Dietary phytase increases the true absorption and endogenous fecal excretion of zinc in growing pigs given a corn-soybean meal based diet

We investigated the effect of dietary phytase on the true absorption and endogenous fecal excretion of zinc (Zn) using ⁶⁷Zn in growing pigs given a corn-soybean meal based diet. Ten crossbred barrows were fed the control diet containing 90-mg/kg Zn, 2.3-g/kg phytate-phosphorus and 3.7-g/kg non-phytate-phosphorus or the phytase diet containing similar amounts of Zn and phytate-phosphorus, and 1.4-g/kg non-phytate-phosphorus with 750-PU/kg phytase for 12 h/day. On day 6, the pigs were given 200 g of the corresponding diet labeled by ⁶⁷Zn for 2 h. We measured feed intake, fecal Zn concentration and ⁶⁷Zn abundance for the determination of apparent absorption, true absorption and endogenous fecal excretion of Zn. Although the apparent absorption of Zn did not significantly differ between the dietary groups, the phytase group had significantly more ( P  < 0.05) true absorption of Zn than the control group. The endogenous fecal excretion of Zn tended to be more ( P  = 0.07) in the phytase group than in the control group. These results suggest that dietary phytase improves Zn bioavailability through increasing the true absorption of Zn in growing pigs, which results in stimulating the endogenous fecal excretion of Zn when dietary Zn satisfies its requirement.     

Influence of different dietary zinc levels on cashmere growth,plasma testosterone level and zinc status in male Liaoning Cashmere goats

The experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of different levels of zinc (Zn) on cashmere growth, plasma testosterone and Zn profile in male Cashmere goats. Twenty‐eight male Liaoning Cashmere goats, 3 years old and body weight at 56.2 ± 2.45 kg, were assigned to four groups. The animals were fed a basal diet containing of 45.9 mg Zn/kg dry matter (DM) basis and supplemented with 0, 20, 40 or 80 mg Zn (reagent grade ZnSO₄·7H₂O) per kg DM for 90 days. There was no significant effect on growth and diameter of cashmere fibre for Zn supplemented in diets. However, the length and growth rate of wool were improved (p < 0.05) with dietary Zn. The length and growth rate of wool were higher (p < 0.05) for the groups supplemented with 40 or 80 mg Zn/kg DM compared with that of 20 mg Zn/kg DM treatment group. Plasma testosterone concentration was increased for Zn supplemented in diets, and the testosterone concentration was higher (p < 0.05) in goats fed on the diet supplemented with 40 or 80 mg Zn/kg DM compared with those fed on basal diet. Plasma Zn concentrations increased (p < 0.05) with increasing dietary Zn and supplemented with 40 and 80 mg Zn/kg DM groups improved plasma Zn concentration (p < 0.05) more than 20 mg Zn/kg DM group. Fibre Zn content was higher (p < 0.05) in groups supplemented with 40 or 80 mg Zn/kg DM compared with control group, but no difference between Zn‐supplemented groups (p > 0.05). The activity of plasma alkaline phosphatase was increased (p < 0.05) due to dietary Zn supplementation; however, no difference was found between supplemented treatment groups (p > 0.05). In conclusion, Zn content (45.9 mg Zn/kg DM) in control diet was insufficient for optimal wool growth performance, and we recommended the level of dietary Zn for such goats is 86 mg/kg DM during the breeding season and cashmere fibre growing period.     

