The aim of the study was to compare contents of individual protein fractions determined by electrophoresis in blood serum of healthy periparturient goats. Eight clinically healthy white shorthaired goats were examined. Blood samples of these goats were taken from v. jugularis three weeks and two weeks before the anticipated parturition, on the parturition day, 7 days after the parturition, and 28 days after the parturition. Individual protein fractions, albumins, α1-, α2-, β1-, β2-and γ-globulins were identified by electrophoretic analysis of blood serum. Percentage shares of individual protein fractions were converted from total protein values to g·l -1 values. The results indicated that individual serum protein fractions in periparturient goats showed significant dynamics of change. There were no significant differences between samples taken before the parturition and on the parturition day (except for the increase of β2 from 2.5 ± 0.3 g·l -1 observed 3 weeks before the parturition to 3.2 ± 0.4 g·l -1 measured 2 weeks before the parturition, and the decrease of γG levels from 9.5 ± 2.6 g·l -1 observed three weeks before the parturition to 8.1 ± 1.7 g·l -1 found on the parturition day), yet most indicators measured after the parturition were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than on the parturition day (values in g·l -1 observed on the parturition day versus values measured 28 days after the parturition: total protein 60.6 ± 4.3 vs. 71.3 ± 2.4, albumins 37.4 ± 2.9 vs. 42.7 ± 1.0, α2 3.4 ± 0.5 vs. 4.1 ± 0.8, β1 5.6 ± 0.5 vs. 6.3 ± 0.9, γG 8.1 ± 1.7 vs. 12.3 ± 1.9). The results bring new knowledge on the values of individual fractions of serum proteins in healthy goats, which is necessary for diagnostic interpretation of pathological findings in animals and also for experimental studies.

The goal of the experiment was to compare the effect of supplementation of inorganic and the new organically bound (lactate-protein selenium complex) form of selenium (Se) in feed for goats. The 31 goats were split into three groups: control (C) without Se supplementation, AN group administered sodium selenite, ORG group administered lactate-protein selenium complex (Selene Chelate, Agrobac, Czech Republic) produced by cultivation of Lactobacillus acidophilus on a substrate containing natrium selenite. The total Se intake in goats was 0.15 mg in group C, and 0.43 mg in the groups AN and ORG. The effect of Se supplementation was assessed based on the determination of Se concentration and the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in whole blood. Samples were taken before the beginning of Se supplementation, 14 and 30 days after the start of supplementation, and then two and three months after the beginning of supplementation. Average Se concentrations in the blood of goats in individual groups (C, AN, ORG) before the start of supplementation were 109.6 &plusmn; 34.3, 117.5 &plusmn; 34.7, and 105.4 &plusmn; 43.6 &mu;g/l respectively, and the activity of GSH-Px in whole blood was 745.3 &plusmn; 289.2, 810.7 &plusmn; 280.4, and 791.0 &plusmn; 398.1 &mu;kat/l respectively. While in group C goats neither the Se concentration nor the GSH-Px activity changed substantially during the experiment, in the goats in the experimental groups there was a statistically significant increase (P &lt; 0.01) in both Se concentrations and the GSH-Px activities. At the end of the experiment Se concentrations in the blood of AN and ORG groups amounted to 168.5 &plusmn; 12.2 and 168.8 &plusmn; 26.8 &mu;g/l. The GSH-Px activities in goats supplemented with Se also increased significantly over the course of the experiment (at the end of the experiment it was 1178.0 &plusmn; 127.3 in the AN group and 1030.1 &plusmn; 152.3 &mu;kat/l in the ORG group), and the difference between the groups was significant (P = 0.038). Regarding the dynamics of GSH-Px activity changes during the monitored period, a markedly quicker increase in GSH-Px activity was recorded in the AN group &ndash; one month after the beginning of Se supplementation, compared to three months after the beginning of Se supplementation in the ORG group. The results thus show that the effects of supplementation with selenite and the lactate-protein selenium complex are similar with regard to Se status, but that the increase in GSH-Px activity occurred much faster with selenite, which therefore appears to be a more biologically available form of selenium for creation of biologically active selenoproteins.

