Elimination of [14C]heptachlor from body stores of lactating ewes treated with ovine growth hormone

Elimination of [14C]heptachlor from body burdens of sheep was measured using mature ewes nursing single offspring, and the influence of exogenous ovine growth hormone (oGH) on elimination was studied. Six ewes (62 +/- 2.5 kg BW) were dosed (i.p.) once with [14C]heptachlor (2.04 mg/kg Bw; .88 microCi/mg heptachlor) and three were treated additionally with oGH (oGH; 5 mg/d) for 21 d. Three additional ewes served as controls. Excreta were collected each day for 21 d. Milk and blood were collected every 3rd d until ewes were euthanized at d 21. 14C activity was measured in excreta, milk, blood and tissues. Total cumulative activity of [14C]heptachlor and(or) metabolites in excreta (21 d) did not differ (P greater than .20) in ewes given oGH (25 +/- 2%) vs none (23 +/- 2%). Milk yield and protein content were unaffected (P greater than .10) by oGH. Ewes given oGH eliminated 2.2 +/- 2% of total 14C dosage into milk during 21 d, whereas ewes untreated with oGH eliminated 1.3 +/- .2% (P less than .10); total 14C activity eliminated into milk plus excreta was similar for ewes given oGH or none (P greater than .10). For all six ewes, half-times (T1/2) for distribution and elimination of 14C activity (heptachlor and metabolites) were 1.5 d and 11.7 d, respectively. Blood concentrations of 14C activity during 21 d yielded elimination half-time as 23 d. Unlike bovines, which eliminate heptachlor slowly (T1/2 approximately 70 to 80 d) and mainly into milk fat, lactating ovines eliminated heptachlor and(or) metabolites mainly into excreta and about sixfold faster than bovines.     

Evaluating the effect of calcium,magnesium and sodium supplementation of Merino ewes on their lambs' growth

Our study aimed to investigate responses to supplementation of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and sodium (Na) to lactating ewes and lambs grazing barley forage from lamb marking to weaning. A 10-ha paddock sown to barley was subdivided into eight plots as four replicates of two treatments. Merino ewes (n = 104) with lambs at foot were stratified to the eight plots (13 ewes and 21 lambs/plot) based on number of lambs (twin or single) and ewes' weight. Supplemented groups had access to mineral supplements (30 g/ewe/day) supplying 12 g/ewe/day ground limestone, 12 g/ewe/day Causmag® and 6 g/ewe/day coarse salt in a ratio of 2: 2: 1 by weight (as fed) from day 0 (a day before lamb marking) after sample collection. Control groups were not supplemented with minerals. Blood, milk and urine samples from ewes and blood from lambs were collected at different time points, namely, a day prior to lamb marking (day 0), 14 days after the commencement of study (day 14), and 28 days after the commencement of study (day 28). Weight of the lambs was also recorded at each time point. We found that the concentration of the forage minerals (Ca, Mg and potassium (K)) was lower on day 28 than on day 0 (P < 0.025). Liveweight gain was greater in the first 14 days compared with the second weight gain period (P < 0.001). The interaction of time and treatment was significant for liveweight (P < 0.001). Due to the improvement in weight gain of supplemented lambs, we recommend that mineral supplementation during late lactation is beneficial considering the low cost of minerals, even though the mineral content of the forage was not deficient.     

Fate of [14C]coumaphos after dermal application to lactating goats as a pour-on formulation