Some pharmacokinetic parameters of ampicillin/sulbactam combination after intravenous and intramuscular administration to goats

Summary

Some pharmacokinetic parameters of an ampicillin/sulbactam (2:1) combination were studied in six goats, after intravenous and intramuscular injection at a single dosage of 20 mg/kg bodyweight (13.33 mg/kg of sodium ampicillin and 6.67 mg/kg of sodium sulbactam). The drugs were distributed according to an open two‐compartment model. The apparent volumes of distribution calculated by the area method of ampicillin and sulbactam were 0.34 ± 0.04 l/kg and 0.45 ± 0.15 1/kg, respectively, and the total body clearances were 0.72 ± 0.11 and 0.38 ± 0.07 l/kg.h. The half‐lives of ampicillin after intravenous and intramuscular administration were 0.32 ± 0.04 h and 0.71 ± 0.14 h, respectively. For sulbactam the half‐lives were 0.79 ± 0.18 h and 1.13 ± 0.21 h after administration by the same routes. The bioavailability after intramuscular injection was high and similar for both drugs (98,29% for ampicillin and 101.84% for sulbactam). The mean peak plasma levels of ampicillin (0.43 ± 0.27 h) and sulbactam (0.34 ± 0.14 h) were reached at a similar time, and peak concentrations were also similar and non‐proportional to the dose of the products administered (11.02 ± 3.11 mg/l of ampicillin and 9.5 ± 0.98 mg/l of sulbactam).     

Effect of dose on the intravenous pharmacokinetics of tolfenamic acid in goats

The objective of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics of tolfenamic acid (TA) following intravenous (IV) administration at doses of 2 and 4 mg/kg in goats. In this study, six healthy goats were used. TA was administered intravenously to each goat at 2 and 4 mg/kg doses in a cross-over pharmacokinetic design with a 15-day washout period. Plasma concentrations of TA were analyzed using the high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detector, and pharmacokinetic parameters were assigned by noncompartmental analysis. Following IV administration at dose of 2 mg/kg, area under the concentration–time curve (AUC_0−∞), elimination half-life (t_1/2ʎz), total clearance (Cl_T) and volume of distribution at steady state (V_dss) were 6.64 ± 0.81 hr^*µg/ml, 1.57 ± 0.14 hr, 0.30 ± 0.04 L h^-1 kg^-1 and 0.40 ± 0.05 L/kg, respectively. After the administration of TA at a dose of 4 mg/kg showed prolonged t_1/2ʎz, increased dose-normalized AUC_0-∞, and decreased Cl_T. In goats, TA at 4 mg/kg dose can be administered wider dose intervals compared to the 2 mg/kg dose. However, further studies are needed to determine the effect of different doses on the clinical efficacy of TA in goats.     

Copper,iron, zinc and tannin concentrations throughout the digestive tract of tropical goats and sheep fed a high-fibre tannin-rich diet

The dry season in tropical regions urges livestock to feed on nutritionally very poor diets. It has not been explored how tropical sheep—assumed grazers—and tropical goats—intermediate browsers—cope with a high-fibre tannin-rich diet. This study was designed to determine the effects of a high-fibre and tannin-rich diet on the flow of important microminerals iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) throughout the digestive tract of tropical sheep and goats. The feeding trial was set up with twelve adult male animals, six sheep with mean body weight (BW) of 30.3 ± 1.6 kg and six goats with mean BW of 26.4 ± 2.2 kg. The feed consisted of 36% leaves of Millettia ferruginea, 61% hay and 3% concentrate and was offered at 3% of BW (all on dry matter (DM) basis). The total faecal collection was carried out for 7 consecutive days. At the end of the experimental period, the animals were slaughtered to collect liver and digesta samples from the gastrointestinal tract. Feed, digesta and faecal samples underwent analysis of Fe, Zn, and Cu and total tannins (TT). Goats had significantly higher reticulum Cu concentrations expressed on DM as compared to sheep. Faecal Cu concentrations were higher for goats compared to sheep. Reticulum and colon digesta Zn levels were higher in goats than sheep. Abomasum and colon Fe levels were higher in sheep than goats when expressed on DM. These results suggest differences in feed intake, micromineral absorption, secretion and excretion between sheep and goats, pointing to a divergent mineral metabolism as an adaptation to the challenge of a dry season diet having very low nutritive value.     

