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Inhibitory effects of two fungistatic preparations (A and B) and of propionic acid were tested in a complete feed mixture for broiler chickens (starter mixture). The water content of this mixture was 25.4%, environmental temperature was 24 degrees C and relative air humidity 90%. Propionic acid, which has a high fungistatic effect, served as a standard. The composition of the preparation A was as follows: propionic acid, acetic acid, sorbic acid, citric acid and calcium propionate. The preparation B contained: sorbic acid, citric acid and calcium propionate. Examinations were performed in a naturally contaminated and subsequently sterilized (25 kGy) feed mixture; it was then infected with Aspergillus fumigatus, A. niger, A. parasiticus and Penicillium purpurogenum from the Collection of Animal Pathogenic Microorganisms, Brno. A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. glaucus, Penicillium sp., Absidia corymbifera, Mucor sp., Rhizomucor pusillus were detected in the naturally contaminated feed mixture. The mycoflora which was found in the native substrate was resistant to both tested fungistatic preparations; and this resulted in mycelium growth from 7th day of incubation. The efficiency of the preparations A,B and of propionic acid in the feed mixture was identical at concentrations of 4 mg/kg, 7 mg/kg and 3 mg/kg, respectively, and their inhibitory effects were lowest at these concentrations (Fig. 2). A high water content in the nutrient substrate resulted in the rapid growth of fungi of the Mucorales species. The relative humidity of the environment (90%) and water content of tested samples affected markedly micromycetes growth in this experiment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The animals examined were 30 sows after eleven or more farrowings (pluriparous sows) and 26 primiparous sows. The pluriparous animals were 75.1 months old on the average and had farrowed an average of 13.23 litters. The mean age of the primiparous sows was 12.8 months. The blood sera of pluriparous sows had higher concentrations of total protein and urea and lower levels of 11-hydroxycorticosteroids (11-OHCS) and lower aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities than those of primiparous sows. The pluriparous sows showed mild hypoglycaemia and hypocholesterolaemia. When insulin was injected i.m. in the dose of 1 I.U. per kg body mass, a decrease in blood serum glucose, total protein and potassium levels was recorded 60 min later in both pluriparous and primiparous sows; a significant rise in 11-OHCS concentration occurred only in the primiparous sows. It was concluded that the response of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in pluriparous sows to an insulin load is reduced. Studies of pluriparous sows contribute to a better understanding of the ontogenetic development of pigs throughout their postnatal development.

After the second and fourth parturition of piglets, ten clinically healthy sows, weaned on the second day of life, were subjected to examination two to three days before heat, during heat (defined by typical changes on the outer genitals and immobilization in the presence of a boar) and two days after insemination. During the morning hours, four hours after the last feeding, blood was taken from V. cava cranialis. Seventeen parameters were determined in whole blood and in the blood serum. In the period of oestrus, compared with the period two to three days before this period and two days after insemination, a marked increase was observed in the concentration of the serum levels of 11-hydroxycorticosteroids, iron, and in the activity of alanine aminotransferase. The activity of aspartate aminotransferase was increased in heat only in comparison with the period of the two days after insemination. The concentration of haemaglobin in whole blood was significantly increased in comparison with the period before oestrus and after insemination. Further, in the heat period -- as compared with the time before it -- a considerable drop was observed in the content of inorganic phosphorus and vitamin A. The possible mechanism of the occurrence of other changes is discussed.

Phospholipides were isolated from 26 amniotic fluids of highly pregnant dairy cows and the lecithin : sphingomyelin ratio (the L/S index) was determined; this ratio ranged from 1.9 to 12.0 (mean = 6.5; n = 20), and in other cases only lecithin was clearly detected (n = 6). During the studied period of 249 to 277 days of pregnancy, no significant correlation was found, by the method used, between the age of the foetus and the L/S index in the amniotic fluid. The modifications of the methods in which the concentrations of different phospholipids are used for the determination of the maturity of foetal lungs, are discussed, together with the possibility of using and interpreting the L/S index in cattle.

A single infection with the culture of M. intracellulare at a rate of 0.1 mg per kg of weight in pigs fed the A 1 and SOL mixtures and the subsequent development of clinically confirmed mycobacteriosis did not exert any significant influence on the performance of the animals, as compared with the non-infected animals. The metabolically determined coefficients of nutrient digestibility in the SOL mixture determined in the animals on the 70th and 91st days from infection were almost the same as those in non-infected animals. The absence of animal protein and biofactor supplement in experimental mixtures adversely affected the performance of the pigs but exerted no unfavourable influence on the development of atypical mycobacteriosis after the administration of 0.01 mg or 0.1 mg of the culture of M. intracellulare per kg of body weight. No elimination of atypical mycobacteria in the faeces was demonstrated in the groups fed mixtures with biofactor supplement. The feeding of infected pigs with the COS 2 and A 1 mixtures, compared with the use of the experimental mixtures with a lower content of nitrogen compounds and vitamins and a higher content of fibre and energy, influenced the parameters of performance but did not result in a different patho-anatomic and bacteriological picture after mass-scale infection (1 milligram of culture per kg of weight).