Two lactating Nubian goats were dermally treated with [14C]coumaphos (O-[3-chloro-4-methyl-2-oxo-2H-benzopyran-7-yl] O,O-diethyl phosphorothioate) as a 4% active ingredient pour-on formulation. Doses were administered, along the dorsal midline from withers to sacrum, at a rate equivalent to 14 mg of coumaphos/kg of body weight. During the 7 days after treatment, an average of less than 0.1, 4.7, and 1% of the administered dose was eliminated in the milk, urine, and feces, respectively. When goats were killed after 7 days, about 45% of the administered radiocarbon remained on the hair and skin, and this consisted almost entirely of intact coumaphos. Residues in selected tissues collected after 7 days were, in every case, less than 1 mg of coumaphos equivalent/kg of tissue, with highest residues in adipose tissue, followed by residues in kidney and liver. In milk, residue amounts plateaued after about 2 days and remained relatively constant at about 0.1 mg of coumaphos equivalent/kg of milk. Residues in adipose tissue and in milk consisted mainly of unmetabolized coumaphos. In urine, most radiocarbon was present as metabolites of coumaphos, but in feces, most radiocarbon was present as the intact parent compound. Coumaphos was absorbed slowly and at a constant rate after dermal application to lactating goats as a pour-on formulation.     

Skeletal muscle protein synthesis and growth hormone secretion in young lambs treated with clenbuterol

To determine effects of clenbuterol (CB) on muscle protein turnover and growth hormone (GH) secretion, 16 crossbred wether lambs (14.4 kg) were randomized into two groups designated to receive daily oral boluses of gelatin capsules containing corn starch with either 0 (control, CTL) or 1.87 mg/kg body weight CB for either 14 (n = 8) or 28 d (n = 8). This calculates to be approximately 40 mg CB/kg diet. Lambs had ad libitum access to a 16% crude protein corn-soy diet and feed consumption (FC) was measured. After 14 and 28 d, lambs were slaughtered and semitendinosus (ST), longissimus (LD) and brachialis (BR) muscles were exercised, weighed and analyzed for protein (TP) content. For 6 h prior to slaughter of 28-d lambs, 2.5 microCi L-[U-14C]tyrosine/kg was infused intravenously, blood was sampled and plasma was analyzed for specific radioactivity of tyrosine. Plasma GH concentrations were assessed by radioimmunoassay. No differences due to treatment were found in FC, rate of gain or GH concentrations. Semitendinosus and BR weights of control lambs at 14 d did not differ between treatments. At 28 d, ST and BR weights of control lambs (58.8 and 18.5 g, respectively) were less (P less than .10) than those of lambs treated with CB (74.3 and 23.1 g, respectively). The TP per ST and BR at 28 d for control lambs was 71.5 and 85.1% (P less than .10) that of muscles of lambs treated with CB. Fractional protein synthesis rates (FSR) of the BR (9.4 vs 6.1%/d) and total protein synthesized in ST muscle per day (1.4 vs .8 g) were elevated (P less than .10) in lambs treated with CB compared to controls. These data suggest that the increased fractional accretion rate observed in lambs treated with CB for 28 d was caused by increased FSR.     

Digestibility and dry matter intake of diets containing alfalfa and kenaf

Two experiments were conducted to determine the dietary value of pellets containing kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus cv. 'Everglade 41') hay. Averaged across both experiments, kenaf pellets contained 82.6% kenaf hay, 16.6% liquid molasses, and 0.8% mineral oil. The chemical composition of the kenaf pellet was 12.6% crude protein (CP), 41.2% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and 14.4% acid detergent fiber (ADF). In Exp. 1 (digestion and N balance trial), 18 lambs (body weight [BW] = 36.4 kg) were blocked by BW. Lambs were randomly assigned within a block to Diet 1 (59.5% corn and 40.5% alfalfa pellet), Diet 2 (59.7% corn, 28.4% alfalfa pellets, and 11.9% kenaf pellets), or Diet 3 (59.6% corn, 16.5% alfalfa pellets, and 23.9% kenaf pellets). Diets were formulated so that CP was the first-limiting nutrient. Each diet was limit-fed at 2.4% of BW. Replacing alfalfa pellets with kenaf pellets tended to decrease (P = 0.10) CP and ADF intakes, but increased (P = 0.01) DM digestibility. Diet had no effect (P = 0.33) on N balance. In Exp. 2 (dry matter [DM] intake trial), 32 lambs (BW = 30.4 kg) were blocked by gender and BW. Within a block, lambs were randomly assigned to one of four diets in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. Main effects were hay (bermudagrass or fescue) and supplemental protein source (kenaf or alfalfa pellets). Lambs were housed in individual pens with ad libitum access to the assigned hay. Supplemental protein was fed (185 g of DM) once daily. Hay intake was measured weekly for 8 wk. Lambs consumed more (P = 0.002) fescue than bermudagrass hay (743 vs 621 g/ d). Lambs fed fescue hay gained weight more rapidly (P = 0.001) than lambs fed bermudagrass hay (120 vs 72 g/d). Hay intake and ADG were similar (P = 0.90) for lambs fed alfalfa or kenaf pellets. Kenaf hay mixed with molasses and mineral oil can be formed into a pellet. In the diets used in this experiments, kenaf pellets can replace alfalfa pellets in diets fed to lambs without altering forage intake, gain, or N retention.     

