Estimation of daily urinary potassium excretion using urinary creatinine as an index substance in prepartum dairy cows

In the present study, the daily excretion of potassium (K) in urine (urinary K(UK)) was estimated from a 6 h urine sample using urinary creatinine (UC) as the index substance. All urine was collected from six pregnant Holstein cows at 6 h intervals for 24 h on 3 days of the 4th, 2nd and final week before the expected date of parturition. In total, 72 6 h urine samples were obtained. Daily UC excretion (mg/day per kg bodyweight (BW)) was almost the same for the three sampling days. Daily UC excretion varied among cows from 22.1 to 24.3 mg/day per kg BW with a mean of 22.8 mg/day per kg BW with no significant difference. Thus, daily UC excretion was confirmed to be constant throughout the prepartum period with no differences among individuals. The concentration ratios of K to creatinine ((UK mg/dL)/(UC mg/dL) (UK/UC)) correlated strongly to the hourly K excretions (mg/h per kg BW) (r = 0.952, P < 0.01) in the 6 h urine samples. The differences in the UK/UC ratio between sampling periods were not significant within each cow. Therefore, daily UK excretion (mg/day) can be estimated using the equation: daily UK excretion (mg/day) = daily UC excretion (mg/day per kg BW) × BW (kg) × 6 h urine sample UK/UC, where daily UC excretion can be a given value.     

Determination of creatinine excretion and evaluation of spot urine sampling in Holstein cattle

Four experiments were carried out to determine urinary creatinine excretion in Holstein growing bulls, lactating cows, and replacement heifers. In addition, we evaluated the use of spot sampling technique to estimate purine derivatives (PD) excretion. In Experiment I, 15 lactating cows were used in a randomized block design to compare creatinine excretion obtained in different time-spans of urine collection (during 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 h). In Experiment II, four bulls were allocated in a 4 × 4 Latin square to evaluate the effect of diet (levels of cottonseed hulls of 0, 10, 20, and 30% of the DM) on excretion of creatinine. In Experiment III, 15 lactating cows were used to evaluate the effect of milk production (ranging from 3.9 to 36.7 kg/d) on daily creatinine and PD excretions. In Experiment IV, 22 replacement heifers were utilized to evaluate the effect of body weight (BW, ranging from 107 to 545 kg) on daily creatinine and PD excretions. For all experiments, total urine collections were made over 24 h and daily creatinine and PD excretions were determined. Different time-spans for total urine collection had no effect (P = 0.70) on creatinine excretion compared to the 24-h collection period, indicating a constant excretion rate of creatinine. The roughage source did not influence (P = 0.64) creatinine excretion by bulls, averaging 0.248 ± 0.008 mmol/kg BW. Similarly, milk production did not affect (P = 0.82) creatinine excretion in cows, averaging 0.212 ± 0.004 mmol/kg BW. In contrast, the creatinine excretion (mmol/kg BW) decreased linearly (P < 0.001) as BW of heifers increased, suggesting that creatinine excretion might vary with the degree of maturity of growing animals. There were no differences (P > 0.14) between the 24-h total collection and spot sampling technique in estimating daily PD excretion. The spot sampling technique may be used to estimate the daily excretion of urinary PD in Holstein cattle under practical conditions.     

牦牛尿嘌呤衍生物排出量对皱胃注射酵母RNA水平的响应

本研究对3头牦牛施以皱胃瘘管手术,以酵母RNA为嘌呤碱基供体,连续注射4期,以期测定牦牛吸收嘌呤的回收率,为尿嘌呤衍生物估测牦牛瘤胃微生物氮产量的模型积累数据。 结果表明,牦牛皱胃连续注射酵母RNA可使尿囊素(564～1 426 μmol/kg BW^0.75)、总嘌呤衍生物(purine derivative, PD)排出量(629～1 507 μmol/kg BW^0.75)及尿囊素占总PD比例线性提高(0.90～0.95)(P<0.01);嘌呤碱基注射水平对尿酸、肌酐及尿氮排出量影响不显著(P>0.05)。回归分析发现,牦牛皱胃嘌呤注射量(X,mmol/d)与尿嘌呤衍生物排出量(Y,mmol/d) 间存在线性关系:Y=0.85X+33.02 (R²=0.96,P<0.001),牦牛吸收嘌呤在尿中的回收率为85%。     

