• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.83-89
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• 1994

The effects of inorganic selenium (Se), selenate and selenite on Se balance levels in the different ruminal fluid fractions were studied using Japanese Corriedale wethers with an average body weight of 47 kg. A $3{\times}3$ Latin square design was used with three animal, three periods and three treatments. In each period, there was 7 d dietary adjustment followed by 5 d total collection of urine and feces. Ruminal fluid samples were obtained at 0, 1, 3, 5 and 7 h postprandially on the final day of the collection period. The three dietary treatments were: (1) without Se supplementation (control); (2) with Se supplement as sodium selenate; and (3) sodium selenite at a rate of 0.2 mg Se/kg dietary DM. The basal diet was timothy hay (Phleum pratense L.) fed 2% of body weight/d. Results indicated that Se balance were higher (p < 0.05) for those animals under supplementation than those animals under control. Overall data gathered showed a similar digestion balance of selenate and selenite in sheep. Inorganic Se, both selenate and selenite produced positive Se contents of the ruminal feed particles and protozoa. Bacterial Se increased (p < 0.05) on the first three hours post-prandially in Se supplemented diets. Gross ruminal fluid fraction, although there was improvement on their Se content under the supplemented diets, the changes were insignificant over the control. free inorganic Se and Se in soluble protein of the ruminal fluid were not significantly different for selenate and selenite. Most of the Se in the ruminal fluids of the animals under supplementation were insoluble, indicating the influence of rumen environments on Se bioavaliability.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.467-470
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• 1994

Effects of animo acids infusion into the abomasum on plasma growth hormone (GH) concentration were investigated using three wethers of 54 kg of average body weight. Wethers were infused with either 3.25 mmol/kg BW/day of sodium chloride solution (control), 3 mmol/kg BW/day of alanine (Ala), or 3 mmol/kg BW/day of aspartic acid (Asp) continuously for five days through an abomasum cathether in a $3{\times}3$ Latin square desing. On the day of starting infusion (day 0) and day 4 blood samples were collected from a jugular vein every fifteen minutes for six hours after feeding, and their GH concentrations were measured. Blood samples were also collected immediately before starting infusion (day 0), and before feeding of day 1, day 2 and day 4, and their plasma free amino acid concentrations were measured. In the animals infused with Ala, plasma free Ala concentration was increased by Ala infusion and it continued for four days. Plasma GH concentration of these animals increased on day 0, but this phenomenon disappeared on day 4. In the animals infused with Asp, the increase in plasma Asp concentration was observed only on day 1. Plasma GH concentration of these animals was not affected by Asp infusion. These results suggest that continuous Ala infusion stimulates GH secretion for a short period, but the effect would not last long, and that continuous Asp infusion does not affect plasma GH concentration.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.1255-1261
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• 2005

The objective of this study was to evaluate the net flux response of nitrogen compounds (alpha-amino N, ammonia N, urea N, essential amino acids) across the portal-drained viscera (PDV), liver and total splanchnic tissues of mature wethers to increasing level of dietary fishmeal (FM) supplementation. Four wethers (average body weight, 64 kg) with chronic indwelling catheters into the portal, hepatic and mesenteric veins and the abdominal aorta were used in a 4${\times}$4 Latin square design. A basal diet consisting of 0.7 hay and 0.3 concentrate was fed twice daily with a fixed amount at 1.4 times maintenance energy (1.3 kg/day on a dry matter basis). The supplementation proportion of FM as treatment was 0, 0.03, 0.06 and 0.09 to the amount of the basal diet to contain 119, 137, 154 and 170 g crude protein per kg dietary dry matter, respectively. Blood flows through PDV and liver did not differ (p>0.05) among the treatments. Both net PDV release and hepatic uptake of alpha amino acid N increased linearly (p<0.05) in response to increased dietary FM, which resulted in similar total splanchnic release of alpha-amino N among the treatments. Similarly, increased dietary FM increased net PDV absorption and hepatic removal of ammonia N linearly (p<0.05). Hepatic synthesis and total splanchnic release of urea N increased linearly (p<0.01) with increased dietary FM, but PDV uptake of urea N did not respond to increased dietary FM. Linear regression equations between the increases in FM N intake and PDV net flux indicated that 0.34 and 0.30 of FM N was absorbed in the form of alpha-amino N and ammonia N, respectively. The results demonstrated that FM supplementation provides more alpha-amino N than ammonia N to the liver, but the alpha-amino acid N absorption is less than the expected metabolizable protein N from FM supplementation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.1221-1227
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• 2001