补饲高蛋白质、高脂肪精饲料对驴产乳量和乳成分的影响

本试验旨在研究补饲高蛋白质、高脂肪精饲料对驴产乳量和乳成分的影响。选择 ３～７岁的健康泌乳母驴 ３４头,设 Ａ（１２头）、Ｂ（１０头）和 Ｃ（１２头）３个区,共 ５个处理。所有驴饲喂基础饲粮。每个区均设对照组,各试验组驴分别补饲粗蛋白质水平为 ３１．４４％（试验 １组,Ａ区,４头）、粗脂肪水平为 ２５．７７％［２０％棉籽油（试验 ２组,Ａ区,４头）、２０％葵花籽油（试验 ３组,Ｂ区,５头）、２０％菜籽油（试验 ４组,Ｃ区,６头）］的试验精饲料 １．５ｋｇ／ｄ。预试期 １４ｄ,正试期１４ｄ。结果表明：１）除含 ２０％葵花籽油的试验精饲料外,其余试验精饲料采食量（＞１３００ｇ／ｄ）均达到预期的采食量,且未出现消化异常,表明所用精饲料适口性较好,驴对它们有较好的适应性;２）补饲含 ２０％棉籽油和含 ２０％菜籽油的试验精饲料均显著提高了驴日均产乳量（Ｐ＜０．０５）,驴日均产乳量可达 １．５ｋｇ／ｄ,而日均总泌乳量可达 ４ｋｇ／ｄ;３）补饲不同试验精饲料对乳成分无显著影响（Ｐ＞０．０５）,驴乳中乳蛋白、乳糖、粗灰分含量较稳定,而乳脂含量变化非常大。总之,补饲高蛋白质、高脂肪的精饲料可提高驴产乳量,但对乳成分的影响不明显。     

Influence of dietary palm oil supplementation on serum lipid metabolites, carcass characteristics, and lipid composition of carcass tissues of growing ram and ewe lambs.

The objective of this research was to determine the influence of dietary palm oil supplementation on carcass characteristics and lipid composition of tissues from growing lambs. Twenty-eight Suffolk x Hampshire lambs were weaned at 60 d of age (average 36 kg BW) and assigned to a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement consisting of diet (control [NPO] or 10.6% added dietary palm oil [PO]) and sex (ram vs ewe). The NPO diet (77% forage and 23% concentrate) contained 11.2% CP and 2.66 Mcal of ME/kg. Palm oil replaced molasses in the PO diet. Lambs were individually given ad libitum access to feed for 60 d to a final BW average of 50.1 kg. Lipid composition of the longissimus muscle and corresponding subcutaneous (s.c.) adipose tissue was determined by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC). Lambs fed PO were fatter (P less than .01) than lambs fed NPO (.77 vs .56 cm, s.c. fat). Diet had no effect on cholesterol content of lean tissue; however, feeding PO increased the saturated fatty acids of lean tissue. The s.c. fat from lambs fed PO had less (P less than .01) cholesterol (64.79 vs 89.67 mg/100 g) and more saturated fatty acids than that from lambs fed NPO. Ewes were fatter (P less than .01) than rams, yet they had less cholesterol content in the s.c. adipose tissue (68.71 vs 85.74 mg/100 g). High amounts of dietary palm oil fed to growing lambs caused changes in fatty acid deposition and cholesterol metabolism and may be a useful investigative tool to study lipid metabolism in growing ruminants.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of drying methods on nitrogen and energy concentrations in pig feces and urine, and poultry excreta

