Importance of diet of dam and colostrum to the biological antioxidant status and parenteral iron tolerance of the pig.

Fifteen second-parity sows were used to determine the importance of vitamin E (E) and selenium (Se) supplementation of the sow's diet and colostrum consumption by the neonatal pig on tolerance to parenteral iron. Selenium (.1 ppm) and E (50 IU/kg) supplementation of the diet of the sow increased plasma tocopherol and Se concentrations, but did not increase plasma glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity. Colostrum had greater concentrations of E (primarily alpha-tocopherol) and Se than milk. Plasma biological antioxidant status (tocopherol level and GSH-Px activity) of pigs at birth was very low, but by 2 d of age had increased, especially in alpha-tocopherol (nearly a 20-fold increase). Liveability and body weight gain of pigs were not affected by the pre-colostrum iron injection (200 mg Fe as gleptoferron); however, plasma tocopherol concentrations of Fe-injected pigs were lower and plasma Se concentration and GSH-Px activities were higher at 2 d of age than values of pigs not receiving parenteral Fe. Supplementation of the dam's diet with E and Se maintained high tocopherol and Se levels in her colostrum and milk and a high biological antioxidant status in her pigs throughout the nursing period.

Effects of riboflavin supplementation and selenium source on selenium metabolism in the young pig.

The effect of dietary riboflavin (B2) supplementation and selenium (Se) source on the performance and Se metabolism of weanling pigs was studied. Pigs fed a B2-supplemented (10 mg/kg) casein-glucose diet for 18 d gained faster than pigs fed the B2-unsupplemented diet. Percentage active erythrocyte glutathione reductase (GR) declined rapidly when pigs were placed on the B2-unsupplemented diet and was lower (P less than .01) than that of B2-supplemented pigs after 12 d on test. Percentage active erythrocyte GR values fell below 50% before other B2 deficiency signs became evident. Supplementation of diets with 10 mg B2/kg resulted in increased kidney and muscle glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity. The Se concentration of liver and heart increased and plasma Se levels decreased with dietary B2 supplementation. Riboflavin supplementation and Se source did not alter apparent Se absorption, but B2 supplementation decreased urinary Se and thus increased Se retention. Also, there was less urinary Se excretion when selenomethionine was the dietary Se source and consequently more Se was retained than when sodium selenite was the dietary Se source. In a final trial, B2 supplementation increased kidney, muscle, heart and brain GSH-Px activity when sodium selenite was the dietary Se source, but not when selenomethionine was the dietary Se source.

Digestibility of a high-fiber biscuit-based diet by black and white colobus (Colobus guereza).

The acceptability and digestibility of a high-fiber biscuit-based diet was investigated using two adult male Colobus guereza animals. Although the animals were initially reluctant to accept the biscuit, it was eventually readily consumed. Apparent digestion coefficients for the diet (average composition, dry matter basis: 16% crude protein, 25% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), 9.5% acid detergent fiber (ADF), 1.2% acid lignin) determined by total fecal collection were 0.871 for dry matter, 0.813 for NDF, 0.693 for ADF, and 0.208 for acid lignin. Fiber digestive capabilities in C. guereza generally exceeded those reported in ruminant species based on predictive equations. Use of acid lignin and Cr2 O3 as markers underestimated dry matter digestibility by 3.9 and 6.0%, respectively.

Blue-green color and composition of Stejneger's beaked whale (Mesoplodon stejnegeri) milk.

Two hundred ml of milk were obtained from a lactating Stejneger's beaked whale stranded at Ninilchik, Alaska on 21 Oct, 1980. Total solids (41%) were similar to values reported for sperm and belukha whales, while fat (17%) was half as great and crude protein (17%) was 2-4 times greater than in milk of these species. Lactose was not detected. Calcium (0.22%) was greater than reported for pigmy sperm whales but less than for blue whales. Phosphorus (0.07%) was less than for any of the above species. Sodium and potassium concentrations were 0.13% and 0.11%, respectively. Values (microgram/g) for other elements analyzed (magnesium, 42; iron, 35; copper, 2.6; zinc, 1.5; manganese, 0.3; selenium, 0.36) have not been reported for whale milk. Based on SDS-gel electropherograms, this whale milk did not contain a whey protein corresponding to cattle milk alpha-lactalbumin. A blue-green pigment in the milk was identified as biliverdin.

Concentration of minerals in tissues of pigs from dams fed different levels of dietary zinc.

Effects on the tissue mineral concentrations of pigs from sows fed four dietary Zn levels were studied. A male and a female from first- and second-parity litters were killed at 1 and 21 d of age. The dams were fed a corn-soybean meal basal diet supplemented with 0, 50, 500 or 5,000 ppm Zn from 30 kg body weight until completion of the second lactation. Pigs from sows fed 5,000 ppm additional zinc had heavier liver, heart, thyroid and adrenal weights relative to their body weight than did pigs from sows on the other treatments. First- and second-parity pigs from sows on the highest Zn supplementation level had higher Fe stores in the liver, higher Zn concentrations in the liver, kidney and pancrease, and higher Cu levels in the kidney compared with pigs from sows on the other treatments. However, Cu concentrations in the liver, heart, pancreas, esophagus, aorta and testes were reduced in pigs from sows on the 5,000 ppm Zn treatment. In first-parity pigs, Ca in the liver was higher for pigs whose dams received 5,000 ppm Zn compared with pigs from sows on all other treatments, and the Mn level was higher compared with pigs from sows receiving 50 or 500 ppm additional zinc. Pigs at 1 d of age from sows on the 0, 50 or 500 ppm treatment had lower hepatic P and Zn concentrations than pigs from sows on the same treatment at 21 d of age. The reverse was true for pigs whose dams received 5,000 ppm Zn.

The effect of dietary selenium and vitamin A on biochemical parameters and survival of young among white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus).

Thirty-two adult female white-tailed deer were assigned to four complete pelleted diets (+/- 45 ppm vitamin E; +/- 0.2 ppm selenium). Selenium and vitamin E concentration in the unsupplemented diet was 0.04 and 5.5 ppm, respectively. Biochemical parameters of the erythrocyte (RBC) glutathione peroxidase system and survival of off-spring to weaning were followed for 2 years. At the end of the second year, 12 male young (3 per treatment) and the remaining adults were killed, and liver and muscle parameters of the glutathione system determined. Plasma selenium (Se) and vitamin E (E) were significantly lower among unsupplemented adults within 6 months of treatment and remained essentially constant from 10 months on. In vitro hemolysis and mortality of young were affected by dietary E but not by Se. Tissue glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) was correlated with tissue Se in all tissues measured (RBC, liver and muscle). Tissue Se, in turn, was related to dietary Se. Thus, dietary Se deficiency (Se = 0.04 ppm) resulted in biochemical deficiency (depressed GSH-Px). This was not reflected in gross lesions among the adults, nor in increased mortality among young.