Plasma vitamin C concentration is not related to the incidence of ketosis in dairy cows during the early lactation period

Many animals including cattle can synthesize vitamin C from glucose. The objective of this study was to investigate plasma vitamin C concentration in ketotic cows during the early lactation period because glucose supply for vitamin C synthesis might be limited in these cows. We measured plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) concentration in 118 cows within 2 months after parturition. Subclinical/clinical ketosis was quantitatively determined using a plasma BHBA threshold of 1,200 microM. Plasma glucose concentration was lower in the ketotic cows than in the control cows but plasma vitamin C concentration did not differ between the control and the ketotic cows. Then we measured plasma vitamin C, BHBA and glucose levels in 7 cows during the periparturient period. Plasma BHBA increased and plasma glucose decreased after parturition but plasma vitamin C did not change. These results indicate that plasma vitamin C is not related to the incidence of ketosis in the early lactation period. We suggest that ketotic cows have the ability to produce vitamin C to meet its requirement in the early lactation period although glucose supply is not sufficient for milk production. Vitamin C synthesis is possibly given a high metabolic-priority for glucose in lactating cows.     

The course of phosphorus excretion in growing pigs fed continuously increasing phosphorus concentrations after a phosphorus depletion.

A balance study was performed in order to quantify the effect of continuously increased phosphorus (P) intake on faecal and urinary P excretion. The aim was to quantify the level of intake where regulatory P excretion becomes relevant for comparative digestibility measurements on P, and when the pig adapts its urinary P excretion to increased P intake. Phosphorus intake of growing pigs was continuously increased on a daily basis starting at a marginal level and P excretion via faeces and urine was continuously followed for 92 days. Two semi-synthetic diets were prepared with different proportions of Na2HPO4 resulting in 2.4 (diet 1) and 6.3 (diet 2) g P/kg DM. Concentration of Ca was adapted to achieve a Ca supply approximately 3.1 fold the digestible P supply. Six castrated male crossbred pigs (31 kg BW) were kept individually in metabolism crates after they had undergone a 14 d P depletion period during which they were fed diet 1 solely. Pigs received 1.04kg of diet 1 per day throughout the experiment, and each day the amount of feed and P supplied to pigs from diet 2 was increased by 12 g and 69 mg, respectively. ME supply was approximately 2.4 fold maintenance and average daily BW gain of pigs during the entire experiment was 690 +/- 30 g. While intake increased linearly, faecal excretion of P and Ca increased non-linearly and could be best described by third order polynomial functions. The proportion of ingested P not excreted via faeces followed a quadratic type of curve with a maximum of 81% at 25 days on experiment and P intake of 4.0 g/d. Thereafter, the proportion decreased continuously. The digestibility of P from diet 2, determined by the slope ratio technique, was constant and not affected by P intake up to a P intake of 5 g/d. Renal P excretion did not exceed inevitable losses until day 60 and increased exponentially thereafter when body P reserves were restored. It is concluded, that an adaptation to surplus P supply occurred earlier on the intestinal than on the renal level. While faecal P excretion appeared regulated depending on the actual requirement for P retention, the regulation via urine depended on the P status of the pig. Once the renal P excretion of growing pigs exceeds a level of 25 mg/d, intake of digestible P cannot be regarded sufficiently low to measure P digestibility as a capacity of the feedstuff.     