减少矿物质元素的饲粮中补充包膜半胱胺对育肥猪生长性能、胴体品质、矿物质元素沉积及排放的影响

本试验旨在研究夏季高温状态下,在减少矿物质(铜、铁、锰、锌)元素的饲粮中补充包膜半胱胺对育肥后期猪生长性能、胴体品质、组织矿物质元素沉积和粪便矿物质元素排放的影响。试验共选用360头健康、平均体重为(103.9±0.7)kg的三元(杜×长×大)杂交育肥猪,采用2×2双因素试验设计,分为4组,每组6个重复,每个重复15头。因素1为饲粮矿物质元素的含量,设计为基础饲粮铜、铁、锌、锰元素含量的100%和80%2个水平;因素2为饲粮包膜半胱胺(半胱胺含量27%)含量,设计为0、1 600 mg/kg(半胱胺含量300 mg/kg)2个水平。试验期30 d。结果表明:1)饲粮减少矿物质元素或补充包膜半胱胺对育肥猪后期的生长性能和胴体品质均无显著影响(P0.05)。2)饲粮减少矿物质元素可显著降低育肥猪肝脏中铬元素的含量及肾脏中钠、钙、铅元素的含量(P0.05),显著升高血清钠元素含量(P0.05);减少矿物质元素的饲粮中补充包膜半胱胺显著或极显著降低肝脏中钾元素含量和肾脏中钠、钙、铅、铜元素含量(P0.05或P0.01),并有降低肝脏锰、锌、铬及钙元素和血清中铬和镁元素含量沉积的趋势(0.05≤P0.10),对维持机体各组织中钠元素的稳定有利。3)饲粮中减少矿物质元素或补充包膜半胱胺极显著减少粪便中铅和铜元素的排放量(P0.01);饲粮减少矿物质元素可显著降低粪便中锌元素的排放量(P0.05),极显著升高镁元素的排放量(P0.05);减少矿物质元素的饲粮中补充包膜半胱胺对粪便中铬元素的排放量有降低趋势(0.05≤P0.10)。由此可见,夏季高温期,在饲粮的铜、铁、锰、锌4种矿物质元素含量减少20%条件下补充1 600 mg/kg包膜半胱胺,能在不影响育肥猪后期生长性能和胴体品质的同时,降低血清、肝脏和肾脏中矿物质元素的沉积,减少粪便铅、铜和铬元素对环境的排放,维持机体电解质平衡。     

Effects of supplemental palygorskite instead of zinc oxide on growth performance,apparent nutrient digestibility and fecal zinc excretion in weaned piglets

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of palygorskite instead of zinc oxide (ZnO) on growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility and zinc contents in serum and feces in weaned piglets. One hundred and sixty‐five piglets (28 days of age, 7.10 ± 0.86 kg) were allotted to five treatments on the basis of weight and sex. Each treatment included three replicates of 11 piglets. The piglets were fed the same basal diet supplemented with 0 mg/kg (control group), 1800 mg/kg, 2400 mg/kg, or 3000 mg/kg palygorskite or 2500 mg/kg ZnO for 28 days. There was no significant difference for incidence of diarrhea among the four treatments during the 0–14‐day feeding period. Compared with the control group, piglets offered diets supplemented with 1800 mg/kg palygorskite had higher (P < 0.05) average daily gain (ADG) and crude protein digestibility. Fecal digestibility of energy in 1800 mg/kg palygorskite and ZnO groups were higher (P < 0.05) than that in the control group. Both the zinc concentrations in serum and fecal zinc excretion in palygorskite groups and control group were all lower (P < 0.05) than that in the ZnO group. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 1800 mg/kg palygorskite can improve growth performance and nutrient digestibility and can also decrease zinc excretion in feces in weaned piglets.     