Three trials were conducted with pigs at different levels of nutrition. Seven groups of pigs were perorally infected with a suspension of M. intracellulare. Changes in 12 biochemical parameters of metabolism were studied in blood plasma or serum for 98 to 111 days. In comparison with the group of non-infected animals or with the situation prior to infection, the test pigs showed irregular and temporary changes in a number of metabolites, most frequently an increase in the concentration of urea, cholesterol, iron and vitamin A. In the majority of cases, the results are considered as non-typical of infection processes. It was also in relation to clinical and production parameters that the induced mycobacteriosis was regarded as a condition not disturbing, or just insignificantly influencing, the metabolism of slaughter pigs and the economy of their production. The changes in tocopherolaemia, reduction in alkaline phosphatase activity, increase in the total concentration of protein, albumin and cholesterol were related to the development of the pigs at the weight from 20 to 80 kg, rather than to the infection process. The limited intake of proteins or vitamin supplement allowed for verifying the possibility of using some biochemical parameters for practical diagnosis.

The average digestibility coefficients of feed mixture nutrients in pigs infected medium severely to severely by the helminths Ascaris suum and Oesophagostomum dentatum were lower in comparison with the post-dehelminthization condition (dry matter by 3.1%, crude protein by 6.7%, fat by 8.9%, nitrogen-free extracts and fibre by 2.2%, organic matter by 3.1%). The content of total digestible nutrients made 679 g in infected pigs and 708 g in dehelminthized pigs. In the period following the experimental infection of pigs by the helminths Ascaris suum, characterized by the formation of antibodies and adaptation after heavy injury of the organism, the digestibility coefficients of feed mixture nutrients were in comparison with the state prior to infection influenced positively. In two metabolism trials, on the 9th to 13th day after infection the digestibility coefficients increased as follows: of dry matter by 4.8% and 3.6%, crude protein by 8.2 and 4.2%, nitrogen-free extracts and fibre by 2.0 and 3.5% and organic matter by 3.0 and 3.3%. The decrease in fat digestibility coefficients was observed in both cases, by 12.4% and 9.9%. Prior to infection the content of total digestible nutrients was 712 g and 682 g, after infection 731 g and 707 g.

The biochemical profile [levels of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, chlorides and iron, the activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and the concentrations of total protein, albumin, cholesterol, urea, glucose, and vitamins A and E] was studied in the blood serum of 40 anoestrous and 40 control inseminated animals in a production herd with an increased occurrence of anoestrus in gilts. The anoestrous gilts showed significantly lower levels of albumin (P less than 0.01) and glucose (P less than 0.01) and ALP activity (P less than 0.05), and significantly higher concentrations of urea (P less than 0.01), vitamin A (P less than 0.01) and vitamin E (P less than 0.05) and ALT activity (P less than 0.05), as compared with the inseminated controls. An extended enzymatological examination consisting of the evaluation of the activities of ALP, AST, ALT and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GMT) was performed in another set of 22 anoestrous and 20 mated gilts. The anoestrous gilts showed a statistically significant increase in the activities of AST (P less than 0.01), GMT (P less than 0.01) and ALT (P less than 0.05) and an insignificant increase in the activity of ALP in comparison with the control animals. The comparison of the obtained values of the studied biochemical criteria with literary data indicated a lower concentration of magnesium and a higher ALP and ALT activities in the anoestrous and inseminated gilts in both groups under study. A high acidity of fat and a medium to high fungus infestation (Mucor sp., Aspergillus sp.) were found by chemical and mycological examination of the administered feed mixtures. The histological examination of the ovaries of anoestrous animals showed cystically degenerative changes, proliferations of fibrous elements, and partial atrophy of ovarial cortex. It has been inferred from the observations that mycotoxins may be involved in the increase in the occurrence of anoestrus, either by a direct effect on sexual organs or by impairing the function of liver which, secondarily contributes to the rise of ovarial dysfunctions.

In two experiments the effect of feeding dried crushed white and red grape press cake replacing 10--20% of the complex feed mixture A1 and SOL, was studied on the 21 biochemical indicators of blood serum, plasma, suprarenal glands, liver and tissue of fattened pigs. Changes indicating unsuitability of this non-traditional feed were not observed. During feeding red grape press cake, the young pigs of 35kg body weight had a lower concentration of glucose in blood serum, in comparison with the control. The temporary increase of calcium level and decrease of inorganic phosphorus in these animals was accompanied by a lower activity of alkaline phosphatase. White and red grape press cake affected positively the vitamin E level in blood serum. In the muscles of the experimental slaughter pigs protein proportion was increased and fat proportion was decreased.