Effects of vitamin C supplementation on plasma ascorbic acid and oxalate concentrations and meat quality in swine

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of vitamin C supplementation 48 h before slaughter on plasma ascorbic acid and oxalate concentrations and its effect on pork quality. In Exp. 1, 16 pigs (87.8+/-2.13 kg BW) were blocked by sex and weight and assigned randomly within block to one of three vitamin C treatments: 1) control; 2) 1,000 mg/L; or 3) 2,000 mg/L supplemented in the drinking water for a 48-h period. This was then followed by an additional 48-h period without supplemental vitamin C. Vitamin C increased plasma ascorbic acid concentrations (11.6, 19.5, and 23.4 microg/mL for 0, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/L of vitamin C; P < 0.05) within 6 h of supplementation. Plasma ascorbic acid concentrations from treated pigs decreased and did not differ from those of control pigs (13.7, 18.2, and 18.6 microg/mL for 0, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/L of vitamin C; P = 0.30) within 2 h of ending supplementation. No differences in plasma ascorbic acid concentrations were found between the two levels of supplementation. Vitamin C did not affect plasma oxalate or cortisol; however, cortisol tended to increase quadratically (P = 0.077) with vitamin C after 96 h. In Exp. 2, 30 pigs (107.5+/-0.54 kg BW) were blocked by sex and weight and assigned randomly within block to one of three vitamin C treatments: 1) control; 2) 500 mg/L; or 3) 1,000 mg/L supplemented in the drinking water 48 h before slaughter. Pigs were slaughtered 4 to 5 h after vitamin C supplementation ended, and loin samples were collected for meat quality measurements. At the time of slaughter, no differences in plasma ascorbic acid or cortisol were observed, but oxalate tended (P = 0.074) to increase quadratically with increasing vitamin C. Muscle ascorbic acid at slaughter and lactic acid in muscle at 0 and 1.5 h after slaughter were not different; however, lactic acid increased (P = 0.048) quadratically at 24 h after slaughter. Vitamin C did not affect initial or ultimate pH. Initial fluid loss (P = 0.041), and fluid loss on d 4 (P = 0.014) and 8 (P = 0.076) of simulated retail display; L* on d 0 (P = 0.038), 4 (P = 0.010), and 8 (P = 0.051); a* on d 0 (P = 0.021); and b* on d 0 (P = 0.006), 4 (P = 0.035), and 8 (P = 0.017) were negatively affected in a quadratic manner when vitamin C was supplemented. Vitamin C tended (P = 0.086) to increase oxidation in chops on d 0, but not d 4 or 8. Results indicate that on-farm supplementation of vitamin C was generally not effective in improving pork quality, which may be related to timing relative to slaughter.     

Age and dosage dependency in the plasma disposition and the renal clearance of sulfamethazine and its N4-acetyl and hydroxy metabolites in calves and cows

Plasma disposition, protein binding, urinary recovery, and renal clearance of sulfamethazine (SMZ), its N4-acetylsulfamethazine (N4-SMZ), and its 2 hydroxy metabolites--6-hydroxymethylsulfamethazine (SCH2OH) and 5-hydroxysulfamethazine (SOL)--and the glucuronide of the latter were studied in 7 cows and 7 calves to determine the relationship between these values and the age of the animal and dosage applied. A capacity-limited hydroxylation of SMZ into SCH2OH was observed in cows and calves given dosages of 100 to 200 mg/kg. A biphasic SMZ elimination curve and steady state in SCH2OH plasma concentration (6 to 15 micrograms/ml) were observed. The N4-SMZ plasma concentration-time curve was parallel to that of SMZ at the dosages and in all animals. The total body clearance and the cumulative urinary recovery (expressed as percentage of the dose) for SMZ and its metabolites depended on drug dosage and age of the animals. At dosages of SMZ less than 25 mg/kg, the main metabolite in the urine of calves and cows was SCH2OH (23% to 55.2%), whereas in calves given a larger dosage (100 mg/kg), the N4-SMZ and SOH percentages increased. The plasma protein binding of SMZ and its metabolites depended on the SMZ plasma concentration. Hydroxylation lowered the protein binding (from 75-80%) to 50%. The renal clearance of SMZ was dependent on urine flow in all animals. The renal clearance of the SCH2OH metabolite was 2 to 3 times greater than the creatinine clearance value; thus, this compound was excreted by glomerular filtration and partly by tubular secretion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The vitamin A requirement and the vitamin A status of growing cattle. 2. Studies of fattening cattle

