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Lidia cattle are a heterogeneous Iberian cattle population known for its natural aggressiveness and resistance to traditional handling procedures making in vivo blood sampling and biological fluid collections extremely difficult. Blood variables are influenced by physical exertion and stressful situations; consequently, post-mortem blood analysis does not reflect basal concentrations for this species. Nevertheless, ocular fluids (aqueous and vitreous humour) maintain their stable composition after death and maybe could be used to estimate ante-mortem blood concentrations. So, 15 bulls which had fought (for 15-20 minutes) and, subsequently after death, blood, aqueous and vitreous humour were sampled. Total protein, albumin, triglycerides, uric acid, urea, AST, ALT, GGT, AP, CK, LDH, cholesterol, creatinine, glucose and lactate were measured. Statistical analysis and correlation coefficients between the three fluids were carried out. All variables showed high plasma concentrations of glucose, uric acid, LDH and CK, compared with normal bovine concentrations. Apart from urea, all plasma concentrations were greater than those found in ocular fluids. The measured enzymes activities were higher in the vitreous than in the aqueous humour, but only marked differences in uric acid, lactate, AP and AST were found. There was a significant correlation between creatinine in the plasma and aqueous humour, and between albumin and GGT in the plasma and vitreous humour. Glucose, creatinine and urea exhibit a high correlation between ocular fluids. All plasma concentrations were clearly modified, however ocular fluids do not seem affected, thus establishing important correlations between the blood and intraocular fluids.

To evaluate the anticoccidial effect of the Hura crepitans seed, 21 cross-breed lambs, 23 ± 3 kg live weight (PV) and 70 ± 6 days old, were used. Animals were housed individually in raised wire-mesh pens, with individual water troughs and feeders. Lambs were randomly divided into three groups (n = 7) that received different doses of Hura crepitans seeds: 4 g/kg B.W. (group 1), 6 g/kg B.W. (group 2) and 0 g/kg B.W. (control group or group 0). The treatment was administered at the beginning of the experiment once orally and the study lasted 21 days. Stool samples were taken for quantitative analysis of oocysts using the McMaster technique and blood for haematological and biochemical analysis. Lambs that received the seeds showed a higher excretion of coccidia oocysts between days 5 and 7 after treatment (p < 0.05) due to the antiparasitic effect of these seeds, without affecting their productive performance (daily feed intake (DFI)- total weight gain (TWG), daily weight gain (DWG)). In addition, the daily feed consumption (DFC) and dry matter intake (DMI) were similar between the groups. The analysed enzymes (ALT, AST, GGT and FA) and creatinine showed reference values. Only the urea and BUN levels were slightly increased, but without statistical difference between the groups. Therefore, the Hura crepitans seed, at doses of 4 and 6 g/kg, favours the expulsion of coccidial oocysts, without affecting either the health or the productive behaviour of lambs.

There are limited published data in the bovine species on blood biological variables in response to intense work or after significant physical exertion. Lidia cattle, in addition to their exercise components, have some behavioral agonistic features that make them more susceptible to stress. The bullfight involves stress and exercise so intense that it causes significant changes in some metabolic variables. The study objective was to evaluate changes in blood biological variables in response to intense exercise and stress. After the fight in the arena, and once the bulls were dead (n = 438), blood samples were taken, and some biochemical and hormonal variables were determined in venous blood. A descriptive analysis was performed using the Statistica 8.0. computer program. The mean (±s.d.) results obtained were: total protein (85.8 ± 10.8 g/dL), albumin (3.74 ± 4.3 g/dL), triglycerides (39.65 ± 0.16 mg/dL), cholesterol (2.44 ± 0.03 mmol/L), glucose (22.2 ± 9.6 mmol/L), uric acid (340 ± 80 µmol/L), creatinine (236.9 ± 0.4 µmol/L), urea (5.93 ± 1.27 mmol/L), LDH (2828 ± 1975 IU/L), CK (6729 ± 10,931 IU/L), AST (495 ± 462 IU/L), ALP (90 ± 33 IU/L), GGT (50 ± 34 IU/L), ALT (59 ± 35 IU/L), cortisol (117.5 ± 46.6 nmol/L), and testosterone (20.2 ± 23.8 nmol/L). Most of the measured variables clearly increased; thus, we found severe hyperglycemia and increases in LDH, AST, GGT, and ALT enzymes, particularly in CK. The increases in all these variables are justified by the mobilization of energy sources, tissue/muscle damage, and dehydration due to continued stress and intense exercise.