The goal of the experiment was to monitor the changes in the selenium concentration in goat milk during short-term oral supplementation of three different forms of selenium. The experiment involved 24 lactating goats of white shorthaired breed. Group C was the control; group S received selenium in the form of selenium-enriched yeast, group L in the form of lactate, and group B in the form of proteinate. Individual selenium preparations were administered individually orally in 250 microg Se dose per animal for 20 days. After the beginning of selenium supplementation, the selenium concentration in milk during the first 5 days grew gradually in group S. Between days 7 and 20 of Se supplementation, the mean Se concentrations in milk in groups were 12.53 +/- 3.69 microg l(-1) (C), 25.90 +/- 6.30 microg l(-1) (S), 13.14 +/- 3.54 microg l(-1) (L), 11.70 +/- 3.69 microg l(-1) (B). Differences between group S and other groups (C, B, L) were highly significant (p < 0.0001). Based on our results, selenium in the form of lactate and proteinate was excreted into the milk similarly, but selenium in the form of yeast, which contains high amount of selenomethionine, was excreted by milk in the highest amounts.

This paper evaluates the impact of long-term supplementation of different forms of zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) on the content of these substances in the blood and hair of goats. Two analogous supplementation experiments were performed. 37 goats divided into four groups were used in the first trial with the Zn supplementation. Group A (n = 10) was a control group (with no Zn administered). A further three groups (B, C, D) were supplemented with Zn in various forms. Group B (n = 9) with zinc oxide, Group C (n = 9) with zinc lactate and Group D (n = 9) with zinc chelate. The second trial with Se supplementation was carried out on 20 goats divided into four groups. Group E (n = 5) was a control group. The other three groups were administered Se. Group F (n = 5) was supplied with a selenium lactate-protein complex, Group G (n = 5) with sodium selenite and Group H (n = 5) with selenium yeast. Three months later blood and hair samples were taken from all animals and Zn and Se concentrations were determined in whole blood, plasma, and hair. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity was determined in the Se supplementation trial group. At the end of the trial the Zn concentrations in plasma and whole blood were without major differences between the groups. The plasma concentration of Zn did not increase from the initial value at the start of the trial. In hair the average concentration of Zn was 95.2-100.0 mg/kg in all groups. No conclusive relation was confirmed between the values of Zn in hair and its concentration in blood. The Se concentration in whole blood (µg/l) at the end of trial in supplemented groups (F -188.8 ± 24.6; G -197.2 ± 10.9; H -190.1 ± 26.3) was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than in the control group (E -103.1 ± 23.5). Similarly, the activity of GSH-Px (µkat/l) was significantly higher in all supplemented groups (F -872.3 ± 94.8; G -659.5 ± 176.4; H -839.8 ± 150.8) than in the control group (E -379.1 ± 63.5). Se content in hair (µg/kg) was higher also in all trial groups (F -242.3 ± 41.5; G -200.5 ± 46.9; H -270.0 ± 106.8) than in the control group (E -174.7 ± 38.0). However, it was significantly (P < 0.05) higher only in Group F. A conclusive correlation was identified between the Se concentration in whole blood and its content in hair (r = 0.54; P < 0.05; n = 20). Based on the results it can be concluded that none of the supplemented forms of Zn increased its concentration in blood, plasma and hair. On the other hand, the administration of Se led to an increase in the Se concentration in blood, increased the activity of GSH-Px in whole blood and the Se content in hair. Based on the proven correlation and regression relation between the Se concentration in blood and its content in hair, hair can be considered as a suitable material for the diagnosis of long-term Se status in goats. Goats with sufficient Se status are those that have more than 160 µg/kg of Se in hair dry weight.

AbStrAct:The aim of our study was to compare the concentration of selenium (Se) and the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the whole blood of goats and their newborn kids. The experiment involved 25 gravid, clinically healthy goats of the white shorthaired breed. On the day of delivery, we took whole blood from the mother and her newborn kid before the kid drank the first colostrum. In mothers, the measured average concentration of Se in whole blood was 149.60 ± 45.01 μg/l, the average concentration of Se in kids was 87.91 ± 29.66 μg/l. Average activity of GSH-Px in the blood of mothers was 938.46 ± 341.09 μkat/l, and in the blood of kids 658.20 ± 339.13 μkat/l. Regression and correlation analysis produced regression line formulas and correlation coefficients that revealed a close, statistically significant relation (p < 0.01) between the concentration of Se in the blood of mothers and their kids and the activity of GSH-Px in mothers and their kids. The relation between the concentration of Se in the blood (µg/l) of mothers and kids was y = 0.484x + 15.55; r = 0.73, the relation between the activity of GSH-Px in blood (µkat/l) of mothers and their kids was y = 0.809x -101.27; r = 0.80. The concentration of Se and activity of GSH-Px was lower in newborn kids than in their mothers, reaching approximately 60-70% of the mother's levels. The relation between the concentration of Se and activity of GSH-Px in the blood of goats was y = 4.23x + 276.31; r = 0.64 (p < 0.01) and the relation between the concentration of Se and the activity of GSH-Px in the blood of kids was y = 6.556x + 64.70; r = 0.83 (p < 0.01). It follows that a Se concentration of 100 μg/l corresponds to a GSH-Px activity of 699.51 μkat/l in the blood of mothers and 720.34 μkat/l in the blood of kids. The results show the need to provide for a sufficient Se saturation of goats with a view to preventing Se deficiency in kids and that the Se concentration in the blood of newborn kids is physiologically about 40% lower in comparison with the Se concentration in the blood of their mothers. This should be taken into account when interpreting the results and assessing the reference values of Se concentration in the blood of kids.