Three long time individual feeding experiments (greater than 258 days) with 48 beef cattle each (dairy breed and beef breed, 50% each) were carried out in order to measure the influence of various vitamin A supply (0, 2,500, 5,000 and 10,000 IU vitamin A per 100 kg body weight and day) on fattening and slaughtering performance, vitamin A concentration of liver and serum as well as carotene concentration of serum. The bulls consumed corn silage (experiments 1 and 2; 9.4 and 18.3 mg carotene per kg dry matter) or NaOH-treated and pelleted straw (experiment 3; no carotene). The roughages were supplemented with 2 (exp. 1 and 2) and 3 kg (exp. 3) concentrate per day. The vitamin A supply of corn silage diet did not significantly influence the dry matter intake (exp. 1: means: 6.95; 6.91 to 7.05; exp. 2: means: 6.54; 6.53 to 6.54 kg dry matter per animal and day) and the daily weight gain of bulls (exp. 1: means: 1076; 1028 to 1157; exp. 2: means: 1058; 1041 to 1057 g per animal). The bulls consumed 8.87 kg dry matter per day, the daily weight gain amounted to 1030 g per animal and day in experiment 3. The bulls of unsupplemented group reduced feed intake and weight gain after 150 days, an additional vitamin A supply was necessary. At the end of experiments 1 and 2 the liver vitamin A concentration of unsupplemented groups amounted to 38.8 and 65.9 mumol/kg, it increased after vitamin A supply (up to 153.4 mumol/kg). Feeding of pelleted straw effected a liver vitamin A concentration lower than 10 mumol/kg except the group supplemented with 10,000 IU vitamin A per 100 kg body weight and day (35.7 mumol per kg fresh matter of liver). The vitamin A concentration of blood is unsuitable for evaluation of vitamin A status of cattle. The carotene content of feeds and level of vitamin A supply determined the carotene concentration of blood. Recommendations for a suitable vitamin A supply of ration of growing cattle were given depending on body weight and type of diet.     

Effects of vitamin E and different energy sources on vitamin E status, milk quality and reproduction in transition cows

We investigated whether vitamin E supplementation and supplemental energy sources (fat or starch) influenced plasma and milk levels of vitamin E, and reproductive and other parameters in 28 Italian Friesian multiparous dry cows. From 14 days before expected calving to 7 days after, the animals were assigned to either basal diet (containing 1000 IU/day of vitamin E) or an extra 1000 IU/day of vitamin E (total 2000 IU). In addition they received either 0.5 kg/day of corn or 0.2 kg/day of calcium soaps. Plasma samples were collected 4 days before expected calving and 4 days after calving and analysed for alpha-tocopherol and cholesterol. Milk yield as well as the composition, somatic cell count (SCC) and alpha-tocopherol of milk were determined 7 and 14 days after calving. Milk yield and composition were unaffected by treatments. SCC was significantly lower in (SCC Log 4.62 versus Log 5.1, P < 0.01) 2000 IU/day animals than in the 1000 IU/day group. Milk alpha-tocopherol was higher (P < 0.001) in animals receiving 2000 IU/day (1.11 vs. 0.65 microgram/ml, P < 0.01). Plasma alpha-tocopherol in animals receiving 2000 IU/day was also higher (P < 0.001) than in cows receiving 1000 IU/day (4.85 vs. 3.25 micrograms/ml), but was not affected by dietary energy source. Number of services and days to conception were lower (P < 0.01) in the 2000 IU vitamin E supplemented cows. To conclude, dietary vitamin E supplementation to periparturient dairy cows increased plasma and milk vitamin E, decreased SCC in milk, and improved fertility but different energy sources had no effect on any measured variable.     

日粮添加益生菌对干乳期奶牛生长性能、瘤胃发酵及氮平衡的影响

本研究旨在评估全混合日粮添加益生菌对干乳期奶牛生长性能、瘤胃发酵及氮平衡的影响.试验将体重为(440.92±3.33)kg、平均干乳期为42?d的60头荷斯坦奶牛随机分为2组,每组5个重复,每个重复6头.对照组饲喂玉米-豆粕型全混合日粮,处理组饲喂基础全混合日粮+200?mg/kg益生菌(枯草芽孢杆菌含量:1×106?...     

