[Dynamics of clinico-biochemical indicators in cattle with ketonuria during the dry period and after parturition]. / Dynamika klinicko-biochemických ukazatelu u krav s ketonurií v období zaprahnutí a po porodu.

The study was performed in eight high-pregnant cows in which medium to high ketonuria was repeatedly detected. The control group consisted of six cows free from ketonuria before parturition. Blood and urine were sampled from the cows two to eight weeks before parturition, on the day of parturition, 24 hours, three to five days and two to six weeks after parturition. The concentrations of oxidated ketone bodies and beta-hydroxybutyrate were determined by the distilling method. Further, the values of clinico-biochemical parameters in the urine and blood were determined within the range of the preventive diagnosis system. No marked changes in the health condition were found by the current clinical examination. The average concentration of total ketone bodies in the blood of the cows two to eight weeks before parturition was 29.2 mg per litre; the respective values recorded in the control cows were lower by about a half. The concentration of ketone bodies in the blood of the cows in the experimental group decreased on the day of parturition. The decrease was followed by a gradual rise of the total ketone bodies content in the blood up to 50.6 mg per litre two to six weeks after parturition. Alterations testifying to a disorder in the function of liver were observed in the cows of both groups throughout the period under study. The disorder was due to excessive administration of crude protein to the high-pregnant cows combined with the use of low-quality silage. After parturition the feed ration was not differentiated according to performance and was deficient in the basic nutrients and vitamins. Ketonuria was obviously due to the simultaneous intensification of hepatal and alimentary ketogenesis, caused by hepatopathy in combination with the intake of large amounts of poor-quality silage containing butyric acid.

[Trypsin inhibitor activity in the colostrum of cows]. / Aktivity inhibitoru trypsinu v kolostru krav.

The activity of the colostral trypsin inhibitor (CTI) was studied in seven milkings of colostrum in the course of the first five days after calving in 15 cows. The activity of the total trypsin inhibitor in the colostrum was ascertained in the course of the first two days after calving in ten cows in their second to fourth lactations and also in the colostrum of the first milking after calving in the case of 11 cows. The greatest CTI activity was found in the colostrum of the first milking after calving (301 micrograms X ml-1). Between the CTI activity and the concentration of total protein (CB) in the whey of the colostrum from the first and second day after calving there was found to be a statistically significant correlation (r = +0.929). The activity of total trypsin inhibitor was also highest in the colostrum from the first milking (499 micrograms X ml-1). After calving the CTI and the total trypsin inhibitor activities in the colostrum gradually dropped. Between the activity of the total trypsin inhibitor and the CB concentration in whey from the first, third, fifth and seventh milkings after birth a statistically significant correlation was found (r = +0.972). Statistically significant correlations were also found between the activity of the total trypsin inhibitor, the specific gravity of colostrum, the concentration of total protein and gamma-globulins in the whey of the colostrum from the first milking after calving. In metabolic alkalosis the concentration of total protein in the whey and the activity of trypsin inhibitor were found to be considerably lower than the average values.

[The effect of the early feeding of solid and bulk foods on the dynamic development of the digestive processes in calves ina large-scale breeding facility]. / Vliv casného príjmu jadrných a objemných krmiv na dynamiku vývoje trávicích procesu u telat ve velkokapacitním teletníku.

Digestive activities were studied in test calves (n = 12) in relation to age and feed intake. The calves were isolated after birth from adult cows. Since the 14th day of age, milk replacers were fed with concentrate feed mixture TG and alfalfa hay, i.e. the calves were in the period of plant feeding. The investigation lasted from the end of milk feeding (50th day) to the age of six months. Overall health condition was studied clinically. The characteristics of digestive activities studied in rumen fluid at weekly--monthly intervals were pH, ammonia content, total content of volatile fatty acids, content of particular volatile fatty acids, incidence and number of infusoria. At the age of 50 days, actual pH of rumen fluid was on the average 6.07 and it ranged from 5.84 to 6.76 in the next period. Ammonia content was the highest at the age of 50 days (21.49 mmol/l rumen fluid), then it dropped to 9.83 mmol/l rumen fluid at the age of 180 days. The average total concentration of volatile fatty acids (C2-C5) made 117.00 mmol/l during the first examination, it increased to 132.98 mmol/l at the age of 84 days, and it dropped to 94.16 mmol/l rumen fluid at the age of six months. A similar tendency was found in the volatile fatty acids. The infusoria were found out only at the age of 120 days--their numbers were 155 000 per ml; at the age of 180 days their numbers rose to 368 000 per ml rumen fluid. No disorders of health condition were recorded during the experiment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Dynamics of selected biochemical indicators of energy metabolism in calves fed 2 different types of milk diets]. / Dynamika vybraných biochemických ukazatelu energetického metabolismu u telat pri dvou odlisných zpusobech mlécné výzivy.