Efficacy of fenbendazole and cambendazole against Muellerius capillaris in dairy goats

Two anthelmintics, fenbendazole and cambendazole, were used in an attempt to eliminate Muellerius capillaris infections in a group of 44 goats. During the course of this study (508 days), M capillaris larvae were found in at least one fecal specimen from each of 22 of the 44 goats. All 44 goats were dewormed with fenbendazole (30 mg/kg of body weight) at the onset of this study (day 18). Two additional dewormings with fenbendazole at 4- to 8-week intervals were restricted to the goats that continued to shed M capillaris larvae. On the basis of routine fecal examinations, fenbendazole eliminated M capillaris larvae from the feces of 8 (36%) of these 22 goats. On day 253, cambendazole (60 mg/kg) was given orally to 17 of these 22 goats (2 of the 22 had died and 3 were not available for treatment); 13 of these goats were still shedding M capillaris larvae. Cambendazole eliminated M capillaris larvae from the feces of 10 (77%) of these 13 goats chronically infected with M capillaris.     

Oral bioavailability of sulphonamides in ruminants: A comparison between sulphamethoxazole,sulphatroxazole, and sulphamerazine,using the dwarf goat as animal model

Summary

The various sulphonamides show marked differences in disposition characteristics after administration to ruminants. For use in combination with a diaminopyrimidine derivative such as trimethoprim or baquiloprim, it is essential that a sulphonamide has similar pharmacokinetic properties in order to obtain optimal synergy. In the present study the pharmacokinetics of sulphamethoxazole, sulphatroxazole, and sulphamerazine were investigated in dwarf goats (n=6) after IV and intraruminal administration at a dose of 30 mg/kg bodyweight. In addition, the in vitro binding of sulphamerazine to ruminal contents was studied as a possible explanation for a reduced absorption rate. Sulphamethoxazole showed the most rapid absorption after intraruminal administration (mean t_max ± SD : 0.8 ± 0.2h). However, the drug was rapidly eliminated from the plasma (t_1/2ß : 2.4 ± 1.5h) and the bioavailability was only 12.4 ± 4.7 %, most likely due to an extensive ‘first‐pass’ effect. The bioavailability of orally administered sulphamerazine and sulphatroxazole was much higher (67.6 ± 13.5 % and 70.2 ± 32.3 %, respectively). After intraruminal administration, sulphatroxazole showed the highest plasma peak concentration (26.1 ± 6.3 mg/I) and the longest plasma half‐life (4.7 ± 1.8h) and mean residence time (13.9 ± 4.5 h). Sulphamerazine showed considerable binding to rumen contents in vitro. Based on its pharmacokinetic properties sulphatroxazole appears to be a suitable candidate to be used in combination with the more recently developed diaminopyrimidines such as baquiloprim.     

纳米氧化锌对断奶仔猪生长、腹泻、肠道微生物和通透性的影响

选用108头平均体重为7.2 kg杜×长×大断奶仔猪,随机分成3组,对照组饲喂基础饲粮;氧化锌组在基础饲粮中添加2 000 mg/kg锌(氧化锌);纳米氧化锌组在基础饲粮中添加500 mg/kg锌(纳米氧化锌),试验期14 d。结果表明:与对照组相比,添加500 mg/kg纳米氧化锌和2 000 mg/kg氧化锌分别提高日增重16.20%(P<0.05)和14.94%(P<0.05),提高日采食12.63%(P<0.05)和13.66%(P<0.05),显著降低断奶后7 d和14 d腹泻指数(P<0.05),显著降低血浆D-乳酸和二胺氧化酶活性(P<0.05)。添加500 mg/kg纳米氧化锌显著降低小肠和结肠内容物中梭菌和大肠杆菌数量;添加2 000 mg/kg氧化锌显著降低结肠内容物中梭菌数量。结果提示,断奶仔猪饲粮中添加500 mg/kg锌(纳米氧化锌)可提高仔猪生长性能,降低腹泻率和肠道通透性,改善肠道微生态,其效果与添加2 000 mg/kg锌(氧化锌)相当。     