Determination of plasma vitamin C concentration in fattening cattle

Plasma vitamin C (ascorbic acid + dehydroascorbic acid) concentration is a good index of the nutritional status of vitamin C. However, the methodologies for storage and analyses have not been investigated in bovine plasma. The validity of an analytical method for bovine plasma using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a spectrophotometric detector was examined. Exogenous dehydroascorbic acid was almost completely converted to ascorbic acid during the preparation for analysis with a reducing reagent, dithioerythritol. The analytical recoveries of ascorbic acid were high. Ascorbic acid was not detected after treatment with ascorbic acid oxidase. Thus, the specificity of this method is considered to be high. Although vitamin C was stable in plasma treated by dithioerythritol at ?20°C for 6 days, vitamin C in untreated plasma significantly decreased during 3‐day storage at ?20°C. These results indicate that the HPLC method is suitable for the determination of plasma vitamin C in cattle and that the storage conditions are important for determination of plasma vitamin C. Plasma vitamin C concentration ranged between 1.49 mg/L and 3.33 mg/L in fattening cattle. This result suggests that fattening cattle show large individual variation in plasma vitamin C concentration.     

Estimation of Quantitative Enzymuria in Dogs With Gentamicin-Induced Nephrotoxicosis Using Urine Enzyme/Creatinine Ratios From Spot Urine Samples

The correlation between 24-hour urinary excretion of N -acetyl-β- d -glucosaminidase (NAG) and γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) with urine NAG and GGT/creatinine ratios was assessed in dogs with gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicosis. Eighteen 6-month-oid male Beagles with normal renal function were randomly divided into 3 groups of 6. Each group was fed a different concentration of protein (high protein, 27.3%; medium protein, 13.7%; and low protein, 9.4%) for 21 days. After dietary conditioning, gentamicin was administered at a dose of 10 mg/kg IM tid for 8 days and each group was continued on its respective diet. Endogenous creatinine clearance and 24-hour urinary excretion of NAG and GGT were determined after dietary conditioning (day 0) and on days 2, 4, 6, and 8 of gentamicin administration. In addition, urine NAG and GGT/creatinine ratios (IU/L ± mg/dL) were determined from catheterized spot urine samples obtained between 7 and 10 am on the same days. The correlation between 24-hour urinary enzyme excretion and urine enzyme/creatinine ratio in the spot urine samples was evaluated by simple linear regression analysis. Spot sample urine enzyme/creatinine ratios were significantly correlated with 24-hour urinary enzyme excretion through day 4 for dogs on low dietary protein, through day 6 for those on medium protein, and through day 8 for those on high dietary protein. Mean ± SD baseline values for urine NAG/creatinine ratio and 24-hour urinary NAG excretion were 0.06 ± 0.04 and 0.19 ± 0.14 IU/kg/24 hr, respectively. Baseline values for urine GGT/creatinine ratio and 24-hour urinary GGT excretion were 0.39 ± 0.18 and 1.42 ± 0.82 IU/kg/24 hr, respectively.     

Creatinine and pseudouridine in plasma and urine from Brahman-cross steers fed a low, medium or high plane of nutrition

Metabolic state as influenced by growth rate may influence meat toughness and can be estimated from metabolites excreted in urine. Urine collection over 24 h requires animals to be constrained in metabolism crates for many days. Single blood sampling to estimate metabolites in plasma would be less stressful on animals than collecting 24 h urine excretion. This study investigated the hypothesis that the plasma concentrations of pseudouridine and creatinine were representative of those found in 24 h urine excretions in steers fed different quality diets. Eleven Brahman-cross steers were fed a high (n = 3), medium (n = 4) or low (n = 4) quality hay diet for three weeks. Steers were catheterized and housed in metabolism crates for 6 days. Urine was collected every 24 h and total volume sub-sampled for analyses of creatinine and pseudouridine. Jugular blood was collected from each steer every 3 h from 07:30 to 16:30 h. Plasma was separated from red blood cells by centrifugation and frozen for creatinine and pseudouridine analyses. No time of day effect was apparent for pseudouridine or creatinine so daily means were used to test for effect of diet and to relate to urinary concentrations. Nutritional restriction halted live weight gain but had no effect on urinary or plasma pseudouridine, suggesting that diet did not affect tRNA turnover. Increased plasma creatinine concentrations and reduced urinary creatinine concentration in steers experiencing nutritional restriction indicated that their renal clearance rate decreased. As a result, the ratio of plasma pseudouridine to creatinine concentration was not directly proportional to that of 24 h urinary excretion.     