The effect of two milk diets on the changes in selected parameters of energy metabolism was studied in calves. After the termination of colostrum feeding, the experimental group of calves (n = 10) was given whole milk whereas the calves in the control group (n = 10) were given the Laktosan milk replacer. Blood was collected for biochemical investigation from the third day of age (determination of glucose concentration) and from the fourth week of age (evaluation of the parameters of lipid metabolism). The plasma concentrations of glucose were about the same in both groups of calves throughout the period of study. The total lipid, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in blood serum were significantly higher in the calves of the experimental group during the milk feeding period; later they did not differ significantly from the values determined in the control calves. On the other hand, the concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids were higher in the calves of the control group in the milk feeding period; the differences, however, are not statistically significant. The average daily weight gains from the 5th to the 18th week of age were significantly higher in the calves given whole milk.

[Utilization of urea nitrogen in young calves]. / Vyuzitelnost dusíku mocoviny u mladých telat.

The influence of an increasing intake of urea in feed rations for calves on its levels in blood plasma and urine, development of health condition, weight gains and on other biochemical characteristics in the blood of calves was studied. The experimental group (n = 4) received urea in feed ration from the 17th day of age, at the beginning in the preparation Syrur, later on (from the 66th day) in the synthetic form only. The feed ration of the control group (n = 3) differed only in the zero content of urea. Over the period of ten weeks the blood was sampled for biochemical examination twice a week, since the 52nd day of age urine was also taken at the same intervals. Starting the 24th day of age, the levels of urea in the blood plasma of experimental animals were significantly higher (P less than 0.05). The concentrations of urea in the urine of the animals belonging to the experimental group were also higher, however, the differences in the average values were not significant. In both groups of animals under study no significant differences in the content of vitamin A, concentration of total protein, glucose, bilirubin, activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gammaglutamyl transferase (GMT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LD) were observed. The average daily weight gains were higher in the calves of the control group, however, the differences were not significant. Over the whole experimental period the health condition of both groups of calves was good.

[The effect of the use of milk-based feed mixtures and whole milk on the development of selected indicators in the blood plasma in calves]. / Vliv príjmu mlécné krmné smesi a plnotucného mléka na vývoj vybraných ukazatelu v krevní plazme telat.

Two milk feeding systems were investigated as influencing the health and development of calves. After the termination of colostrum feeding, the ten animals of the experimental group were given whole milk whereas the control group (also ten calves) was given the Laktosan milk replacer. By the age of three months, blood was collected from the calves for biochemical examination in weekly intervals, later once a month. The content of urea, determined in the blood plasma of the calves of the experimental group was significantly lower in the fourth to seventh week. The plasma levels of nitrogen, potassium, calcium and magnesium were about the same in the experimental and control groups, being within the limits of the reference values. At the age of six to nine weeks, the content of inorganic phosphorus in the blood plasma of the tested animals was statistically significantly higher. Vitamin A concentration in the blood plasma was about the same in both groups. The content of vitamin E in the blood plasma of the calves of the experimental group was statistically significantly higher in the fourth to eight week of age. No significant differences between the two groups were observed in the plasmatic activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GMT). The activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were significantly higher in the third to fifth week of life. From the fifth to eighteenth week of age, the average daily weight gains were significantly higher in the calves given whole milk.

[Selected indicators of colostrum quality in cows over the period of a year]. / Vybrané ukazatele kvality mleziva u krav v prubehu roku.

Under the conditions of large-scale breeding, seasonal changes in the total protein of colostrum whey, gammaglobulins, vitamins A, E, C, and carotene in cow's colostrum from the first milking, were studied in the course of the first 12 months. As indicated by the results of an analysis of 302 colostrum samples, the concentrations of total protein in whey were significantly higher in winter (P less than 0.01) than in the summer season. On the other hand, vitamin C levels were higher in summer than in winter. A lower level of total protein of colostral serum than the required minimum of 120 g per litre was recorded in 64.4% of the cows. A highly positive correlation (r = +0.981) was demonstrated between the concentration of total protein and gammaglobulins in colostrum whey. This fact makes it possible to consider and use for diagnostic purposes the total protein of whey as a sufficiently exact parameter of colostrum quality without having to determine the gammaglobulin level. On the basis of these analyses it is possible to some extent not only to evaluate the health condition of high-pregnant cows and the quality of attendance, but also to prognosticate the health of their calves.