Accurate estimations of nutrient digestion and retention are critical in nutrient balance and feed evaluation studies because errors that occur are often additive. However, there is no standard universal method for drying feces, urine, or excreta before laboratory analysis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of 4 different drying methods on nutrient concentrations in feces, urine, and excreta. Twelve individually penned growing pigs were fed 1 of 3 diets and 16 pens of 10 growing broilers were fed 1 of 4 diets that differed in NDF and CP. Feces, urine, and excreta that varied in nutrient composition were collected after 7 d of diet adaptation. Samples were dried using 1 of 4 methods: undried (UD), freeze-dried (FD), oven-dried at 55 °C for 48 h (OD55), or oven-dried at 100 °C for 48 h (OD100), after which DM, GE, N, C, and S were determined. In swine feces, drying resulted in a loss of GE (P < 0.10) and S (P < 0.01) by 5 and 58%, respectively, compared with UD feces. There was no difference (P ≥ 0.36) among drying method on DM, GE, N, C, or S concentrations. There were no differences (P ≥ 0.12) in urinary GE due to drying or between drying methods; however, urinary DM was greatest by FD compared with OD (P < 0.05) and greater for OD55 compared with OD100 (P < 0.01). In poultry excreta, GE (P < 0.05), N (P < 0.10), and S (P < 0.01) were reduced by drying by an average of 6, 10, and 66%, respectively. There were no differences (P ≥ 0.50) among drying methods except FD excreta had a greater S concentration than OD (P < 0.10). Regardless of drying method, some GE and N loss appears to be inevitable, but there is no apparent advantage between FD and OD. The apparent greater S losses warrant further investigation.     

14C]-aflatoxin B1 metabolism in lactating goats and rats

Four dairy goats in the second to third month of lactation were administered [14C]-Aflatoxin B1 ( [14C]-AFB1). Two goats were dosed intravenously (iv) with 130 muCi (182 muCi/mumol) and two were dosed orally with 196 muCi (256 muCi/mumol). Urine, milk and feces were collected for 120 h after [14C]-AFB1 administration. Recoveries (average of two animals) of 14C in urine, milk and feces were, respectively; 22.7, .97 and 65% (iv dose) and 30.9, 1.05 and 52.3% (oral dose). Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) was found in milk in the highest concentration. Aflatoxin Q1 (AFQ1) and aflatoxicol (AFL) were found in trace quantities in milk of animals administered the oral dose. In general, AFM1 could account for the majority of dicholromethane-soluble 14C. Liver contained 7.3 and 4.9% of the dose after 120 h for the iv and oral doses respectively. Kidney, heart, lung and spleen all contained .1% or less of the dose at 120 h. Muscle contained .48% of the dose at 120 h from the goats administered [14C]-AFB1 orally. There was no detectable radioactivity in the fat of any goat at 120 h. Six lactating Sprague-Dawley rats with 12 nursing pups were used for comparison of ruminants and simple-stomached animals. Rats were administered 2 muCi of [14C]-AFB1 (125 muCi/mumol) iv (three animals) and orally (three animals). Mean recovery of 14C in urine, mammary plus milk and feces were, respectively; 9.5, 2.0 and 60.7% (iv) and 8.8, 2.6 and 65.0% (orally).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