Excretion of zinc in lactating cows receiving various supply of zinc]

Studies were carried out with 5 lactating cows receiving a semisynthetic diet to trace the pattern of zinc excretion in the faeces, urine and milk under conditions of Zn depletion and repletion. Faecal Zn concentrations were found to be drastically reduced during a 6-week period of Zn depletion. The Zn supply to the animals at different levels of Zn repletion (varying between 22 mg and 436 mg Zn per kg) was well reflected in the corresponding faecal Zn concentrations. Similarly, faecal Zn excretion expressed as the percentage of Zn supplied with the diet was shown to change with the level of Zn supply. In the range between 6 mg and 54 m Zn per kg of dietary dry matter the level of relative faecal Zn excretion increased from 42% to 56% whereas with higher Zn supplements (up to 436 mg/kg) only slight increases (up to 60%) were observed. This indicates that the organism exhibits a strong tendency to maintain a physiological balance; this tendency is all the more pronounced with increasing Zn depletion; thus after 19 weeks of Zn depletion as little as 25% of the administered amount of Zn was excreted in the faeces. The average minimum of urinary Zn concentrations was 0.25 mg Zn per litre. The Zn concentrations in urine were not found to be dependent on the Zn supply. The level of relative Zn excretion in the milk was markedly increased despite the reduced concentrations of milk Zn during the periods of Zn deficiency. At the beginning of Zn depletion rather more zinc was released with the milk than was taken up with the Zn deficient diet. The mean proportion of milk Zn in the total amount of dietary Zn over the 6-week depletion period was 91%. With Zn amounts of 22 mg, 54 mg, 87 mg, 108 mg, 130 mg and 436 mg per kg of diet 23.7%, 13.1%, 12.9%, 5.7%, 4.3%, and 1.7% of the dietary Zn were excreted with the milk. Thus, a relative decrease of Zn excretion in the milk was observed, i.e. relative to the level of Zn supplementation.     

Effects of vitamin C supplementation on growth performance and antioxidant status of layer ducklings

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of increasing dietary vitamin C supplements on growth performance, antioxidant status and humoral immunity of layer ducklings. The results showed that the body weight and daily body weight gain of ducklings increased (p < 0.05) with increasing dietary vitamin C supplementations and reached a maximum at 400 mg vitamin C/kg feed. The dietary vitamin C supplementations reduced the malondialdehyde concentration (p < 0.05) and increased the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (p < 0.05) in serum and liver of ducklings at day 5 and 28. Additionally, feeding 400 mg/kg or 800 mg vitamin C/kg feed increased IgM and IgA concentrations in sera (p < 0.05) and serum IgG concentrations increased (p < 0.05) following supplementation in concentrations of 150-800 mg vitamin C/kg feed. In conclusion, the results suggested that dietary vitamin C supplements of 400 mg/kg feed provide optimal effects on growth performance, antioxidant status and parameters of humoral immunity.     

Influence of supplemental magnesium, tryptophan, vitamin C, vitamin E, and herbs on stress responses and pork quality