Young lambs (Suffolk wethers, n=18), which were 22 to 26 kg average BW, were chronically exposed to temperatures of +1 to +$4^{\circ}C$ (cold) or +21 to +$24^{\circ}C$ (warm) during 10 wk experimental periods. The sheep were closely shorn and were housed in individual metabolism crates in controlled environment rooms. Sheep consumed pelleted diets ad libitum, which consisted of mainly barley grain and brome grass, and contained 7, 11, or 14% CP. The experimental design consisted of a $2{\times}3$ factorial with a single crossover of environment treatment. Feed intake, BW, feces, and urine excretion were measured. Apparent digestibilities were not affected by diet CP concentration or temperature treatments; however, voluntary intake per kg BW was increased (p<0.05) by diet CP content in both environments. Growing lambs gained weight slightly faster in a cold environment when N intake was above 27 g/d. Nitrogen excretion and N balance were positively related (p<0.01) with diet CP content, and fecal N excretion was significantly increased (p<0.05) in the cold environment. Therefore, dietary CP content strongly influenced N metabolism; however, cold exposure did alter only fecal N excretion. The higher DM intake per kg BW at 11% CP diet in the cold environment permitted ADG comparable to 14% CP diet in the warm environment. The results of this study do support the hypothesis that lambs are better able to utilize a moderate reduction in the CP content of the diet in a cold environment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.233-240
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• 2019

Objective: This study was to investigate the effects of dietary cotton stalk on nitrogen and free gossypol in sheep. Methods: Treatments included 25% cotton stalk (Treat 1), 50% cotton stalk (Treat 2), and a control (no cotton stalk). Six Xinjiang daolang wethers were cannulated at the rumen and duodenum and fed one of these diets. The effects of these diets on nitrogen and free gossypol absorption and metabolism were determined. Fifteen healthy Xinjiang daolang wethers were assessed for daily gain, tissue lesions, and free gossypol accumulation. Results: Dry matter intake decreased with increasing dietary cotton stalk. Total tract dry matter digestibility did not significantly differ among treatments. Dietary cotton stalk significantly decreased volatile fatty acids and increased ammonium nitrogen in the rumen. Nitrogen intake was significantly higher in Treat 2 than in the control or Treat 1. Nitrogen retention and free gossypol intake increased with dietary cotton stalk. Duodenal free gossypol flow did not increase, and free gossypol almost disappeared from the rumen. The free gossypol content of plasma and tissue was increased with dietary cotton stalk with liver free gossypol>muscle free gossypol>kidney free gossypol. Elevated dietary free gossypol decreased platelets, hemoglobin, and serum iron. Aspartate aminotransferase and ${\gamma}$-glutamyltransferase increased in Treat 2. With high long-term dietary cotton stalk intake, liver cells were swollen, and their nuclei dissolved. Renal cells were necrotic and the interstitia were enlarged. Conclusion: With short-term cotton stalk administration, only a small amount of free gossypol is retained in the body. In response to long-term or high free gossypol cotton stalk feeding, however, free gossypol accumulates in, and damages the liver and kidneys.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.931-939
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of energy supplement on responses of plasma insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) to growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) administration in normal protein-fed wethers, and to observe the effect of GHRP-2 treatment on hepatic growth hormone (GH) receptor in well-fed wethers. Plasma IGF-1 and 39-42 kDa IGFBP-3 during the HENP (CP, crude protein 0.34 and TDN, total digestible nutrients 1.83 kg/day DM, dry matter intake) treatment period were higher than in the LENP (CP 0.32 kg and TDN 0.87 kg/day DM intake) period (P<0.05). The response of GH was stimulated by GHRP-2 ($12.5\;{\mu}g/kg$ body weight/day) administration during both of the feed treatment periods (P<0.05). The area under curve (AUC) increment and average concentration of GH (0-180 min) with GHRP-2 administration was higher during HENP treatment than LENP treatment (P<0.01). During the HENP treatment period from day 1 to day 7 of twice daily GHRP-2 treatment, the plasma IGF-1 increment was increased on days 2, 6 and 7 of GHRP-2 administration (P<0.05). On the basis of ligand blotting, the proportions of plasma 39-43 kDa IGFBP-3 during the HENP treatment period only showed a significant difference on days 6 and 7 with GHRP-2 administration. No significant difference in the specific binding of $^{125}I-labeled$ oGH to hepatic membranes was detected between the saline and GHRP-2 treatments of the HENP-fed wethers. These results suggest that the nutritional balance between energy and protein may affect the endogenous GH / IGF-1 axis as well as plasma IGFBP-3 levels.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.155-160
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• 2000

