American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) is the only species raised in Brazilian commercial frog farms, and the intensive culture of these animals has gained great popularity in Brazil over the past several years. Stress is one of the major obstacles in frog culture. To minimise this problem, the aim of the present study was to investigate the role of added vitamin C in the diet of American bullfrogs as an antistress factor through the assessment of plasma corticosterone, leucocyte levels and macrophage activation in animals raised in confinement. The experimental design was entirely randomised, with six treatments (supplementation of 0, 250, 500, 750, 1000 and 2000 mg of vitamin C/kg of feed) and four replications. The plasma corticosterone level, leucocyte level and macrophage activation were evaluated. It was concluded that vitamin C had no influence on the evaluated parameters due to the possible adaptation of the animals to life in captivity (domestication). The results of this research indicate that farmers should not increase the levels of vitamin C in commercial feeds because this would only enhance production costs.

Forty-nine male calves were allotted in a randomized design, initially seven replicates per treatment at the end of the experiment were slaughtered four animals per treatment. Treatments CONT: control diet; FBC120: Dicalcium Phosphate 120:1 ratio P: F; MBC60: Monodicalcium phosphate 60:1 ratio P:F; FBC30: Dicalcium Phosphate 30:1 ratio P:F; SFT30: Super triple phosphate 30:1 ratio P:F; FBC10: Dicalcium Phosphate 10:1 ratio P:F; CAR10: concentrated ratio of 10:1 rock Q:F. Phosphates less elaborate showed higher amounts of heavy metals. In bones, iron, aluminum and lead were higher in FBC10 diet, the copper content was higher in animals fed the diet MBC60. Magnesium in liver was higher in animals fed diet FBC30, aluminum was higher for treatments SFT30 and FBC10, FBC120 and the cadmium and lead levels were higher in animals that received STF30. Treatments did not affect phosphorus and fluorine in muscle and heart, being that chromium was higher in the muscle of animals fed diets CAR10 and STF30 while cadmium in heart was greater in diet CAR10. Kidney phosphorus was higher in the animals fed the diet CAR10 and lower dietary FBC10, while aluminum was higher in the animals fed with the diet FBC10 and lower dietary FBC120 and levels of chromium and lead were higher in animals CAR10 diet and lowest in diet MBC60. Alternative sources of phosphorus and low ratios P:F increased the deposition of minerals in bones and liver, and this mineral deposition was lower in the muscles.

<p>Forty-nine male calves were allotted in a randomized design, being that initially were performed seven replicates per treatment. At the end of the experiment were slaughtered four animals per treatment. The treatments were designed as following: CONT: control diet; DC120: Dicalcium Phosphate 120:1 ratio P: F; MDCP60: Monodicalcium Phosphate 60:1 ratio P: F; DC30: Dicalcium Phosphate 30:1 ratio P: F; TSP30: Triple Superphosphate 30:1 ratio P: F; DC10: Dicalcium Phosphate 10:1 ratio P: F; PRC10: phosphate rock concentrate of 10:1 of relation P: F. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) of animals who consumed PRC10 diet was greater than the ALP of animals that consumed TSP30, DC10 and DC120. This result was obtained with animals with 650 days of confinement. The ALP of the animals that consumed PRC10 was greater at 866 days than in the animals consuming TSP30 and DC120 diets. The ash content was greater in the DC10 diet and the diets CAR10 and DC120 achieved the lowest value. The fluorine content in bone was higher in diet DC10, while the diets DC120, PRC10 and MDCP60 obtained the lower values. The area of Haversian canals and the relation Havers/Osteon area were higher in the diet DC30 and the lowest value was encountered in DC10. The mottled teeth were more intensely observed in the treatments DC10 and PRC10. It was concluded that high fluorine content in the diet increases the deposition of fluorine in bones, which negatively affects in the histological parameters of teeth and bones of beef cattle.</p>