During pregnancy and lactation the mother's demands for selenium increase because selenium is necessary for the foetus and the newborn kids (Smith and Picciano, 1986; Anan et al., 2009). A decrease in the concentration of selenium in the blood was confirmed during parturition and beginning of lactation . Selenium concentrations also decreased in the liver of pregnant animals as compared to the non-pregnant ones; it was discovered that selenium The goal of the experiment was to compare the effect of four different forms of selenium (Se) − sodium selenite (SS), lactate-protein selenium complex (SL), selenium enriched yeast (SY), and seleniumproteinate (SP) supplemented to pregnant goats on Se concentration and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in the blood of goats on the day of delivery and also on Se concentration and GSH-Px activity in the blood of newborn kids. The experiment involved 33 pregnant goats of White Short-haired breed. The supplementation started 6 weeks before the parturition. The goats were divided into 5 groups: control group C, not supplemented, and 4 trial groups (SL, SP, SS, SY), which received Se in the above stated forms by the means of supplemented pellets (300 g per animal per day) at a rate 900 μg Se/kg of dry matter. The average Se concentrations in the blood of the goats were 79.6 μg/l in group C, 152.6 μg/l in group SL, 167.1 μg/l in group SP, 144.9 μg/l in group SS, and 152.9 μg/l in group SY. Selenium concentrations in all 4 trial groups were significantly higher (P < 0.01) than in control group, however no significant difference was found between individual trial groups. Likewise, the activity of GSH-Px in goat blood increased significantly in all supplemented groups compared to the controls; however we did not discover any significant differences in activity of GSH-Px between the individual selenium-supplemented groups. The Se concentrations in the blood of kids were significantly (P < 0.01) higher in the selenium-supplemented groups (SL -94.9 μg/l, SP -87.5 μg/l, SS -87.6 μg/l, SY -92.5 μg/l) than in the control group (C -49.4 μg/l), but we did not discover any differences between the individual experimental groups. The activity of GSH-Px in the blood of the kids tended towards higher values in the supplemented groups than in the control group, but the values were significantly higher (P < 0.05) only in groups SY and SL. We have found significant correlation between GSH-Px activity and Se concentration in the blood of goats (r = 0.86) and newborn kids (r = 0.95). Likewise, there was significant correlation between Se concentration in the blood of goats and their kids (r = 0.74). We discovered that the kids are reaching physiologically only about 60% of Se status in whole blood in comparison with their mothers. Our results are suggesting that all the above forms of Se were similarly utilised and transferred into the foetus in the goats.

Changes in the composition of colostrum and milk fatty acids during the first month of lactation of ten 3-years-old White Shorthaired goats fed a winter diet were investigated. Thirty-eight fatty acids (FAs) were identified in the milk fat. Saturated FAs accounted for 67.0% of the total determined FAs in colostrum and 62% at 30 days post partum. Monounsaturated FAs made up 28.2% of the total FAs in colostrum and increased with the progress of lactation at the expense of saturated FAs. The percentage of polyunsaturated FAs varied from 4.4 to 4.8%. The major FAs in colostrum and milk were palmitic and oleic acids, followed by stearic and myristic acids (30.1, 25.3, 11.8, 11.4% and 23.6, 30.3, 13.6, 8.6% in colostrum and milk 30 days post partum, respectively). The levels of palmitic and myristic acids in colostrum were higher than in mature milk, whereas the levels of capric, stearic and oleic acids were lower. The medium-chain FA (caprylic, capric, lauric) content increased from 8.7% of FAs in colostrum to 11.1% on the fourth day of lactation. These acids are efficient antimicrobials, thus may contribute to the protection of young goats from microbial pathogens.

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