Ionized Ca in blood, standard ionized Ca, pH, and total Ca in plasma were measured in 33 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows and their calves. Blood was taken immediately postpartum and at 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after calving. Cows and their calves were grouped according to parity. Concentrations of ionized and total Ca consistently were higher in neonates than in the dams. Parity differences were significant for maternal ionized Ca and total Ca. However, parity was not significant for ionized or total Ca in the blood of corresponding calves. Changes in ionized Ca concentration in calves of first lactation cows largely were attributable to perinatal acidosis. In contrast to total Ca concentrations, the ionized Ca and standard ionized Ca concentrations in dams and calves were relatively stable throughout the study, suggesting that ionized Ca concentration in blood is indicative of the Ca status of the dairy animal.

In two sets of experiments eight groups of seven-week-old pigs weighing about 9 kg were fed for three weeks a prestarter that contained 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 10.0 or 15.0 mg/kg of highly purified T-2 toxin. The feed of the two control groups was free from T-2 toxin. Average daily intakes of toxin by the pigs were 0.38, 0.81, 1.24, 1.43, 0.93, 0.81, 0.99 and 2.5 mg, respectively. The weight gains, the feed intakes, the extent of feed refusal, the parameters of energy and protein metabolism and the serum concentrations of calcium, inorganic phosphorus and magnesium were affected to different extents by the different doses of T-2 toxin, but the data indicated that feed consumption was reduced and the activity of aspartate aminotransferase was increased by the smallest amount of T-2 toxin tested.

The objective of this study was to determine some metabolic and other factors predicting the risk of postpartum uterine disease (PUD), and the effects of puerperal metritis (PM) on metabolic status, reproduction and milk yield were analysed. A total of 105 Holstein-Friesian cows were included, and sampled on day < −14 prepartum and days 4, 10–14, 28–35 and 56–63 postpartum for metabolic tests. From day 4 the development of PUD, and from days 28–35 the ovarian activity was monitored. When grade ≥ 1 + ketonuria was present on day 4 postpartum, this indicated a higher probability of PUD [odds ratio (OR) 2.64; P < 0.05] including PM occurring on days 10–14 (OR: 2.65; P < 0.05). Plasma nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations > 0.200 mmol/l on days < −14 prepartum indicated a higher risk of uterine diseases (OR: 3.44; P < 0.05). The odds of PUD increased, depending on whether a body condition score (BCS) loss of ≥ 1.0 occurred between days < −14 and 28–35 (OR: 2.82; P < 0.05), between days < −14 and 10–14 (OR: 4.79; P < 0.01) or between days 10–14 and 28–35 (OR: 10.81; P < 0.01). PM was more probable (OR: 27.3; P < 0.001) in cows with retained placenta. The risk of uterine diseases was lower in multiparous than in primiparous cows (OR: 0.29; P < 0.01). PM increased the risk of ovarian inactivity between days 28 and 35 (OR: 2.83; P < 0.05). Cows affected with PM (PM+ cows) showed lower milk production on day 4 (kg; P < 0.05) and lower milk production (P < 0.05), milk fat and milk protein production (kg; P < 0.01; P < 0.01) in the first 100 days of lactation than did PM− cows.

Model experiment was conducted with growing pigs fed diets containing zero or two levels (1 or 2 g/kg) of fermented wheat germ extract (FWGE). In the first part of the experiment (19 days between 49 and 68 days of age) weight gain and feed conversion were tested. The 2 nd part of the experiment (21 days between 68 and 89 days of age) served to measure the effect of FWGE on some compartments of the immune system. In the first part of the experiment supplementation of the starters' diet with FWGE yielded 7.8 and 14.2% additional daily weight gain in the 1 st and 2 nd experimental groups, respectively (P<0.05). Humoral immune response to purified horse globulin (PHG) antigen was unaffected by the treatment. The blastogenic response of lymphocytes to non specific mitogens (PHA, Con-A, PWM), phagocytic activity and phagocytic index as well as the intradermal PHA test was consistently and significantly enhanced by the treatments.