Feeding value of urea molasses-treated wheat straw ensiled with fresh cattle manure for growing crossbred cattle calves.

The study was carried out to evaluate the influence of urea plus molasses-treated wheat straw (WS) ensiled with cattle manure (CM) on nutrients intake, their digestibilities, and growth performance of crossbred (Sahiwal × Holstein Friesian) cattle calves. The CM was mixed with ground WS in a ratio of 30:70 on dry matter (DM) basis. The WS-CM mixture treated with urea (4% DM) and molasses (4% DM) was allowed to ferment for 40 days in a cemented pit. Four iso-nitrogenous and iso-energetic fermented wheat straw (FWS)-based experimental diets were formulated. The FWS0, FWS20, FWS30, and FWS40 diets contained 0%, 20%, 30%, and 40% FWS, respectively. Twenty calves (9-10 months of age) were randomly allocated to four dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design, five in each group. Increasing trends for DM, organic matter, crude protein, and neutral detergent fiber intakes by calves were observed with increasing dietary FWS level. Weight gain was significantly different among calves fed different levels of FWS. The highest weight gain (491.8 g/day) was observed in calves fed FWS40 diet, while calves fed FWS0 and FWS20 diets gained 350.0 and 449.6 g/day, respectively. The results from this study imply that the FWS can be added up to 30% in the diet of growing crossbred calves without any detrimental effect on their performance.

Effects of feeding different dietary protein and energy levels on the performance of 12-15-month-old buffalo calves.

The study investigated the performance response of different dietary protein and energy levels of Nili-Ravi buffalo calves. Sixty buffalo calves of 12-15 months of age and similar body weight (140 ± 14 kg) were divided in to 12 groups, five animals in each group, according to 4 × 3 factorial arrangements. Twelve rations were formulated containing four levels of crude protein (CP; 10.5%, 12.20%, 13.80%, and 15.55%) each with three levels (1.72, 2.11, and 2.5 Mcal/Kg) of metabolizable energy (ME). Experiment lasted for 100 days; first 10 days were given for dietary adaptation. Daily feed consumption in calves fed all experimental diets were statistically significant (p<0.05) across all treatments. Higher feed intake was observed in buffalo calves fed diets containing 12.20% and 13.85% CP with 2.11 Mcal/kg ME. Results of dry matter (DM) digestion were significantly different (p<0.05) across all treatments. There was a quadratic (p<0.05) response of DM digestibility for levels of dietary protein while, curvilinear (p<0.05) trend with respect to dietary energy levels. Daily weight gain of buffalo calves did not show any treatment effect. The outcome of the present study indicate that 12-15-month-old buffalo calves perform adequately well when fed on diets containing 12.2% CP and 2.10 ME Mcal/Kg.

Possible involvement of queuine in control mechanisms of protein synthesis and protein phosphorylation in eukaryotes.

The functional role of the deazaguanine-derivative queuine was investigated using virus-transformed erythroleukaemic cells of mice as a model. The two-dimensional patterns of [35S]methionine-labelled proteins on two-dimensional O'Farrell gels of queuine-deficient (Q-), compared with queuine-supplemented (Q+) growing cells, showed specific characteristic alterations in the synthesis of 36 and 42 kd basic proteins. According to pI values and immunoreactivity with anti-LDH antibodies, the 36 kd proteins represent various forms of LDH A subunits or closely related proteins. Cell-free systems of protein synthesis were established from growing (Q-) or (Q+) cells. Addition of 3 x 10(-8) M queuine to the (Q-) in vitro system inhibited the incorporation of [35S]methionine into total protein to approximately 20%; raising the concentration of queuine up to 1 x 10(-6) M did not increase the inhibitory effect appreciably. In the (Q-) system, a series of 36 kd proteins, with pI values corresponding to LDH A isoforms, were synthesized. The in vitro synthesis of these proteins was completely inhibited by addition of queuine at a concentration of 3 x 10(-8) M. Furthermore, the expression of certain other proteins was lower in the (Q+) than in the (Q-) in vitro system. Labelling of growing (Q+) or (Q-) cells with [32P]orthophosphate and subsequent analysis of phosphoproteins on two-dimensional O'Farrell gels showed that queuine inhibited the synthesis of distinct phosphoproteins. Protein synthesis performed in cell-free (Q-) or (Q+) systems in the presence of non-labelled amino acids and 32P-labelled gamma ATP also indicated that queuine interferes with the synthesis and/or phosphorylation of particular phosphoproteins.

The effect of insecticides on Chinese hamster cell cultures.

The effect of p,p'-isomers of DDT and its derivatives DDD, DDE and DDA on Chinese hamster cells in culture was studied. At different concentrations and various times of treatment the proliferation rate was inhibited most strongly by DDD and DDT, whereas DDE exhibited a markedly weaker influence. DDA was the least toxic compound of the four. The cytogenetic effects were also different. Again, DDA induced the least damage. Only enhanced gap rates but no chromosome breaks were observed. DDE was more active, and higher break rates occurred. DDD and DDT were by far the most damaging compounds, and they raised the gap and break rates markedly. However, no induction of configuration anomalies was found in any experiment. Chronic treatment of the cells for 3 months with DDT at 8 ppm did not alter the proliferation rate, the sensitivity to acute treatment with higher DDT concentrations or the chromosomal aberration rates. The results are discussed in relation to the relevance of differential pesticide effectivity in organs of higher animals and man.