly different for male hamsters receiving the five diets. Animals fed one of the commercial diets died earlier than animals fed the other diets.