This study investigated the effects of supplemental Mg, Trp, vitamin C, vitamin E, and herbs on stress responses, skin lesions, and meat quality of slaughter pigs (106.0 +/- 8.6 kg of BW). These 5 supplements were tested in 4 similar experiments. In Exp. 1, 2 treatments were tested: 1) control treatment without supplementation, and 2) supplementation of an herbal product (2.5 g/L of drinking water for 2 d). Eighty-eight pigs per treatment were involved, of which 40 were selected for meat quality measurements (over 4 replicates). The experimental design of Exp. 2 and 3 was the same as Exp. 1, except that in Exp. 2 Mg (3 g/L of drinking water for 2 d) was supplemented and in Exp. 3 Trp (6 g/kg of feed, as-fed basis) was supplemented. In Exp. 4, 3 treatments were tested: 1) control treatment without supplementation, 2) supplementation of vitamin C (300 mg/kg of feed for 21 d, as-fed basis), and 3) supplementation of vitamin E (150 mg/kg of feed for 21 d, as-fed basis). In Exp. 4, 66 pigs per treatment were used, of which 42 were evaluated for meat quality (over 6 replicates). Pigs supplemented with vitamin E ate less than control (P = 0.03) or vitamin C-supplemented pigs (P = 0.03). Pigs were transported to a commercial slaughterhouse and were slaughtered after a lairage period. Blood sampling at slaughter revealed no differences between the control and supplemented pigs in plasma cortisol, glucose, lactate, or creatine kinase concentrations. Pigs provided with Mg (P = 0.002) or Trp (P = 0.04) had lower plasma NEFA concentrations than control pigs, and pigs supplemented with vitamin C had greater concentrations than the control (P = 0.03) or vitamin E-supplemented pigs (P = 0.01). Supplementation of the herbal product increased the frequency of pigs with shoulder (P = 0.05) and loin lesions (P = 0.03), whereas Mg lowered the incidence of loin lesions (P = 0.01). Measurements of pH and temperature in the LM and biceps femoris 45 min postmortem revealed no differences among treatments, and no influence of treatments on LM pH, electrical conductivity, and water holding capacity was observed 48 h postmortem. Compared with the control loins, loins of pigs supplemented with vitamin C (Japanese color scale, L*, and a* value; P < 0.05) or vitamin E (Japanese color scale and a* value; P < 0.03) were redder and less pale, and the loin of vitamin E-supplemented pigs was more yellow (b* value; P = 0.04). Generally, Mg could lower loin damage, whereas vitamin C and vitamin E supplementation resulted in a color improvement of the loin.     

Effect of graduated vitamin D3 doses and different ration composition on the 25OH-vitamin D3 plasma concentration and fattening and slaughter production of bulls]

In a individual feeding experiment (348 days) 24 fattening bulls were given either a ration high in roughage (2.8 kg concentrate mixture, wheat straw ad libitum: group I) or high in concentrate (5.6 kg concentrate mixture, wheat straw ad libitum group II) supplemented with various levels of vitamin D3 (0, 250, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 4,000 and 8,000 IU per 100 kg body weight (bw) and day) and minerals as required. After 58, 101, 134, 172, 205, 277 and 340 days 25-OH-D3 plasma concentration was estimated. Fattening and slaughtering parameters were measured. The 25OH-D3 plasma concentration was significantly influenced by vitamin D3 supply, kind of ration and day of taking samples. 25-OH-D3 plasma concentration decreased below 5 ng per ml when vitamin D3 supply was less than or equal to 250 IU per 100 kg bw and day. The initial plasma levels were maintained when 500 IU vitamin D3 per 100 kg bw and day was given (6.6 ng per ml). Administration of greater than or equal to 1,000 IU per 100 kg bw and day increased 25OH-D3 plasma level (greater than 10 ng/ml). Plasma 25OH-D3 concentration was significant higher when bulls consumed diets rich in concentrate (10.6 and 18.2 ng/ml for I and II after 340th day). Differences in content of cell walls and crude fat of rations may be responsible for results. Daily weight gain of bulls amounted to 712 and 945 g when fed diets I or II. Dry matter intake and live weight gain were not significantly influenced by different vitamin D3 supply. Clinical symptoms of rachitis did not appear.     

Effect of additional vitamin E and zinc supplementation on immunological changes in peripartum Sahiwal cows