中药复方对泌乳牛生产性能和瘤胃发酵参数的影响

[目的]为研究中药复方对泌乳牛生产性能和瘤胃发酵参数的影响。[方法]选取40 头泌乳牛随机分为四组,即对照组、试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ组,对照组奶牛饲喂基础日粮,试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ组在基础日粮中分别添加100 g/d、200 g/d、300 g/d中药复方。预试期7 天后连续饲喂30 天,试验期结束时检测生产性能指标和瘤胃发酵参数。[结果]与对照组相比,试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ组平均日增重、平均日采食量显著提高（P<0.05）,料重比显著降低（P<0.05）;产奶量、4%标准乳产量及所产牛奶中的乳脂率显著升高（P<0.05）,体细胞数显著降低（P<0.05）;奶牛瘤胃液pH显著降低,总挥发性脂肪酸显著升高（P<0.05）。[结论]中药复方提高了泌乳牛的生产性能,改善了瘤胃发酵情况。     

A rare Cryptosporidium parvum genotype associated with infection of lambs and zoonotic transmission in Italy

An outbreak of cryptosporidiosis occurred in a mixed sheep/cattle farm of Central Italy in October 2011. A total of 450 ovines (250 sheep and 200 lambs) and 140 bovines (130 cows and 10 calves) were housed in two separated units, at the time of the outbreak. About half of the lambs had diarrhea due to Cryptosporidium sp. with a mortality rate of 80%; calves were not infected. Genomic DNA was extracted from an archived slide and from fecal specimens, and the parasite was identified as Cryptosporidium parvum by PCR and sequence analysis at the CpA135 gene. Genotyping at the GP60 gene showed the presence of a very rare genotype, IIaA20G2R1. Shortly after the outbreak was identified, the son of the farm's owner, aged 18 months, experienced an acute gastroenteritis and was hospitalized due to recurrent episodes of diarrhea, fever, vomiting and lack of appetite. The feces tested negative for bacteria and viruses, whereas cryptosporidiosis was diagnosed by microscopy and an immunochromatographic test. Molecular typing identified the C. parvum genotype IIaA20G2R1 in the feces of the child. This is the first case of transmission of cryptosporidiosis in Italy involving lambs as source of oocysts infectious to humans.     

The incidence of Dicrocoelium dendriticum in Emmental

A cross-sectional field study on the prevalence of Dicrocoelium dendriticum was performed in the Emmental. The study included 211 bovines, 170 equines, 20 ovines, 46 caprines and 23 rabbits (from 119 farms). In addition, laboratory routine diagnostic data obtained from 2.840 animals--all originating from the same area of investigation--were assessed in the same way. The infection extent concerning the different animal species were the following: bovines 46%, equines 12%, ovines 30%, caprines 48% and rabbits 9%. Univariate analyses of baseline epidemiological data identified no significant risk factors, with the exception of the type of stable used. Bovines kept in a modern free ranging stable had a significantly lower chance of infection with D. dendriticum than cattle in conventional tie stalls. The epidemiological data characterizing the area of investigation suggest the following procedure to reduce the problem of dicrocoeliosis: Pasturing animals of all ages should be regularly dewormed (e.g. every six week during pasture) using a compound effective against D. dendriticum. A treatment is especially indicated at the time after pasture in autumn or before housing the animals in winter. In spring, only animals having pastured the year before need to be treated prior to pasture in the new year. However, it is recommended to perform an economic analysis comparing costs of treatment versus putative costs of damage prior to the initiation of a strategic campaign: animal welfare aspects have to be considered. The laboratory routine diagnostic data showed infection extent similar to those of the cross-sectional study: bovines 60%, equines 24%, ovines 26%, caprines 31%, rabbits 32%. Atypical hosts such as dogs and cats exhibited low infection extent (3% and 1%, respectively), rather reflecting a gastro-intestinal passage of parasite eggs ingested by consumption of infected livers or by coprophagy of ruminant faeces.     

