[Clinical and biochemical response in the prevention of nutritional myodystrophy in heifers]. / Klinická a biochemická odozva prevencie nutricnej myodystrofie u jalovíc.

Clinical and biochemical responses were studied after taking the measures to prevent nutrition muscular dystrophy in young cattle in the given ecological conditions. Analyzing the biological material (blood, hair, feed, soil), we found the sufficiently high saturation of heifer organisms with the microelement selenium and on the contrary, vitamin E deficiency. Sensitive indicators of the break-down of muscular tissue were the enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and mainly creatinine kinase (CPK): the activities of these enzymes increased significantly after the heifers had been driven to pasture. The stay of animals in the run to get them used to the physical load before going to the pasture was not found to be a sufficient measure to prevent muscular nutrition myodystrophy if the animals had not been administered vitamin E and selenium supplements. Of the one hundred heifers we examined, seven animals began to show the signs of nutrition muscular dystrophy; none of these animals had been administered vitamin E and selenium supplements.

[The effect of zeolite on experimentally induced acidosis in sheep]. / Vplyv zeolitu na experimentálne vyvolanú acidózu oviec.

The effect of zeolite (clinoptilolite) on experimentally induced metabolic acidosis was studied in sheep under experimental conditions. Sucrose was administered at the doses of 10 and 15 g per kg l. w. either alone or, in other groups, together with 0.45 g zeolite per kg l. w. The content of volatile fatty acids in rumen contents and the indices of acid-base homeostasis of blood were monitored in the subsequent 24 and/or 48 hours. The examinations showed that simultaneous administration of zeolite with sucrose failed to prevent the rise of metabolic acidosis but the drop in the indices of acid-base homeostasis was less severe, or was delayed by three to six hours. The dose of 0.45 g zeolite per kg l. w. was found to be insufficient for the prevention of a medium-severe or severe course of metabolic acidosis.

[The effect of feeding zeolite (clinoptilolite) on the health status of sheep]. / Vplyv skrmovania zeolitu (klinoptilolitu) na zdravotný stav oviec.

Under the experimental conditions of a clinic, zeolite from the N. Hrabovec locality was studied as to its effect on the health condition of sheep. Zeolite was added to the feed mixture at a rate of 0.15 g per 1 kg of live weight daily for three months. The trials were performed with five sheep of the Merino breed. Five sheep were used as controls. No differences were found in the health condition and general behaviour of sheep fed zeolite and sheep of the control group. Neither were substantial differences observed in the indices of the other parameters under study--actual and total acidity, content of volatile fatty acids in rumen contents, blood picture, content of macroelements and microelements, nor in the transaminase activity of blood serum and acid-base homeostasis in blood. Before the zeolite supplementation of feed ration is introduced in practice, detailed studies should be conducted and the optimum zeolite dose should be determined.

[The effect of the season of the year and the stage of pregnancy on selenium levels in the blood of sheep]. / Vplyv rocného obdobia a stupna gravidity na obsah selénu v krvnom sére oviec.

During one year selenium dynamics in the blood serum of 19 sheep was studied in relation to the degree of gravidity. Seasonal character of selenium dynamics with a positive reaction was demonstrated during the period of grazing, and a dependence of selenium serum concentration on the degree of gravidity was also proved; the highest mean value of selenium was recorded in ewes in the seventh month of gravidity (3.67 mumol.l-1). Delivery and onset of lactation reduced negatively selenium concentrations in the blood serum to the lowest selenium levels (2.15-1.89 mumol/l-1).

[Concentration of selenium in the blood of young cattle in relation to age and season]. / Koncentrácia selénu v krvnom sére mladého kovädzieho dobytka v závislosti od veku a rocného obdobia.

The concentration of selenium in the blood serum of heifers was studied for 22 months with special regard to the effect of age and year season. New-born calves were found to have a sufficiently high concentration of selenium (1.26 mumol/l). At weaning time the selenium concentration level was reduced significantly. The year season influenced serum selenium concentration levels and the reaction was positive during the grazing season. The lowest average values of serum selenium were obtained in the period from February to April (1.77 mumol/l).

[Dynamics of selenium in the blood serum of sows after a supplementary feeding dose of vitamin E and selenium during pregnancy]. / Dynamika selénu v kryvnom sére prasníc po suplementacii krmnej dávky vitamínom E a selenom pocas gravidity.

The influence of peroral and parenteral supplementation with selenium compounds and vitamin E was studied in sows during gravidity, as exerted on the concentration of selenium in the blood serum of the tested sows. The experiment was conducted with 18 sows at the age of two to three years. The averge selenium level in the blood serum of the sows given an oral supplement of selenium and vitamin E was blood serum of the sows given an oral supplemnent of selenium and vitamin E was 2.278 mumol .1-1 on the 110th day of gravidity and 2.405 mumol .1-1 on the 20th day of lactation; adter s. c. injection of the preparation Selevit inj. Spofa the average concentration of selenium was kept at the same level from the 110th day to the 20th day of lactation (2.152 mumol .1-1). In the control sows the average value of blood serum selenium level was significantly lower at the same time intervals (1.772 and 1.645 mumol .1-1). Both ways of supplementation favourably influenced the selenium level in the blood serum of sows, particularly in the last stage of gravidity and in the first stage of lactation.