Effects of dietary supplementation of modified zinc oxide on growth performance,nutrient digestibility,blood profiles,fecal microbial shedding and fecal score in weanling pigs

One hundred and forty piglets ((Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc, 21 day of age) with an initial weight of 6.50 ± 0.71 kg, were randomly allotted into four treatments to determine the effects of a modified form of zinc oxide (ZnO) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, fecal microbial shedding and fecal score in weanling pigs. Dietary treatments were: (i) NC, negative control, basal diet containing zinc (Zn) from the premix; (ii) PC, positive control, basal diet containing Zn‐free premix + 3000 ppm ZnO; (iii) H1, basal diet containing Zn‐free premix + 3000 ppm ZnO (phase 1, days 1 to 14)/200 ppm modified ZnO (phase 2, days 15 to 42); (iv) H2, basal diet containing Zn‐free premix + 300 ppm modified ZnO (phase 1)/200 ppm modified ZnO (phase 2). During days 1 to 14, average daily gains (ADG) were higher (P = 0.04) in PC, H1 and H2 groups than that in NC group. Overall, H1 treatment increased the ADG compared with NC (P = 0.05). On day 14, the alkaline phosphatase and plasma Zn concentration were increased (P = 0.01 and 0.04, respectively) in PC, H1 and H2 treatments compared with NC treatment. On days 14 and 42, the fecal Lactobacillus counts in NC group were lowest (P = 0.01, P = 0.04 respectively) among treatments. All supplemented groups showed lower (P = 0.03) fecal score than NC treatment on days 21 and 28. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with modified ZnO increased growth rates and reduced fecal scores in weanling pig. Modified ZnO could be used as a substitute to ZnO as a growth promoter and reduce Zn excretion to the environment because of the lower dosage. [Correction added on 3 February 2015, after first online publication: the initial weight of ‘6.50 ± 1.11 kg’ has been replaced with ‘6.50 ± 0.71 kg’ in the abstract.]     

Pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic modelling of meperidine in goats (I): pharmacokinetics

Qiao, G.-L., Fung, K.-F. Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modelling of meperidine in goats (I): pharmacokinetics. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap. 16 , 426–437. Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pharmacokinetics of meperidine were investigated after intramuscular (i.m.) or intravenous (i.v.) administration at a dose of 5 mg/kg in adult goats. After i.m. dosing, the plasma profile was best described by a one-compartment open model. In healthy (n = 16) and postoperative (n = 16) goats, the parameters were, respectively: /_max 8.3 ± 3.9 and 9.2 ± 5.5 min, V_d 2.763 ±1.231 and 3.929 ±2.101 1/kg, Cl_b 0.125 ± 0.036 and 0.087 ± 0.025 1/kg/min, K_c 0.0563 ± 0.0358 and 0.0271 ± 0.0136 min^-1. The plasma profile was best fitted by a two-compartment open model following i.v. injection. In this case, the parameters for healthy (n= 7) and post-operative (n= 13) goats were, respectively: V_d 5.212 ± 1.992 and 5.085 ± 2.288 1/kg, Cl_b 0.096 ± 0.028 and 0.075 ± 0.026 1/kg/min, P 0.0211 ± 0.0093 and 0.0160 ± 0.0052 min.^-1. There were, however, a few individuals with a prolonged elimination phase. Bioavailability of i.m. meperidine was 66.5 ± 15.8% in healthy (n= 6) goats, but much higher in postoperative (n = 10) ones at 94.6 ± 30.0%. Meperidine diffused into and out of CSF according to a first-order rate process. The time-course of CSF drug concentration was simulated by a biexponential function. CSF kinetic parameters of i.m. meperidine for healthy (n = 7) and postoperative (n = 13) goats were: elimination rate constant (K_ei) 0.0269 ± 0.0131 and 0.0305 ± 0.0177 min“¹, peak CSF concentration time (T_naxl) 15.9 ± 5.0 and 17.0 ± 6.9 min. For the i.v. dosed healthy (n = 6) and postoperative (n = 8) animals, K_el was 0.0408 ± 0.0107, 0.0414 ± 0.0123 min^-1 and 7_maxt was 10.0 ± 5.0 and 7.7 ± 2.5 min, respectively. It was demonstrated that an obviously lower peak concentration can be reached significantly later in CSF than in plasma, and the kinetic behaviour of meperidine in plasma is different from that in the CSF, indicating meperidine analgesia might not be predicted by simple extrapolation from the kinetic data.     

