To study whether a delayed start of colostrum feeding in calves affects plasma lipids, fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins, one group was fed colostrum (milkings 1-4) on d 1 and 2, then mature milk up to d 7, whereas two other groups were fed glucose or water on d 1, colostrum (milkings 1-4) on d 2 and 3 and then mature milk up to d 7. In calves fed colostrum on d 1, starting 5-7 h after birth, plasma concentrations of triglycerides, phospholipids, total cholesterol and of essential and nonessential fatty acids in triglyceride, phospholipid and cholesterol ester fractions as well as of carotene, retinol and alpha-tocopherol up to d 7 were significantly higher than in calves in which colostrum feeding started after >24 h of life. On the other hand, plasma concentrations of vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12 and folic acid were not influenced. Results indicated reduced efficiency of absorption of colostral fatty acids and of fat-soluble vitamins, but not of (selected) water-soluble vitamins, if colostrum is not fed on d 1 of life. In conclusion, colostrum intake within the first 24 h of life is required for an adequate plasma lipid, essential fatty acid, carotene, retinol and alpha-tocopherol status in the first week of life of calves.

Klinik fur kleine kkuentim, Ambulatorische Klinik undjrensiscbe Medien, lieraqtkcbe Hocbscbuk Hannover, Biscbofsholer Damm 15, 0 -3 0 173 Hannover, Gnnan_ySummary 214 ewes suffering from pregnancy toxaemia (ketosis) were examined. Clinical signs during onset and course of disease and laboratory findings were compared between animals that survived and those which died. In the latter the onset of ketosis was earlier in pregnancy (day 143 f 7 vs. day 146 f 8) and duration of the disease was shorter (10 f 13 vs. 14 f 9 days). The animals that died showed more severe clinical signs and higher values of 3-hydroxy-butyrate (4.3 f 3.6 vs. 3.5 f 2.6mmol/l) and cortisol (72 f 98 vs. 52 f 80 nmol/l) as well as lower values of insulin (37 f 12 vs. 66 f 42 pmol/l) and potassium (4.1 f 1.0 vs. 4.4 1.0 mmol/l) at onset of the disease than those which survived (aU of differences with P < 0.05). Glucose levels did not differ between groups.Treated animals with glucose plus fructose infusions (n = 56) or with oral application of glucose precursors plus electrolytes (n = 126) had survival rates of 53.6 Yo and 62.7 Yo, respectively. Oral treatment with glucose precursors plus electrolytes and an additional subcutaneous insulin treatment (n = 15) led to an enhanced survival rate of 86.7 YO (P < 0.05).Low insulin levels in ketotic pregnant sheep and the therapeutic effect of insuhn treatment support the hypothesis that insulin plays a causative role in the pathogenesis of ovine ketosis.

No abstract

The velocity at which blood lactate concentration ([LA]) of 4 mmol/L is reached (v(4)) is widely used to determine fitness, but there are few published data on using [LA] as a guide for the exercise speed for training in horses. In this study, the effect of 3 conditioning programs with [LA] guided exercise speeds on v(4), v(200) (speed at a heart rate of 200 beats/min), blood [LA], plasma FFA ([FFA]), and alanine concentrations ([alanine]), before and after exercise, as well as heart rate during exercise, of horses was examined. Six 2-yr-old Haflinger stallions underwent an initial treadmill-based standard exercise test (SET). A regression analysis [LA]-speed relationship was used to calculate v(1.5), v(2.5), and v(4). Horses were then randomly assigned to 1 of 3 conditioning programs according to a 3 x 6 Latin square design. During 6 wk, horses exercised on the treadmill every other day for 45 min at their calculated v(1.5) or v(2.5) or 25 min at their v(4). Each conditioning period (CDP) was followed by 5 wk without conditioning. At 2 and 9 d, and 5 wk, after the end of the CDP, the horses performed another SET to evaluate again the v(4) and v(200). Blood [LA], plasma [FFA], and [alanine] were measured before and after heart rate during exercise sessions 1, 11, and 21 in each CDP. None of the exercise programs had an effect on v(4) and v(200) (P > 0.05). The increase of the mean [LA] after exercise decreased during CDP (P < 0.05), and the increase of mean heart rate during exercise tended to decrease as well (P = 0.07). There was no difference among the conditioning programs. Plasma [FFA] before exercise was not influenced by the CDP (P > 0.05). The plasma [FFA] was always greater after exercise (P < 0.05), but there was no difference among conditioning programs. Overall, the increase was greatest after the 21st exercise session compared with the 1st and 11th exercise sessions (P < 0.05). The mean plasma [alanine] before exercise remained similar during all CDP (P > 0.05). Mean plasma [alanine] of the horses was increased after all exercise sessions measured (P < 0.05). There was no difference among conditioning programs (P > 0.05). It is concluded that conditioning with the exercise types used had small effects. This could have been because the exercise stress was too small, but also because the workload was not increased during the CDP.

Duhlmeier, Reinhard, Anja Hacker, Andrea Widdel, Wolfgang von Engelhardt, and Hans-Peter Sallmann. Mechanisms of insulindependent glucose transport into porcine and bovine skeletal muscle.

Summary Thirty dairy cows with left abomasal displacement (LAD) and 14 healthy control cows were studied to assess the status of the natural antioxidant vitamin E, lipid peroxidation in the liver (malondialdehyde‐formation) and its relationship to hepatic lipidosis. Blood concentrations of α‐tocopherol, aminotransferase, glutamin dehydrogenase, free fatty acids, β‐hydroxybutyrate and glucose were determined, α‐tocopherol, tryglyceride, glycogen and malondialdehyde (MDA) in wet liver tissue samples were examined. The dietary α‐tocopherol intake and its plasma changes in LDA cows were also investigated. Cows were divided into four groups according to their liver triglyceride contents (< 20; 20–80; > 80 mg/g of fresh tissue; and control groups). The lowest plasma vitamin E and the highest liver vitamin E levels were found in cows with highest hepatic triglyceride content. The highest increase in plasma α‐tocopherol within 5 days was seen in cows with the lowest liver triglyceride (P < 0.01). The liver triglyceride was positively correlated with liver MDA (r = 0.38; P < 0.05) and negatively with plasma α‐tocopherol (r = −0.41; P < 0.01).

This study was an attempt to find whether the reproductive performance of cocks would be influenced by oral administration of different amounts of dietary vitamin E over a long period of time. For that purpose 60 cocks were divided into five dietary groups of 12 animals each, and supplemented with 0 (control group), 100, 1,000, 10,000 or 20,000 IU alpha-tocopherol/kg diet, respectively, over a period of 12 months. The effect on semen parameters and biochemical parameters measured in pooled semen samples and the weight of the testes were determined. The weight of testes decreased with increasing amounts of supplemented vitamin E. Volume, pH, colour, consistency and motility were not influenced by the diets, but density of ejaculate (sperm/microl), total amount of spermatozoa and morphology of sperm were significantly lowered by increasing amounts of supplemented vitamin E. The alpha-tocopherol concentration in ejaculates increased significantly in relation to the diet whereas phospholipid content and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) of the semen samples decreased significantly with increasing vitamin E supplementation. The reproductive performance of cocks was negatively influenced by high doses of vitamin E although decreased TBARS indicated rising oxidative defence.

No abstract