[The effect of the addition of vitamin E and selenium to sow feed ration on the concentration of vitamin E in the blood serum of piglets]. / Odraz suplementácie krmnej dávky prasníc vitamínom E a selénom na koncentráciu vitamínu E v krvnom sére prasiat.

Under the experimental conditions of a clinic, the dynamics of vitamin E was studied in the blood serum of 57 piglets from birth to the age of 90 days. The piglets came from eight litters delivered by sows, four of which were given a ration with an addition of vitamin E (tocopherol acetate -- 100 i. u. per kg of feed) and selenium (0.1 ppm Se as Na2SeO3) during gravidity, and another four were given these supplements only during lactation. In the first group the piglets showed a high level of vitamin E immediately after birth, before the first sucking (4.048 mumol .1-1), which increased to the maximum average level at the age of 10 days (24.127 mumol .1-1). Then followed a marked decrease down to 1.679 mumol .1-1, recorded after weaning. In comparison with this, after the supplementation of the sow feed ration during lactation, the highest value of vitamin E concentration was found on the 5th day of age (21.482 mumol .1-1). The level of vitamin E gradually decreased, but still after weaning the average value was quite high (2.783 mumol .1-1). The results suggest the possibilities of eliminating the critical values of low vitamin E concentration in the blood serum of pigs at birth and after weaning.

[Vitamin E concentration in the blood serum of sows during pregnancy and lactation]. / Koncentrácia vitamínu E v krvnom sére prasnic pocas gravidity a laktácie.

The dynamics of vitamin E in the blood serum of sows of the Slovak Large White breed was studied from the 10th day of gravidity to the 20th day of lactation. A slight variation was observed in the average values of serum vitamin E from the 10th to the 50th day of gravidity (from 0.134 to 0.122 and 0.129 mg per 100 ml). A rise to the absolutely highest average values of serum concentration of vitamin E, 0.166 mg per 100 ml, was ascertained in the period from the 70th to the 90th day of gravidity. In the subsequent period, i.e. 110th day of gravidity, the value dropped to 0.120 mg per 100 ml, and on the 5th day of lactation the absolutely lowest value (0.095 mg per 100 ml) for the whole study was obtained. On the 20th day of lactation the serum concentration of vitamin E increased on an average to 0.103 mg per 100 ml. These data indicate the critical periods in the levels of vitamin E; these are from the 90th to the 100th day of gravidity and the first days of lactation when the concentration of vitamin E markedly decreases. If vitamin E is not supplemented to the sows during gravidity in sufficient amounts, preclinical and clinical vitamin E deficiency can be expected to occur.

[Serum selenium levels in sheep from birth to 90 days of age]. / Hladiny selénu v krvnom sére osípaných od narodenia do veku 90 dní.

The results of the study of the dynamics of selenium in the blood serum were compared in 31 piglets from birth to the age of 90 days. The analyzed selenium values in the blood serum immediately after birth (0.14--0.20 ppm) provide evidence of the intra-uterine placental passage of selenium. In the period of colostral and milk nutrition, the serum concentrations of selenium showed a statistically insignificant variation, followed by an abrupt drop of the level of the microelement in the weaning period (60th day). The individual values in this period ranged from 0.08 to 0.12 ppm. Towards the end of the study, the level of selenium in the blood serum of the piglets returned to its initial value; this indicates that although the critical period connected with weaning has a transient nature, it should be averted for preventing the occurrence of a selenium-deficit disease; this can be done by adding a supplement of 0.2% solution of sodium selenate or a combined preparation of selenium and vitamin E-Selevit.

[Age and season related dynamics of vitamin E levels in the serum of young cattle from birth to the age of 22 months]. / Veková a sezónna dynamika vitamínu E v krvnom sére mladého hovädzieho dobytka od narodenia do veku 22 mesiacov.

The dynamics of serum vitamin E levels in heifers was followed for 22 months. We found that calves were born with a very low, almost nil, content of this vitamin (on an average 0.029 mg%) as a result of the limited diaplacental transfer from the mother to the fetus. In the following period of extrauterine life and growing up of the young cattle conspicuous age dynamics was recorded which is, however, linked or affected by the seasons. Colostral nutrition which is reflected in the increasing serum concentration of vitamin E has an important role. After the change from winter feeding rations to summer feed, consisting mainly of grazing, a marked increase in the serum concentration of vitamin E with an apex was observed, i.e. with the maximum mean value in November. In relation to the age of animals the highest concentration of vitamin E in the blood serum of heifers was recorded, expressed as mean values toward the end of our observations (0.736 mg%), i.e. in the period of sexual maturity; it equalled the concentration of vitamin E determined in cows.

[Selenium dynamics in the blood of lambs from birth to weaning using traditional rearing technics]. / Dynamika selénu v krvnom sére jahniat od narodenia do odstavu pri tradicnom spósobe chovu.

The dynamics of selenium in the blood serum of 20 lambs of the Merino breed, traditionally reared, was followed from birth to weaning at the age of 110 days. Results of the observations revealed that the highest concentration of serum selenium was determined in lambs just after delivery (0.25 ppm) and the level was maintained throughout the period of colostral nutrition. In the period between the 15th and 60th day low selenium values (0.06-0.13 ppm) were recorded, which implies a critical period in relation to the origin of muscular dystrophy. At the end of the observations there appeared a significant selenium content increase in the blood serum of lambs.