A kinetic model of phosphorus metabolism in growing goats

The effect of increasing phosphorus (P) intake on P utilization was investigated in balance experiments using 12 Saanen goats, 4 to 5 mo of age and weighing 20 to 30 kg. The goats were given similar diets with various concentrations of P, and 32P was injected to trace the movement of P in the body. A P metabolism model with four pools was developed to compute P exchanges in the system. The results showed that P absorption, bone resorption, and excretion of urinary P and endogenous and fecal P all play a part in the homeostatic control of P. Endogenous fecal output was positively correlated to P intake (P < .01). Bone resorption of P was not influenced by intake of P, and P recycling from tissues to the blood pool was lesser for low P intake. Endogenous P loss occurred even in animals fed an inadequate P diet, resulting in a negative P balance. The extrapolated minimum endogenous loss in feces was .067 g of P/d. The minimum P intake for maintenance in Saanen goats was calculated to be .61 g of P/d or .055 g of P/(kg(.75) x d) at 25 kg BW. Model outputs indicate greater P flow from the blood pool to the gut and vice versa as P intake increased. Intake of P did not significantly affect P flow from bone and soft tissue to blood. The kinetic model and regressions could be used to estimate P requirement and the fate of P in goats and could also be extrapolated to both sheep and cattle.     

22～42日龄肉鸡铜、铁、锌、锰不同用量组合的研究

本试验旨在研究饲粮中铜、铁、锌、锰含量对22~42日龄肉鸡生长性能和粪中铜、铁、锌、锰排泄量的影响,进而对微量元素的平衡模式进行探讨。选取940只1日龄爱拔益加(AA)肉公鸡,1~21日龄统一饲喂铜、铁、锌、锰含量分别为16.96、166.66、46.01、60.26 mg/kg的玉米-豆粕型饲粮。试验选用22日龄、体况良好、体重接近的AA肉公鸡900只,随机分为15组,每组6个重复,每个重复10只鸡。对照组饲喂基础饲粮,基础饲粮中铜、铁、锌、锰含量分别为8、125、40、60 mg/kg,试验组饲喂在基础饲粮中按照均匀设计原则添加2~8 mg/kg铜、10~35 mg/kg铁、10~40 mg/kg锌、15~60 mg/kg锰组成的14种试验饲粮。测定肉鸡试验期生长性能,并于38~42日龄时采集粪样测定铜、铁、锌、锰含量。结果表明:1)饲粮铜、铁、锌、锰含量在NRC推荐量至2倍NRC推荐量范围时,对22~42日龄肉鸡的平均日增重(ADG)和料重比(F/G)无显著影响(P0.05)。2)由最优解分析得出,粪中铜排泄量最低为23.11 mg/kg时,饲粮铜、铁、锌、锰含量分别为7.15、116.28、82.82、60.95 mg/kg;铁排泄量最低为438.34 mg/kg时,饲粮铜、铁、锌、锰含量分别为14.78、116.81、38.15、63.72 mg/kg;锌排泄量最低为102.60 mg/kg时,饲粮铜、铁、锌、锰含量分别为7.69、127.40、40.70、133.26 mg/kg;锰排泄量最低为159.37 mg/kg时,饲粮铜、铁、锌、锰含量分别为11.07、136.97、46.13、59.05 mg/kg;粪中铜、铁、锌、锰总排泄量最低为218.94 mg/kg时,饲粮铜、铁、锌、锰含量分别为7.36、125.74、38.23、62.76 mg/kg。综上所述,饲粮铜、铁、锌、锰含量在NRC推荐量至2倍NRC推荐量范围时对22~42日龄肉鸡的生长性能无显著影响;粪中铜、铁、锌、锰任一元素的排泄量均受饲粮中其他微量元素添加量的影响,且针对不同元素最低排泄量存在不同的最佳组合;饲粮铜、铁、锌、锰的含量分别为7.36、125.74、38.23、62.76 mg/kg时,能够满足肉鸡微量元素需要量,同时粪中铜、铁、锌、锰总排泄量最小。     