Effects of feeding and animal performance on nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium excretion by Holstein cows

Thirty‐four Holstein dry cows and 16 lactating cows were used in balance trials to identify the effects of feeding and animal performance on nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) excretion by dairy cows, and to develop prediction models for these excreta. Orchard grass silage, corn silage, alfalfa silage or timothy hay were offered to dry cows. Orchard grass silage or alfalfa silage, and concentrates were offered to lactating cows. In the statistical analysis, the independent variables were bodyweight (kg), dry matter (DM) intake (kg/day), milk yield (for lactating cows only, kg/day), water intake (free water plus water in feed, kg/day), intake (g/day) of N, P and K and dietary contents (% of DM) of crude protein, P and K. The dependent variables were N, P and K excretion (g/day) in feces and urine. In both dry and lactating cows, intake of N, P and K had large effects on corresponding excretion. The results indicated that a decrease in the intake of N, P and K could decrease the corresponding excretion. Further research by path analysis showed that K intake positively affected urinary N excretion in dry cows indirectly, through water intake and urine volume.     

Fate and residues of [4-14C]estradiol-17 beta after intramuscular injection into Holstein steer calves

Radiocarbon-labeled estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,17 beta-diol [4-14C-estradiol-17 beta; beta-estradiol] was suspended in commercial peanut oil and administered to each of three Holstein steer calves (142 to 170 kg body weight) by deep injection into neck muscle via 2.0 ml peanut oil carrier. The dosages were equivalent to .27 to .29 mg beta-estradiol/kg body weight. After dosing, radiocarbon was rapidly and almost totally eliminated in urine and feces. Most of the administered radiocarbon had been eliminated after 2 d, and by 11 d after treatment no radiocarbon was detectable in urine or feces of any calf. Of the total dose, 42.1 +/- 3.8% was excreted in urine and 57.7 +/- 5.2% was eliminated in feces. Analysis of noninjection site tissue samples (blood, brain, fat, kidney, liver and muscle) collected at sacrifice 14 d after treatment showed that none contained detectable radiocarbon residues, with the sensitivity limit for most tissues being 6 ppb beta-estradiol equivalent. Certain sections of muscle taken from the injection site area did contain detectable radiocarbon residues (as much as 69 ppb beta-estradiol equivalent), but total injection site area residues in each calf comprised less than .07% of the total administered dose. Radiocarbon in urine consisted primarily of alpha-estradiol, with much lesser amounts of estrone. Both compounds occurred as nonconjugates and as glucuronides. beta-Estradiol was not detected in urine. Radiocarbon in feces included primarily alpha-estradiol but also beta-estradiol and estrone, each in non-conjugated form. The fact that most of the intramuscular-administered beta-estradiol was eliminated in the feces strongly suggests a major role for biliary excretion in the disposition of this steroid by steer calves.     

Nitrogen balance in lambs fed a high-concentrate diet and infused with differing proportions of casein in the rumen and abomasum

Twenty-five wether lambs (34 +/- 0.9 kg) fitted with ruminal and abomasal infusion catheters were used in a completely randomized design to determine the effects of differing proportions of ruminal and abomasal casein infusion on N balance in lambs fed a high-concentrate diet (85% corn grain, 1.6% N; DM basis) for ad libitum intake. Wethers were infused with 0 (control) or 10.4 g/d of N from casein with ruminal:abomasal infusion ratios of 100:0, 67:33, 33:67, or 0:100% over a 14-d period. Feed, orts, feces, and urine were collected over the last 5 d. Total N intake and excretion were greater (P < 0.01) in lambs infused with casein than in controls; however, N retention did not differ in lambs infused with casein compared with controls, suggesting that N requirements were met without casein supplementation. Total N intake and total N excretion did not differ among casein infusion treatments. Urinary N excretion decreased linearly (P = 0.07) with decreasing ruminal infusion of casein. Site of casein infusion quadratically (P = 0.06) influenced N retained (g/d), with the greatest retention observed in the 33:67 ruminal:abomasal infusion treatment. Dry matter intake from feed decreased from 1,183 to 945 g/d (P = 0.02) in lambs infused with casein compared with controls, but apparently digested DM did not differ among treatments. These data indicate that decreasing the ruminal degradability of supplemental protein above that required to maximize N retention results in decreased urinary excretion of N without greatly affecting apparent diet digestion.     