In order to understand the effects of sex or age on cellular characteristics of adipocytes from Hanwoo and sheep, samples were obtained from omental, subcutaneous, intermuscular and intramuscular adipose tissue depots of bulls, steers, heifers and cows in Hanwoo, and perirenal, omental and subcutaneous adipose tissues of fetal lambs, suckling lambs and wethers in sheep. In case of Hanwoo, mean diameter, surface area and volume of adipocytes from each depot were obtained by multisizer II (Coulter Co., UK). Osmium-fixed adipocytes were sized and counted using $560{\mu}m$ aperture. For samples obtained from sheep, cellularity was measured by using microscope and MCV program of Texas Instrument. Bulls had less subcutaneous and kidney fat than steers even though their slaughter and carcass weight were heavier. The amounts of fat from cows were greater in subcutaneous, kidney and internal organs than heifers. Steers had larger adipocytes in subcutaneous, intermuscular and intramuscular adipose tissues than bulls, although the differences were significant only for the subcutaneous adipose tissue depots. Adipocytes appeared to be largest in omental and smallest in intramuscular adipose tissue, although there were no significant differences among tissues. In a comparison of heifers and cows, significant site effects (p<0.05) were shown in adipocyte diameter, surface area and volume, and adipocyte appeared to be largest in omental tissue. Statistical difference (p<0.05) was only shown in cell volume of intramuscular tissue which was higher in cow than heifer. Intramuscular adipose tissue tended to have relatively greater numbers of cells per gram tissue and reflect lesser maturity of intramuscular adipose tissue relative to other adipose tissues. In sheep, regardless of adipose tissue depots, wethers had the greater adipocyte diameters than those at any other growth stage of sheep. Within adipose depots, the ranking of cell size was the greatest in the omental tissue of wether and the lowest in the renal and subcutaneous adipose tissue depots of fetal lamb. The cell size of adipocyte became larger with age, especially from fetal to suckling lamb due to a rapid hypertrophy of both perirenal and subcutaneous adipocytes during the suckling period.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.579-582
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• 1989

Previous experiments have shown that aqueous sodium silicate ingested in drinking water may modify the gastrointestinal uptake and(or) tissue retention of certain trace elements, including heavy metals. The present experiment tested, with a mineral balance trial using sheep, the hypothesis that dietary silicic acid could modify uptake, retention and(or) biological effects of dietary Cd. Twenty-four wethers were fed a fibrous diet of ground alfalfa hay and cottonseed hulls to which either 0 or 150 ppm Cd was added as $CdCl_2$ and 0, .5 or 1% silicic acid (as dry matter of the diet). Body weight, feed intake, excretion of urine (volume) and feces (weight), digestibility of dry and organic matter, retention of nitrogen, and packed cell volumes of blood were not affected by either Cd or silicic acid (P<.10). Cadmium decreased (P<.05) Ca retention and increased (P<.01) Mg retention. Silicic acid decreased (P<.05) K retention. Silicic acid failed (P<.01) to modify the retention of added dietary Cd. Body retention of K, Mn and Ni in response to silicic acid varied with Cd levels. If Cd is interfering with mineral retention, silicic acid may be effective in preventing this interference.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.544-547
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• 1999

The object of this study was to determine the influence of monensin and virginiamycin (VM) on in vitro ruminal fermentation of rice straw or ammoniated rice straw. Rumen fluid was collected from 4 wethers fed 200 g of concentrate supplement with 400 g of untreated (U) or ammoniated (A) rice straw once daily for 28 days. Mixed ruminal microorganisms were incubated in anaerobic media that contained 20% (vol/vol) ruminal fluid and 0.3 g of either U or A rice straw. Monensin and/or VM, dissolved in ethanol, were added in centrifuge tubes at final concentrations of 0, 15, 30, 15+15 and 30+30 ppm of culture fluid. The addition of monensin and VM combination to A rice straw fermentation decreased (p<0.05) the acetate to propionate ratio, total VFA and lactate production, but increased (p<0.05) pH. Total gas production tended to be decreased by the addition of monensin plus VM. Antimicrobial agents decreased $NH_3$ N concentration and dry matter digestibility.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.695-698
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• 1992

Three Japanese Corriedale wethers were used in a $3{\times}3$ latin square design to determine the effect of soybean meal (SBM) supplementation on the eating and rumination behavior in sheep fed rice straw as a basal diet. Soybean meal was supplemented at three levels of 0 (control), 75 g and 150 g/day. Soybean meal supplementation had no significant effect on the daily time spent eating and rumination, whereas the rate of eating of rice straw was significantly faster (p<0.05) in sheep fed SBM-supplemented diets than in sheep fed control diet. However, when expressed per 100 g of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) intake, daily rumination time of sheep fed 75 and 150 g of SBM-supplemented diets was greatly reduced (p<0.01). The length of each rumination period, daily number of rumination periods and number of boli regurgitated were about constant for all SBM levels. Cyclic rate (rumination time per daily number of boli regurgitated) and rumination index (rumination time per 100 g of dry matter eaten) were significantly decreased (p<0.05) by SBM supplementation. The number of chews per bolus was not affected, whereas the bolus time reduced (p<0.05) and the rate of chewing during rumination was increased (p<0.05) by SBM supplementation.