Minerals are inorganic substances present in all body tissues and fluids that directly or indirectly influence the maintenance of multiple metabolic processes and, therefore, are essential for the development of various biological functions. The Lidia bull breed may be considered an athlete, as during a bull fight it displays considerable physical effort of great intensity and short duration in a highly stressful situation. The objective of this study was to assess plasma minerals concentration (macro- and microminerals) in Lidia bulls after intense physical exercise during a bull fight. Plasma Ca, Mg, P, K, Na, Fe, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se and Mo concentrations were measured in 438 male Lidia bulls. Ca, P and Mg were measured using a Cobas Integra autoanalyzer, while Na and K were determined by ICP-AES, and Fe, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se and Mo were measured by ICP-MS. All macrominerals, (Ca: 2.96 ± 0.31, Mg: 1.27 ± 0.17, P: 3.78 ± 0.65, K: 7.50 ± 1.58, Na: 150.15 ± 19.59 in mmol/L), and Cr (1.24 ± 0.58), Ni (0.249 ± 1.07), Cu (22.63 ± 4.84) and Zn (24.14 ± 5.59, in μmol/L) showed greater mean values than the reported reference values in the published literature, while Co (0.041 ± 0.07), Se (0.886 ± 0.21) and Mo (0.111 ± 0.08, in μmol/L) values were lower than those reported for other bovine breeds. These increased concentrations could be justified mainly by muscle cell metabolism, hepatic need to provide energy, and intense dehydration and hemoconcentration by losses through sweat glands or urination.

Cobalt, as a trace element, is essential for rumen microorganisms for the formation of vitamin B12. In the metabolism of mammals, vitamin B12 is an essential part of two enzymatic systems involved in multiple metabolic reactions, such as in the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, some amino acids and DNA. Adenosylcobalamin and methylcobalamin are coenzymes of methylmalonyl coenzyme A (CoA) mutase and methionine synthetase and are essential for obtaining energy through ruminal metabolism. Signs of cobalt deficiency range from hyporexia, reduced growth and weight loss to liver steatosis, anemia, impaired immune function, impaired reproductive function and even death. Cobalt status in ruminant animals can be assessed by direct measurement of blood or tissue concentrations of cobalt or vitamin B12, as well as the level of methylmalonic acid, homocysteine or transcobalamin in blood; methylmalonic acid in urine; some variables hematological; food consumption or growth of animals. In general, it is assumed that the requirement for cobalt (Co) is expressed around 0.11 ppm (mg/kg) in the dry matter (DM) diet; current recommendations seem to advise increasing Co supplementation and placing it around 0.20 mg Co/kg DM. Although there is no unanimous criterion about milk production, fattening or reproductive rates in response to increased supplementation with Co, in some investigations, when the total Co of the diet was approximately 1 to 1.3 ppm (mg/kg), maximum responses were observed in the milk production.

The aim of the present study was to obtain reference values in bulls after an intense exercise situation quantifying some biological variables in venous blood. The descriptive analysis was carried out using Statistica 8.0 program and the values obtained were pH (6.81), PCO2 (67.81 mmHg), PO2 (22.58 mmHg), HCO3(-) (10.82 mEq/l), BE (-23.48 mEq/l), TCO2 (12.83 mEq/l), sO2 (17.50%) for blood gas, and for mineral Na, iCa and K were 146.96; 1.14 and 7.49 mmol/l respectively. Finally, the mean value of Htc was 43.522%, Hb 14.80. Following exercise, and compared with values considered as physiological in cattle, some blood variables in our study were decreased (blood pH, HCO3(-), BE, PO2 and sO2), some remained in the normal limit (Na, K, iCa, Htc) and the rest are increased (PCO2, Hb, lactate) comparing with when compared to normal reference values for the bovine species., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)