Effects of breed, age of dam, birth year, birth season and sex on weaning weight of beef calves

Weaning weights of 442 beef calves (223 male and 219 female), born between 1997 and 2004 from cows of nine breeds (Hungarian Fleckvieh, Hereford, Aberdeen Angus, Red Angus, Lincoln Red, Charolais, Limousin, Blonde d' Aquitaine and Shaver) and maintained in the same conditions on peat-bog soil pasture at Keszthely, were evaluated. The effect of breed, age of dam, year/season of birth and sex of calf on the 205-day weaning weight was computed by analysis of variance (GLM). Overall mean of the 205-day weaning weight of all calves was 193 kg. The contribution to the total phenotypic variance of the 205-day weaning weight was: 18.60% by breed, 2.79% by age of dam, 43.23% by birth year, 3.95% by birth season and 31.43% by sex of calf. The evaluated factors had a significant (P < 0.05) effect on 205-day weight. Mean values by breeds were 198, 163, 206, 205, 182, 204, 181, 189 and 204 kg, respectively. According to the age of the dam, the weaning weight increased up to 5 years and after the maximum (205 kg) decreased. The minimum values were found in the group of 2- (178 kg) and 12-year-old (174 kg) cows. With respect to birth year, the highest weaning weight (238 kg) was observed in 2002 and the lowest (151 kg) in 1999. For birth season, winter, spring, summer and autumn, the 205-day weaning weight was 183, 196, 203 and 190 kg, respectively. Male calves reached 202 kg and female calves 185 kg mean value of the adjusted weaning weight.     

Effect of age on the pharmacokinetics of antipyrine in calves

Single doses of 15 mg kg⁻¹ antipyrine were given intravenously to 10 female calves of the black and white breed at one, two, four, six, eight and 12 weeks of age, and the concentrations of antipyrine, 4-hydroxyantipyrine (4-oha), 3-hydroxymethylantipyrine (hma) and norantipyrine (nora) were measured in plasma and urine by high performance liquid chromatography. The first three months of life were characterised by a steady decrease in the apparent volume of distribution (aV_d) and half-life (t_0.5) of antipyrine. The systemic clearance (Cl_s) of antipyrine per unit bodyweight increased significantly between one and 12 weeks of age. Age did not influence the excretion of hma and nora in urine, but the excretion of 4-oha by 12-week-old calves was significantly greater than by one-week-old calves. There was an age-related change in the partial clearances of the antipyrine metabolites when expressed per unit bodyweight.     

Antioxidant parameters of horses according to age,sex, breed and environment

Antioxidant defences interact to form an integrated system. There is no comprehensive and uniform view on issues concerning the antioxidant status in horses. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to estimate antioxidant parameters in horses of different age, sex and breed as well as environment and relationship between different antioxidants. Parameters of selected antioxidants including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px), total antioxidant status (TAS), ceruloplasmin (CP), bilirubin, uric acid, zinc, copper and selenium were determined in blood of 80 clinically healthy horses. Antioxidant parameters significantly varied between horses form different environments or different breed and sex. Age of horses had no significant effect on antioxidant parameters. Significant correlation coefficients were observed between enzymatic and nonenzimatic antioxidants. The nature of the relationship between the antioxidant system in horses with respect to environmental factors is rather complex and to date only a part of system is known.     

Effect of age,sex, and breed on serum cystatin C and creatinine concentrations in dogs

Veterinary Research Communications - This study investigated the effects of age, sex and breed on serum cystatin C (Cys-C) and creatinine in small breed dogs. This retrospective study included 250...     

Effects of sex and age on behavior and weight gain in beef calves after abrupt weaning

The effects of weaning on beef calves of different ages were investigated. Forty male and 40 female calves were either weaned at 6 (W6, n = 40) or 8 (W8, n = 40) months of age. The vocalization activity and behaviors (feeding, lying and standing/walking) were observed during the first 3 days following weaning. Body weight was recorded at 6 and 8 months and 2 weeks following weaning. W6 animals vocalized more often than W8 calves and females more than males on day 1 (P < 0.05). The vocalization activity decreased at a higher rate in W8 than in W6 from days 1 to 3. On day 2, W6 calves spent less time lying and more standing/walking than W8 calves (P < 0.05). The behaviors did not differ between males and females. The average daily gain after weaning did not differ between weaning ages (P > 0.05), but W8 calves gained more from 6 to 8 months of age. In conclusion, weaning distress was more pronounced in W6 than in W8 calves. W8 calves also had a superior growth performance during 6 to 8 months of age. The effect of the calves' sex was less pronounced. Therefore, it is recommended to wean beef calves later than 6 months of age.     

Effects of age,sex, and breed on the composition of free extractable ceramides in the stratum corneum of healthy dogs

Veterinary Research Communications - Ceramide (CER), an important component of the extracellular lamellar lipids in the stratum corneum (SC), plays a critical role in maintaining the cutaneous...     