Feed preparation and pharmacokinetics of chlortetracycline in piglets

18 piglets were fed either a dry, humid or soup diet and each animal was dosed with 40 mg chlortetracycline/kg bodyweight. The chlortetracycline-concentration in the diet was 2500 mg/kg air-dried feed. After a single oral dosage the absorption of chlortetracycline occurred significantly faster from the soup diet, resulting in higher serum levels as well as prolonged elevated serum concentrations of CTC compared with the other two diets. Using a mathematical model, serum concentrations over a 5-day period with repeated dosage of CTC were calculated. Based on this dates we recommend the following dosage regime for chlortetracycline: 20-30 mg CTC/kg bodyweight/12 h for soup feeding and 30-40 mg CTC/kg bodyweight/12 h for dry or humid feeding.     

Pharmacokinetics of single‐dose oral ponazuril in weanling goats

Ponazuril (toltrazuril sulfone) is a triazine antiprotozoal agent that targets apicomplexan organisms. Ponazuril may have clinical application in the treatment of clinical coccidiosis due to Eimeria species in goats, along with other protozoal infections. To evaluate the absorption, distribution and elimination characteristics of ponazuril in goats, a sensitive, validated high‐pressure liquid chromatography and mass spectroscopy method for ponazuril in caprine plasma was developed. After a single oral dose of ponazuril at 10 mg/kg, plasma samples from seven weanling goats were collected and assayed. Plasma concentrations of ponazuril in the goats peaked at 36 ± 13 h post drug administration at a concentration of 9 ± 2 μg/mL. Concentrations declined to an average of 4.2 ± 0.8 μg/mL after 168 h with an average elimination half‐life of 129 ± 72 h post drug administration. This study shows that ponazuril is relatively well absorbed after a single oral dose in goats. Efficacy trials are underway to determine clinical efficacy of ponazuril in the treatment of clinical coccidiosis in goats at 10 mg/kg dosage.     

Systemic effects of a prolonged continuous infusion of ketamine in healthy horses

Background: Ketamine as continuous rate infusion (CRI) provides analgesia in hospitalized horses. Objective: Determine effects of prolonged CRI of ketamine on gastrointestinal transit time, fecal weight, vital parameters, gastrointestinal borborygmi, and behavior scores in healthy adult horses. Animals: Seven adult Thoroughbred or Thoroughbred cross horses, with permanently implanted gastric cannulae. Methods: Nonblinded trial. Random assignment to 1 of 2 crossover designed treatments. Ketamine (0.55 mg/kg IV over 15 minutes followed by 1.2 mg/kg/h) or lactated Ringer's solution (50 mL IV over 15 minutes followed by 0.15 mL/kg/h) treatments. Two hundred 3 × 5 mm plastic beads administered by nasogastric tube before drug administration. Every 2 hours vital parameters, behavior scores recorded, feces collected and weighed, and beads retrieved. Every 6 hours gastrointestinal borborygmi scores recorded. Study terminated upon retrieval of 180 beads (minimum 34 hours) or maximum 96 hours. Nontransit time data analyzed between hours 0 and 34. Results: No significant (P < .05) differences detected between treatments in vital signs or gastrointestinal borborygmi. Significant (P = .002) increase in behavior score during ketamine infusion (0.381) from hours 24–34 compared with placebo (0). Ketamine caused significant delay in passage of 25, 50, and 75% of beads (ketamine = 30.6 ± 5.3, 41.4 ± 8.4, 65.3 ± 13.5 hours versus placebo = 26.8 ± 7.9, 34.3 ± 11.1, 45.8 ± 19.4 hours), and significant (P < .05) decrease in fecal weight from hours 22 (12.6 ± 3.2 versus 14.5 ± 3.8 kg) through 34 (18.5 ± 3.9 versus 12.8 ± 6.4 kg) of infusion. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Ketamine CRI delayed gastrointestinal transit time in healthy horses without effect on vital parameters.     

