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.

Effect of parenteral iron on serum electrolytes of the baby pig

Twenty-eight 4-d-old nursing pigs were used in two trials to evaluate the effects of im injection of iron (Fe) from Fe-dextran upon subsequent serum mineral concentrations. An im injection of 150 mg of Fe from Fe-dextran was given to all pigs (n = 17) in trial 1. Serum Fe concentration increased rapidly from an initial mean of 65 to 3,466 micrograms/dl at 6 h postinjection (PI), 5,712 micrograms/dl at 24 h PI, then fell to 317 micrograms/dl at 4 d PI, 143 micrograms/dl at 7 d PI and remained about 100 micrograms/dl at 14, 21 and 28 d PI. Concentrations of other serum minerals did not appear to be influenced by the Fe-dextran injection. Treatments of Pigs (n = 11) in trial 2 were no injection, injection of dextran only, injection of 100 mg Fe from Fe-dextran and injection of 200 mg Fe from Fe-dextran. Serum Fe concentration increased rapidly after Fe-dextran injection, rising to a peak of 11,028 micrograms/dl at 6 h PI from the 100-mg Fe injection and 17,012 micrograms/dl at 6 h PI from the 200-mg Fe injection. Serum Fe concentration dropped steadily in pigs that were given no injection or injected with dextran only. Seven days after trial 2 started, all pigs that had received no injection or dextran only were injected with 100 mg Fe from Fe-dextran.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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.

Thyroid iodine and serum thyroid hormone levels in wild white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from central Michigan

Three wild, female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) collected in Missaukee County, Michigan, during February and March 1979 had lower (P < 0.01) serum total thyroxine (T4), free T4 (FT4), and triiodothyronine (T3) levels, thyroid iodine (I) concentration, and body weights than 17 captive does fed a complete diet. Thyroid weight per metabolic body weight (body weight (kilograms)0.75) was greater (P < 0.01) in the wild deer. These data indicate malnutrition and incipient I deficiency in the wild deer.

A copper deficiency in neonatal pigs induced by a high zinc maternal diet

Because high levels of dietary zinc are known to reduce copper body stores, the objective was to determine if a high zinc maternal diet could induce a copper deficiency in the newborn pig fed a dried skim milk--glucose--starch diet unsupplemented with copper. The offspring of gilts, which were fed 5000 ppm of zinc, were allowed to nurse until 3 to 5 days of age when they were weaned and placed in individual stainless-steel pens. The dietary treatments were 0, 5 and 10 ppm added copper from copper sulfate. After 14 days, pigs receiving the 0-ppm copper diet weighed significantly less (P less than 0.05) and had reduced hemoglobin, hematocrit and serum copper concentrations and no detectable ceruloplasmin activity. After 5 weeks, the pigs were killed, and tissues were collected. The unsupplemented group had 16.4% of the aortic lysyl oxidase activity of the 5-ppm group. Cytochrome c oxidase activity in the heart and liver, and copper stores in the heart, liver, pancreas and kidney were depressed (P less than 0.05) in unsupplemented pigs compared to those receiving 5 ppm copper. These data demonstrate that it is possible to produce quickly a markedly copper-deficient pig, by using the offspring of sows fed 5000 ppm zinc, and support previous conclusions that the dietary copper requirement of the baby pig is about 5 ppm.

Thyroid function in fed and fasted white-tailed deer fawns

Serum thyroid hormone concentrations and thyroxine (T4) kinetics were determined in three fed and two fasted white-tailed deer fawns (Odocoileus virginianus borealis). Fasting for 16 days resulted in a drastic decline in total triiodothyronine (T3) (3.22 to 0.49 ng/mL), T4 (241.6 to 68.3 ng/mL) and, to a lesser extent, free T4 (FT4) (2.59 to 1.37 ng/dL). Reverse T3 (rT3) did not change significantly. Although T4 secretion rate (TSR) was greatly reduced (P < 0.05) in the fasted fawns (2.5 (fasted) versus 10.5 (fed) μg T4 per body weight 0.75 (in kilograms) after 20 days of fasting), fractional turnover rate (k/day), total distribution volume (TDV), and metabolic clearance rate (MCR) of injected [131I]T4 did not differ significantly from values in fed fawns. Serum thyroid hormone profiles of the fasted fawns were similar to those reported previously in wild deer collected in Michigan during late winter. In contrast, however, there was no indication of thyroid enlargement.