Influence of age, sex, and production class on liver zinc concentration in calves.

Determination of zinc concentrations in the liver of calves and young stock is commonly requested by practitioners and nutritionists to assess whether they receive an appropriate amount of zinc in their diet. However, interpretation of liver zinc concentrations is currently based on information reported for adult cattle for which the health status was unknown and irrespective of production class, sex, and age. A retrospective study of necropsy reports was undertaken to assess the relationships between liver zinc concentrations and age, sex, and production class for calves that did not have a history compatible with zinc toxicosis or zinc deficiency. Results of a generalized least squares, polynomial regression analysis of 474 records found that zinc concentration was not affected by sex (P = 0.29) or production class (P = 0.50). Zinc concentration was significantly associated with linear (P < 0.00001) and nonlinear (quadratic, P = 0.0039) functions of age (r2 = 0.1503), where the concentration decreased from 93 mg/kg wet weight at 30 days of age to 57 mg/kg wet weight at 9 months of age, after which it began to increase. The age-specific 95% confidence limits of the mean concentration for a group of calves and the 95% prediction limits of a single concentration value for an individual animal estimated in this study suggest reconsideration of the recommended limits for liver zinc concentration in calves. As a consequence of the significant influence of age on liver zinc concentration of calves presumably not experiencing zinc toxicosis or deficiency, diagnosis of zinc imbalances based on liver zinc concentration needs to consider age as a diagnostic covariate.     

The effect of breed,sex, and oral meloxicam administration on pain biomarkers following hot-iron branding in Hereford and Angus calves

Hot-iron branding uses thermal injury to permanently identify cattle causing painful tissue damage. The primary objective was to examine the physiological and behavioral effects of oral meloxicam (MEL), compared to a control, administered at the time of hot-iron branding in Angus and Hereford steers and heifers. The secondary objectives were to investigate breed and sex effects on pain biomarkers. A total of 70 yearlings, consisting of 35 heifers and 35 steers (Angus, Hereford, or Angus × Hereford), were enrolled in the study. Animals were blocked by sex, randomized across weight, and assigned to receive MEL (1 mg/kg) or a placebo (CON). Biomarkers were assessed for 48 h after branding and included infrared thermography (IRT), mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT), accelerometry and a visual analog scale (VAS), and serum cortisol and prostaglandin E₂ metabolites (PGEM). Wound healing was assessed for 12 wk. Hair samples to quantify cortisol levels were taken prior to and 30 d post-branding. Responses were analyzed using repeated measures with calf nested in treatment as a random effect, and treatment, time, treatment by time interaction, breed, and sex as fixed effects. There was a treatment by time interaction for PGEM (P < 0.01) with MEL having lower values than CON at 6, 24, and 48 h (MEL: 18.34 ± 3.52, 19.61 ± 3.48, and 22.24 ± 3.48 pg/mL, respectively; CON: 32.57 ± 3.58, 37.00 ± 3.52, and 33.07 ± 3.48 pg/mL; P < 0.01). MEL showed less of a difference in maximum IRT values between the branded (2.27 ± 0.29 °C) and control site (3.15 ± 0.29 °C; P < 0.01). MEL took fewer lying bouts at 0–12 h (4.91 bouts ± 0.56) compared with CON (6.87 bouts ± 0.55; P < 0.01). Compared with Hereford calves, Angus calves exhibited greater serum but lower hair cortisol, greater PGEM, more lying bouts, and less healed wound scores at 3, 4, and 5 wk. Compared with heifers, steers exhibited lower PGEM, lower branding site and ocular IRT, higher MNT, and lower plasma meloxicam levels. Steers spent more time lying, took more lying bouts and had greater VAS pain, and more healed wound scores at 5 wk than heifers. Meloxicam administration at branding reduced branding and control site temperature differences and reduced lying bouts for the first 12 h. Breed and sex effects were observed across many biomarkers. Changes from baseline values for IRT, MNT, lying time, step count, VAS pain, and wound scoring all support that branding cattle is painful.     

Characterization of sex, age, and breed for a population of canine leishmaniosis diseased dogs

Our study of a large canine population investigated whether the development of symptomatic canine leishmaniosis revealed any predilection for sex, age, or breed. Included in the study were 390 leishmaniosis-affected dogs that had been treated at the Hospital Clínic Veterinari attached to the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Of the diseased dogs, 238 were male (61%) and 152 were females (39%), whereas percentages for males and females in the overall reference population of dogs treated at this unit were 53% and 47%, respectively, (P<0.05). Age distribution was bimodal, with the highest prevalence of the disease occurring at 2-4 years of age and a secondary peak occurring at seven years or over. The over represented breeds were the German shepherd (13.6% versus 6.35%, P<0.001), the Rottweiler (13.1% versus 3.0%, P<0.001), and the Boxer (7.9% versus 4.7%, P=0.002), whereas the underrepresented breeds were the Yorkshire terrier (0.5% versus 6.5%, P<0.001), and the Poodle (0.3% versus 3.0%, P<0.001).     