[The effect of colostral immunoglobulins on hematological and biochemical indicators in calves]. / Vliv kolostrálních imunoglobulinu na hematologické a biochemické ukazatele u telat.

Haematological values (haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, erythrocyte and leucocyte number) and the levels of biochemical parameters (plasma concentrations of magnesium, zinc and copper) were studied in dependence on the level of immunoglobulins in calves in the early postnatal period. As a parameter of colostrum intake and quality the immunoglobulin level in blood serum was chosen, according to which the calves (n = 300), aged from two to six days, were divided into four groups. A relationship between the colostrum intake, or the immunoglobulin level in blood serum, and the magnesium concentration in blood plasma was observed. The magnesium level in plasma was in correlation with the Ig level in the blood serum of calves. As far as the other studied blood parameters are concerned, no statistically significant differences were proved in the calves aged two to six days.

[Comparison of biochemical parameters in the blood of healthy and diseased calves in a large barn]. / Srovnání biochemických ukazatelú v krevní plazme zdravých a nemocných telat ve velkokapacitním teletníku.

In a high-capacity calf-house, twenty-one calves were subjected to repeated clinical and biochemical examination until they were 22 weeks old. For evaluating the health condition of the animals, the calves were divided into two groups, one including healthy animals and the other including those suffering from bronchopneumonia and diarrhoea as the most frequent disorders in high-capacity calf-houses. From four to eight weeks of age, both groups of calves showed low levels of plasma magnesium and iron. The levels of plasma zinc and copper showed a continuous decrease with age. Compared with the healthy calves, the animals affected by a disease had statistically significantly lower levels of plasma vitamins (A, E, C). Further, the diseased animals also showed statistically significantly decreased levels of plasma glucose, serum albumins, and a lower activity of alkaline phosphatase in plasma. In addition to this, the diseased animals also had significantly higher levels of plasma gamma-globulins and urea. These clinico-biochemical parameters can be used for determining the subclinical forms of disease, for objective diagnosis and for the introduction of preventive measures in high-capacity calf-house.

[The effect of long-term feeding of higher doses of urea on clinical and biochemical indicators in sheep]. / Vliv dlouhodobého zkrmování vyssích dávek mocoviny na nekteré klinicko-biochemické ukazatele u ovcí.

During feeding 120 g of urea per head/day to four-year wethers for nine months it was observed that for the whole period the animals accepted the feed with appetite, the rumen motility and body temperature were within the physiological standard. In both groups of animals (three animals experimental and three animals control) a higher breathing frequency was found. In experimental (control) animals the levels were as follows: plasma calcium 2.62 +/- 0.17 mmol . 1(-1) (2.66 +/- 0.16 mmol . 1(-1)), inorganic phosphorus 2.35 +/- 0.33 mmol . 1(-1) (2.40 +/- 0.47 mmol . 1(-1), sodium 148.25 +/- 5.65 mmol . 1(-1) (151.09 +/- 5.71 mmol . 1(-1), potassium 5.02 +/- 0.46 mmol . 1(-1) (5.02 +/- 0.74 mmol . 1(-1)), magnesium 1.00 +/- 0.14 mmol . 1(-1) (0.98 +/- 0.10 mmol . 1(-1)), chlorine 107.86 +/- 12.86 mmol . 1(-1) (106.92 +/- 11.12 mmol . 1(-1)), total protein 69.9 +/- 7.8 g. 1(-1) (70.2 +/- 8.1 g . 1(-1)), glucose 3.97 +/- 0.68 mmol . 1(-1) (4.48 +/- 1.01 mmol . 1(-1)), urea 11.20 +/- 3.23 mmol . 1(-1) (7.61 +/- 1.89 mmol . 1(-1)), osmotic pressure 299.27 +/- 12.91 mosm . kg-1 (298.63 +/- 10.44 mosm . kg-1). By statistical t-test evaluation a significant difference in plasma urea in favour of the experimental animals was found. As to the other followed values, a statistically significant difference between the two groups, and that in favour of the control animals, was found only as regards the pulse rate.

[The effect of age and training on the ECG time curve of purebred horses]. / Vliv veku a tréninku na casový prübeh EKG u plnokrevných koní.

In 246 horses of the English Thoroughbred breed of several age categories, divided into four test populations, the influence was studied of age and training on the pulse rate and time intervals of ECG (PQ, QRS, QT and QTc). It was found that with the increasing age and training action slowed down gradually. Duration of the atrioventricular path (PQ) is prolonged, time of ventricular activation (QRS) and time of the electrical systole (QT) including its value corrected according to the actual pulse rate (QTC). In this way the origin of the so called sports electrocardiogram in trained race horses is characterized.