Iron requirements of baby pigs reared in germ-free or conventional environments on a condensed milk diet

Baby pigs were maintained in either a germ-free or a conventional environment and fed a sterile condensed milk diet (10 micrograms Fe/g milk solids) supplemented with 0, 50 or 100 micrograms Fe/g solids from FeSO4.7H2O or given an im injection of 100 mg Fe from Fe dextran. Pigs were reared on these diets for 4 wk, and weekly measures of gain, food consumption and hematology were taken. The pigs were then killed, and organ weights were taken and tissues analyzed for Fe concentration. All conventional pigs not given supplemental Fe died. None of the unsupplemented pigs raised in the germ-free environmental died. Conventional pigs gained faster and more efficiently and became anemic more rapidly. However, conventional and germ-free pigs were similar in the efficiency with which they incorporated supplemental Fe into hemoglobin or stored Fe in liver and spleen. We concluded from this study that both germ-free and conventional pigs fed a condensed milk diet require 50 to 100 micrograms Fe/g milk solids or more than 100 mg of Fe from Fe dextran once parenterally to maintain desirable hematological traits for 4 wk.

Bioavailability of iron from ferric choline citrate and a ferric copper cobalt choline citrate complex for young pigs

Two experiments were conducted to determine the bioavailability for young pigs of Fe from ferric choline citrate or from a commercial mixture of Fe, Cu and Co choline citrate salts. Relative biological value of Fe from either source with a standard of 100 for FeSO4 x 7H20 was about 140 by both hemoglobin regeneration and Fe retention methods.

Eucalyptus Digestibility and Digestible Energy Requirements of Adult Male Koalas, Phascolarctos Cinereus (Marsupialia)

Three adult male koalas were individually fed on a diet of Eucalyptus melliodora, E. robusta and E. sideroxylon plus trace mineral salt and water to appetite. Fresh browse was offered daily for 14 days before and 7 days during quantitative collection of faeces. Samples of browse representing plant parts consumed were collected, and acid lignin ratio techniques were used to estimate nutrient digestibility. Apparent digestibility of DM was 54-70%, gross energy 47-64%, crude protein 32-50%, ether extract 37-50%, neutral detergent fibre 23-57% and acid detergent fibre 9-55%. Total faecal acid lignin excretion was used to estimate digestible energy (DE) intake. Since bodyweights (W) were maintained during the study, daily DE requirements for adult maintenance were estimated to range from 257 to 411 kJ/W0.75. If an 87% recovery in the faeces of dietary acid lignin was assumed, estimated DE requirements for adult maintenance ranged from 312 to 439 kJ/W0.75. These values are lower than commonly accepted interspecific values for eutherians but are consistent with evidence that the koala has a relatively low basal metabolic rate.

Composition of Preferred and Rejected Eucalyptus Browse Offered to Captive Koalas, Phascolarctos Cinereus (Marsupialia)

Browse representing 1.5 m of terminal growth from 11 species of Eucalyptus shoots or mature tree limbs was divided into portions which were either consumed or rejected by captive koalas. The following nutrient concentrations (dry basis) were found in preferred browse: crude protein, 5.9-17.8%; ether extract, 5.5-19.2%; neutral detergent fibre, 16.8-37.5%; ash, 3.2-5.6%; remaining proximate fraction [(dry matter) - (crude protein + ether extract + neutral detergent fibre + ash)], 31.7-64.8%; calcium, 0.28-1.95%; phosphorus, 0.08-0.42%; sodium, 0.03-1.29%; potassium, 0.30-2.06%; magnesium, 0.12-0.44%; iron, 67-274 ppm; copper, 2.1-15.8 ppm; zinc, 17-54 ppm; and selenium, 0.03-0.42 ppm. Preferred browse, as compared to rejected browse, had significantly higher concentrations of crude protein, remaining proximate fraction, phosphorus and potassium, and significantly lower concentrations of ether extract, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, permanganate lignin, gross energy, calcium, iron and selenium.