The lead status of horses from central Europe depending on breed, sex, age and living area

The breed of horses took a significant effect on the Pb content of animals with a normal Pb supply. Warm-blooded horses stored more Pb in skeleton, kidneys, liver and cerebrum than heavy horses. The sex only had the trend of influencing the Pb status. Mares with a normal Pb supply incorporated more Pb than geldings. Age only took a slight effect on the skeleton. Older horses stored more Pb in the metatarsal bone than younger ones. The Pb content of horse meat was not influenced by Pb exposure. Pb was not additionally deposited in the musculature. The Pb offer of the living area took a significant effect on the Pb status of horses. Skeleton, liver and kidneys indicated the site-specific influences significantly.     

The cadmium status of horses from central Europe depending on breed, sex, age and living area

The Cd status of animals is best reflected by kidneys and much worse by liver and hair. Breed (heavy- and warm-blooded horses) only took an insignificant effect on the Cd content of kidneys and liver. On the average, however, warm-blooded horses stored more Cd than heavy ones. Geldings from Cd-exposed living areas accumulated insignificantly more Cd in liver, kidneys and hair than mares. The influence of age on the Cd content of kidneys and liver of Cd-exposed horses was significant. The Cd exposure of a living area was very well reflected by kidneys and liver. On the average, horses from two areas with nonferrous metal smelting stored 1000 mg Cd/kg kidney dry matter and 100 to 200 mg Cd/kg liver dry matter. The highest Cd concentration of the kidneys of horses amounted to 2.6 and 2.3 g/kg dry matter, resp.     

Corticosterone and fat deposition in broiler chicks: Effect of injection time,breed, sex and age

1. Corticosterone (680 μg/kg body weight per day) given as six daily injections to 3‐ or 7‐week‐old chicks decreased weight gain, but increased food consumption, abdominal fat pad weight, skin dry matter, relative liver size and liver fat concentration.

2. Time of day of injection did not modify the response to corticosterone of 3‐week‐old chicks kept under natural daylight nor of 7‐week‐old broilers receiving additional illumination.

3. Pure White Rock chicks and Cornish x White Rock crossbred chicks responded similarly to corticosterone injections at 3 weeks of age.

4. Seven‐week‐old female birds treated with corticosterone had significantly larger abdominal fat pads than similarly treated males.

5. Corticosterone injection was more effective in increasing the proportion of liver fat in 7‐week‐old birds than in 3‐week‐old ?hicks.

6. The increased amount of abdominal and liver fat due to corticosterone injections administered at 3 weeks of age disappeared after 3 weeks, but growth depression was still evident.     

Effects of breed, sex, and age on the variation and ability of fecal near-infrared reflectance spectra to predict the composition of goat diets

The effects of breed, sex, and age of goats on fecal near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy-predicted percentage juniper in the diet were investigated, as were spectral differences in feces from goats differing in estimated genetic merit for juniper consumption. Eleven goats from each breed, sex, and age combination, representing 2 breeds (Angora and meat-type), 3 sex classifications (female, intact male, and castrated male), and 2 age categories [adult and kid (less than 12 mo of age)] were fed complete, pelleted rations containing 0 or 14% juniper. After 7 d on the same diet, fecal samples were collected for 3 d, and the spectra from the 3 replicate samples were averaged. Fecal samples were assigned to calibration or validation data sets. In a second experiment, Angora and meat goats with high or low estimated genetic merit for juniper consumption were fed the same diet to determine the effect of consumer group on fecal spectra. Feces were scanned in the 1,100- to 2,500-nm range with a scanning reflectance monochromator. Fecal spectra were analyzed for the difference in spectral characteristics and for differences in predicted juniper in the diet using internal and independent calibration equations. Internal calibration had a high precision (R(2) = 0.94), but the precision of independent validations (r(2) = 0.56) was low. Spectral differences were affected by diet, sex, breed, and age (P < 0.04). However, diet was the largest source of variation in spectral differences. Predicted percentage of juniper in the diet also showed that diet was the largest source of variation, accounting for 95% of the variation in predictions from internal calibrations and 51% of the variation in independent validations. Predictions from independent calibrations readily detected differences (P < 0.001) in the percentage of juniper in the 2 diets, and the predicted differences were similar to the actual differences. Predicted juniper in the diet was also affected by sex. Feces from goats from different juniper consumer groups fed a common diet were spectrally different, and the difference may have resulted from a greater intake by high- compared with low-juniper-consuming goats. Fecal near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy predictions of botanical composition of diets should be considered an interval scale of measurement.