35～50kg道赛特×小尾寒羊杂交公羔矿物质需要量研究

本试验旨在研究35~50 kg道赛特×小尾寒羊杂交公羔钙、磷、钾、钠、镁的维持需要量和净生长需要量。选取(34.54±0.40)kg、6月龄道赛特×小尾寒羊杂交公羔25只分为5组,初期组,中期组,末期100%组、末期60%组、末期40%组(饲喂水平分别为100%、60%、40%),初期组、中期组、末期组分别在羔羊体重为35、43和50 kg时屠宰。测定动物体组织中的钙、磷、钾、钠、镁含量,建立数学模型对矿物质的维持需要量和净生长需要量进行预测。结果显示:道寒杂交公羔在35~50 kg体重阶段,钙、磷、钾、钠、镁的维持需要量分别为0.73、0.72、0.32、0.32、0.13 g/d,基于空腹体重(EBW)的净生长需要量分别为13.47~14.00 g/kg EBW、7.18~7.41 g/kg EBW、0.13~0.17 g/kg EBW、1.20~1.73 g/kg EBW、0.45~0.58 g/kg EBW。本研究得出了35~50 kg道赛特×小尾寒羊杂交公羔矿物质维持需要量和净生长需要量的模型。     

Fate of [14C]xanthotoxin (8-methoxypsoralen) in a goat and in bovine ruminal fluid

A lactating Nubian goat was treated with [14C]xanthotoxin, a photosensitizing psoralen that occurs naturally in some phototoxic range plants, as a single oral dose equivalent to 10.0 mg of xanthotoxin/kg of body weight. The radiochemical was rapidly absorbed, metabolized, and excreted. Although expired air was not monitored for the presence of volatile radiocarbon, the data indicated that greater than 50% of the administered [14C]xanthotoxin was metabolized by cleavage of the O-[14C]methyl moiety, with subsequent loss of the label as, presumably, [14C]CO2. Studies with bovine ruminal fluid in vitro indicated that cleavage of the O-methyl moiety of xanthotoxin could occur rapidly in the rumen. In the goat, nonmetabolized xanthotoxin was not excreted in urine, and of several metabolites in urine extracts, 3 were identified as resulting from opening of the furan or lactone ring. Only about 2% of the dose was recovered in the feces, and this consisted mainly of unmetabolized xanthotoxin. Although appreciable amounts of radiocarbon were secreted into milk, this radiocarbon was not in the form of xanthotoxin or any identifiable metabolites. The radiocarbon in milk likely resulted from the biosynthetic incorporation of [14C]CO2 into normal milk components.     

Altered metabolic hormones, impaired nitrogen retention, and hepatotoxicosis in lambs fed Kochia scoparia hay

Livestock grazing lush Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad, sometimes experience BW loss, hyperbilirubinemia, photosensitization, and polyuria. Animals fed kochia hay may exhibit milder or negligible signs of toxicosis but fail to utilize nutrients efficiently. To characterize early aspects of kochia toxicosis and to evaluate prospective treatments, 12 wether lambs (34 +/- 3 kg) were fed prebloom kochia hay (83% OM, 15% CP, and 6.3% total oxalate) and treated as follows: 1) no treatment; 2) drenched daily with aqueous ZnSO4 to provide 30 mg of Zn/kg of BW); 3) injected i.p. twice weekly with N-acetyl-L-cysteine (CYS) in saline (21 mg/kg of BW) plus trans-stilbene oxide (TSO) in corn oil (27 mg/kg of BW); and 4) treated as 2) plus 3). Treatments were imposed factorially (2 x 2) with three lambs per treatment. Kochia intake (ad libitum) averaged .57 kg/d (1.7% of BW) for 80 d, and digestibility of DM and CP were 44 and 59%, respectively, at wk 4, but BW loss was severe (6 to 11 kg/lamb). After 14 d, serum insulin and prolactin were decreased (P less than .05) below initial values (.48 to .11 and 102 to 28 ng/ml, respectively). Serum somatotropin increased (P less than .05) from 4.5 to 6.8 ng/ml at 4 wk. Serum total bilirubin increased threefold at 3 wk (P less than .05) and declined slightly thereafter through 10 wk. Early changes in serum enzymes reflected mild hepatotoxicosis without cholestasis, whereas histopathology (at 80 d) showed diffuse hepatocyte swelling and nephrosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Impacts of maternal selenium and nutritional level on growth, adiposity, and glucose tolerance in female offspring in sheep