Reduction of urinary nitrogen excretion and ammonia emission from slurry by feeding a low protein diet supplemented with apple pomace to growing pigs

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of supplementing a reduced crude protein (CP) diet with apple pomace on the urinary nitrogen excretion and ammonia emission from slurry in the growing pigs. Four barrows (35 kg bodyweight) were assigned to one of two diets. Each pig was placed in a metabolism cage and fed a low CP, amino acid-supplemented diet (CP 11.33%; low CP diet) or a low CP, amino acid-supplemented diet containing 23.08% dried apple pomace (CP 9.47%; apple pomace diet) for two 14-day experimental periods. After the completion of the first period, the pigs were switched to the other diet. Urine and feces were quantitatively collected daily for 5 days after a 9-day adaptation period. The daily nitrogen intake for the low CP diet and the apple pomace diet was 17.76 g/pig and 18.64 g/pig, respectively. The pigs fed the apple pomace diet excreted more fecal nitrogen (6.86 g/day) than the pigs fed the low CP diet (3.63 g/day) ( P  < 0.001), but urinary nitrogen excretion with the apple pomace diet was 3.11 g/day, which was much lower than that for the low CP diet (5.95 g/day) ( P  < 0.001). The daily ammonia emission from the mixture of urine and feces determined by an in vitro method was much lower for pigs fed the apple pomace diet (120 mg) than that for pigs fed the low CP diet (603 mg) ( P  < 0.01). The addition of apple pomace to a reduced CP, amino acid-supplemented diet reduces urinary nitrogen excretion and thereby ammonia emission.     

Concentrate supplementations of grazing pregnant Kalahari Red goats: Effects on pregnancy variables,reproductive performance,birth types and weight of kids

A study was conducted for 22 weeks to determine the effects of concentrate supplementations at three crude protein (CP) levels, i.e. low protein diet—LPD 12.42% CP (124.93 g day^?1); medium protein diet—MPD 14.18% CP (145.87 g day^?1) and high protein diet—HPD 16.35% CP (168.19 g day^?1) on some pregnancy variables, reproductive performance, birth types and weight of kids kidded by pregnant Kalahari Red goats grazed on Chloris gayana. Thirty-three matured Kalahari Red goats of first parity within age range of 2 to 2¹/₂ years with an average body weight of 38.10 ± 1.13 kg were randomly allotted to the diets with 11 goats per treatment. Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance in a completely randomised design. It was observed that goats fed HPD had the highest (p < 0.05) values for products of pregnancy (10.35 kg) taken within 24hour before kidding and foetal growth rate (88.37 g day^?1) during pregnancy. Goats fed MPD had the lowest values (p < 0.05) of 9.28 kg and 80.07 g day^?1 for each of the respective parameters. Afterbirth weight was also the highest and lowest (p < 0.05) for goats supplemented with HPD (3.38 kg) and MPD (3.04 kg), respectively. On the other hand, MPD-supplemented goats had the highest values (p < 0.05) for litter size (2.14) and litter weight (6.80 kg) at birth, the value which was the least for HPD supplementation. From the results obtained from this study, it could be concluded that concentrate diet supplementation with 14.18% CP improved litter size and weight at birth with resultant reduction in weights of pregnancy variables of pregnant Kalahari Red goats grazed on Rhodes grass.