Regulation of essential nutrient additions to animal diets (selenium -- a model case)

Responsibility for regulation of essential nutrient additions to animal diets has been assumed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) through internal interpretation of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Thus, these substances are regulated as food additives or through qualification for the generally recognized as safe (GRAS) list. Although essential nutrients, such as selenium, are not optional additives to animal diets that are demonstrably deficient (if animal health and welfare are of concern), supplementation with unapproved nutrients places one in violation of FDA interpretation of law. Selenium was established as a dietary essential in 1957, and practical problems with a deficiency of this nutrient were recognized soon after. Research was begun in 1967 specifically to gain FDA approval for selenium as a dietary supplement. Approval was granted for selenium supplements to swine and certain poultry diets in 1974. At that time, FDA staff members reported that the inability to supplement these diets with selenium had caused annual losses of over $82 million. Annual losses to the beef cattle, dairy cattle and sheep industry were estimated in 1975 at nearly $545 million. In a coordinated effort (initiated in 1975) involving scientists at nine United States universities and the FDA, data were gathered leading to approval in 1979 of selenium supplements for ruminants. The cost of the effort to meet regulatory requirements for selenium has been estimated at more than $1 million. Since this nutrient is not a proprietary product, this effort has been made largely at public expense. The inability to supplement selenium-deficient diets prior to FDA approval has cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

Regulation of animal care and research? Viewpoint of an agricultural experiment station scientist

The issue of regulating animal care in modern animal production systems and in the research laboratory is discussed from the perspective of an animal scientist with a farm background and 25 years of agricultural experiment station experience. Evidence is presented for a long-term association of humans with (and dependence on) animals, which extends into prehistory far beyond the beginnings of animal domestication some 11,000 years ago. The problem of feeding humans without animals was discussed, and it is concluded that the world population of humans cannot be adequately nourished by plant foods alone. Man's activities affect all of his companion creatures in many ways, and he is obviously a participant in a global ecosystem, not just an observer. It is vital to his welfare and to that of his fellow creatures that he manage this ecosystem fellow creatures that he manage this ecosystem correctly, including members of both the animal and vegetable kingdoms. There is a serious difference in perspective between many "animal philosophers" and professional animal scientists. The latter believe that they have an obligation to practice and to teach respect for the lives and welfare of the animals with which they work. Human qualities of kindness, mercy and compassion should govern actions toward animals. However, anthropomorphism is a philosophy to which the author and many other animal scientists do not subscribe.

Selenium, vitamin E and the response to swimming stress in the rat

Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of exercise on rat glutathione peroxidase system enzymes and lipid peroxidation among animals supplemented and unsupplemented with selenium (Se) and vitamin E (E). Liver, muscle and blood were taken before, immediately after and 24 hours after exercising to exhaustion by swimming. No effect of exercise was found on muscle or liver enzymes, although exercise resulted in depressed glutathione reductase (GR) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activities in erythrocytes immediately after exercise. Dietary Se supplementation did result in increased hepatic muscle and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity, and decreased hepatic GR, G6PD and "malic enzyme" activities. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and indicator of lipid peroxidation, increased in liver and muscle subsequent to exercise. This increase was reduced in liver, but not eliminated, by dietary E supplementation. The increase was not affected by dietary E in muscle, nor by dietary Se in either tissue.

Copper requirement of baby pigs fed purified diets

Three experiments involving 52 baby pigs were conducted to determine the minimum copper requirement of baby pigs fed purified diets. Diets were supplemented with anhydrous cupric sulfate to yield the following copper concentrations (ppm, by analysis) when the three experiments were combined: 0.6, 0.9, 1.3, 1.9, 2.0, 2.8, 3.2, 4.0, 4.9, 5.6 and 9.3. Parameters examined include weight gain, hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, plasma ceruloplasmin activity, plasma copper concentration, copper balance, brain and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity, copper concentration of liver, kidney, spleen, heart, brain, femur and hair, liver ferritin-iron and total iron concentration, strength characteristics of the femur, and gross and histological appearance at necropsy. Weight gains were subnormal at dietary copper concentrations below 1.9 ppm; plasma ceruloplasmin activities, and plasma and tissue copper concentrations were depressed at dietary copper levels below 2.8 ppm. Bone histopathology was evident at dietary copper levels below 3.2 ppm, and copper balance was low at dietary copper levels below 4.9 ppm. Some evidence of anemia was present at dietary copper levels below 5.6 ppm. Under the conditions of this study, the copper requirement of the baby pig fed a purified diet was judged to be approximately 5.6 ppm (6 ppm copper, dry basis).