To examine effects of maternal nutrition and Se intake on adiposity and insulin sensitivity in female offspring, treatments were imposed during gestation on 82 pregnant primiparous Rambouillet ewe lambs (52.2 ± 0.8 kg) allotted randomly to 1 of 6 treatments in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement. Factors were adequate (9.5 μg Se·kg BW(-1)·d(-1); ASe) or high (81.8 μg Se·kg BW(-1)·d(-1); HSe) levels of dietary Se (Se-enriched yeast) and maternal nutritional intake (100% of metabolizable energy [ME] requirement [MOD], 60% of MOD [LOW], and 140% of MOD [HIGH]). Selenium treatments were initiated at breeding and global nutritional treatments at day 50 of gestation. At parturition, lambs were removed from ewes before nursing and managed similarly. Glucose tolerance tests were performed at 107 and 148 d of age. Necropsies were performed at 180 d of age. Although there was no effect of Se on maternal body condition or weight during gestation, both maternal nutritional intake and selenium treatment influenced (P ≤ 0.04) offspring growth and response to a glucose tolerance test. Female lambs from HSe ewes were heavier (P = 0.04) at birth. There were nutritional intake and Se interactions (P ≤ 0.05) on the growth rate of the lambs and their insulin response to a glucose bolus at 2 different times during growth. By 180 d, ewe lambs from HSe ewes had more (P ≤ 0.07) internal fat stores than lambs from ASe ewes. It appears that both maternal nutritional level and Se intake can influence insulin sensitivity, and maternal Se intake alone can enhance fat deposition in female offspring.     

Excretion mass balance evaluation,metabolite profile analysis and metabolite identification in plasma and excreta after oral administration of [14C]‐meloxicam to the male cat: preliminary study

Grudé, P., Guittard, J., Garcia, C., Daoulas, I., Thoulon, F., Ebner, T. Excretion mass balance evaluation, metabolite profile analysis and metabolite identification in plasma and excreta after oral administration of [¹⁴C]‐meloxicam to the male cat: preliminary study. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. doi: 10.1111/j.1365‐2885.2010.01157.x. The objective of this study was to investigate the metabolic pathways and routes of excretion of oral meloxicam in the cat. [¹⁴C]‐meloxicam was administered orally to three fasted male cats. Urine, faeces, vomit and cage washes were collected over the following 144 h period. Blood was collected predosing and at 3 and 12 h postdosing. Metabolites were identified by HPLC/MS/MS. When possible a metabolic structure was proposed for each metabolite detected. Only unchanged meloxicam was identified in plasma. Five major metabolites were detected in urine and four in faeces, which were identified by HPLC/MS/MS as products of oxidative metabolism. No conjugated metabolites were detected. Elimination occurred early (61% during the first 48 h). A total of 21% of the recovered dose was eliminated in urine (2% as unchanged meloxicam, 19% as metabolites) and 79% in the faeces (49% as unchanged meloxicam, 30% as metabolites). The results indicate that after oral administration the major route of excretion of meloxicam in the cat is faecal and that the main pathway of biotransformation of meloxicam in the cat is oxidation.