This study was conducted to exploit ameliorative effect of additional vitamin E and/or zinc supplementation on immune response of peripartum Sahiwal cows. Thirty‐two pregnant dry Sahiwal cows were blocked into four treatment groups (n = 8), namely control, zinc (Zn), vitamin E (Vit E) and zinc + vitamin E (Zn + Vit E). Feeding regimen was same in all the groups except that the Sahiwal cows in the zinc‐, vitamin E‐ and zinc + vitamin E‐fed groups were additionally supplemented with 60 mg Zn/kg DM, 1000 IU vitamin E and 60 mg/kg + 1000 IU Zn + vitamin E, respectively, from day 60 pre‐partum to day 90 post‐partum. Blood samples were collected on days ?60, ?45, ?30, ?15, ?7, ?3, 0, 3, 7, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 with respect to day of parturition and analysed for total immunoglobulin (TIG), immunoglobulin G (IgG), interleukin‐2 (IL‐2), vitamin E (Vit E) and zinc (Zn) status. Before calving, cows showed a decrease in plasma TIG, IgG, IL‐2, Vit E and Zn levels. However, increased levels of plasma TIG, IgG, IL‐2, Vit E and Zn were observed after calving. After calving, Sahiwal cows supplemented with Zn + Vit E had higher plasma TIG, IgG and IL‐2 in comparison with cows of control and Zn + Vit E‐fed groups. In the present study, plasma vitamin E level was higher in Vit E‐fed and Zn + Vit E‐fed cows; however, zinc level was higher in Zn‐ and Zn + Vit E‐supplemented cows. In conclusion, a reduced immune response during peripartum period in Sahiwal cows was ameliorated by dietary vitamin E and zinc supplementation.     

Response to metabolic challenges in early lactation dairy cows during treatment with bovine somatotropin

Milk production is increased in lactating cows treated with bovine somatotropin (bST) because a greater portion of absorbed nutrients are partitioned for milk synthesis. This homeorhetic action may be caused by alterations in response of key tissues to homeostatic signals. To examine this theory, acute metabolic challenges were administered to 8 multiparous Holstein cows (61 +/- 2 days postpartum) receiving daily subcutaneous injections of pituitary-derived bST (26.3 mg) or excipient during two 14-day treatment periods (crossover experimental design). Treatment with bST increased milk yield 12%. Feed intake did not change so that net energy balance decreased (+ .5 vs. -4.3 Mcal/day). Plasma concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) were chronically elevated in bST-treated cows, consistent with energy balance differences. However, baseline concentrations of glucose, insulin, and glucagon in plasma did not differ. On the last 3 days of treatment, individual metabolic challenges were administered via jugular cannulas: epinephrine (700 ng/kg BW), glucose (250 mg/kg BW), insulin (1.0 micrograms/kg BW), and glucagon (175 ng/kg BW). Plasma glucose was reduced after the insulin challenge to a lesser extent during bST treatment. In bST-treated cows, the increase in plasma NEFA in response to epinephrine was greater, and NEFA concentrations were lowered to a greater extent after insulin and glucose challenges. Glucose, insulin, and glucagon removal rates were not altered, nor was plasma glucose response to epinephrine or glucagon challenges. Treatment of lactating cows with bST primarily altered the response of adipose tissue to homeostatic signals which affect lipid metabolism.     

The comparison of in vivo antigenotoxic and antioxidative capacity of two propylene glycol extracts of Calendula officinalis (marigold) and vitamin E in young growing pigs

The objective of the study was to evaluate the protective effect of Calendula officinalis propylene glycol extracts against oxidative DNA damage and lipid peroxidation induced by high polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake in young growing pigs. Forty young growing pigs were assigned to five treatment groups: control; oil (linseed oil supplementation); C. officinalis 1 and 2 groups (linseed oil plus 3 ml/day of C. officinalis propylene glycol extracts); and vitamin E group (linseed oil plus 100 mg/kg of vitamin E). Lymphocyte DNA fragmentation and 24-h urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) excretion were measured to determine DNA damage. Lipid peroxidation was studied by analysing plasma and urine malondialdehyde (MDA), and urine isoprostane concentrations (iPF2α-VI), total antioxidant status of plasma and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) assays. C. officinalis 1 (extract from petals) effectively protected DNA from oxidative damage. It indicated a numerical trend towards the reduction of plasma MDA and urinary iPF2α-VI excretion. Its effect was comparable with that of vitamin E. C. officinalis 2 (extract from flower tops) showed less antioxidant potential than the extract from petals. We can conclude that the amount of C. officinalis extracts proposed for internal use by traditional medicine protects the organism against DNA damage induced by high PUFA intake.