Biochemical and hematological blood parameters were investigated in pigs experimentally infected with Ascaris suum. The most marked changes were recorded on day 5-8 post inoculation, during fever. In this period there was a marked decrease of concentrations of albumin, iron, thyroxin, A and E vitamins in blood serum, while compared with the control group the contents of A vitamin in liver did not change. Further, the concentrations of nonesterified fatty acid increased, as well as those of inorganic phosphorus and 11-hydroxycorticosteroids. Till day 13 PI the decrease of albumin and iron concentrations intensified and a recession of cholesterol serum binding capacity for iron was also recorded. Our results suggest that the acute phase of pig ascariasis is accompanied by changes in the host metabolism, generally corresponding to findings in fever states of different aetiology.

Fattened pigs (from 20 to 100 kg of body weight) given Ridzol P (6 g per 100 kg of mixture) were found to grow more quickly (by 8.1%) and to convert the feed mixtures more efficiently (A 1 by 6.6%, SOL by 3.9%). Twenty indicators of the metabolism were determined in serum, plasma, liver, and supra-renal gland after 110 days of Ridzol P administration. The changes in the concentrations of the total protein and urea suggest that the stimulative action of Ridzol P is based on better conversion of feed protein. The levels of vitamin A and E were increased in the blood plasma of the tested group. The content of vitamin A in the liver was significantly higher. The dry weight of the muscular and liver tissue of the tested animals was lower; the content of nitrogen compounds increased and the content of fat decreased in the muscular tissue of these animals.

Over the period of two years, the blood serum of dairy cows from three localities was examined repeatedly for the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1) (AST), alanine aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.2) (ALT) and gammaglutamyltransferase (EC 2.3.2.1) (GMT). First examinations were performed two to four weeks before the expected term of delivery, the repeated examinations between the sixth and eighth week after delivery. The results obtained were used to calculate AST/ALT and GMT/ALT indexes in the studied group of animals (n = 12). As found out, the decrease in these indexes or the equality of values from the sixth to the eighth week after delivery, as compared with the period of two to four weeks prior to delivery, were connected with the clinically detectable disturbances of puerperium, i. e. inflammable discharge from the reproductive organs of dairy cows; this was observed even in the cases when the enzymatic activity was within the references standards.

From January to June we determined the concentration of vitamin A and carotene in the blood plasma of 66 high-pregnant cows and cows 23 to 54 days after calving. Seasonal changes and a decrease in the content of both substances before delivery were proved. In field conditions of three farms it was determined that the haylage type of winter feeding was better than the silage type of winter feeding in view of provitamin A supply. The concentration of carotene in blood was always higher with haylage feeding as well as that of vitamin A during the period of high lactation. Regardless of that the level of vitamin A in dairy cows in April and May was lower by almost a quarter compared with feeding fresh green forage in June. The results reveal that the suitable time for assessing the sufficiency of vitamin A supply in cows is the time starting one month after the beginning of lactation. The usability and accuracy of the fluorometric method for determining vitamin A, while respecting the interference caused by phytofluen and beta-carotene, have been proved.

15-minute forced movement of pigs evoked after 18 to 24 hours an increase in the activity of creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase and in the level of non-esterified fatty acids in blood serum. The changes in the enzyme activity following muscular strain were individual. The pig group with higher average weight gains, fed the diet containing 284 g of crude protein per 1 kg, showed greater differences in the muscular enzymatic activity than the animals with lower weight gains, fed the diet containing 260 g crude protein per 1 kg. Single administration of vitamin E (six hours before strain) did not subdue the elution of enzymes from tissues after muscular strain. Another important strain factor was the fixation of pigs by trying them outside their own group.

In two experiments carried out with 280 broiler chickens, 20 to 30 days old, the authors studied the effect of a sudden and stage-like change-over from a diet with 20% of nitrogen compounds to a diet with 10% of nitrogen compounds. In both variants of the experiment there was a slowing down of the weight increment, increase of the adrenal weight, reduction of the weight of spleen, of Fabricius weight, heterophilia and lymphopenia. A stage-like change-over of the diet had a more moderate effect. In the activity of the liver enzymes amino transferases of aspartate, alanine and succine-dehydrogenase -the authors found a different character of the changes in both variants of the experiment. The reduction of nitrogen compounds in the diet of growing chickens causes also changes which are typical for an increased adrenocortical activity.

Two experiments with 56 piglets and pilot trial on 84 piglets were performed to demonstrate that it is possible to replace the complete mixture for early piglet weaning (COS-1, or COS-2) by an experimental mixture without fish meal, with a higher proportion of soya and maize, supplemented by lysine and methionine; this mixture is to be fed to piglets in the weaning period. The weight gain dropped in both basic experiments after weaning, especially in the group with a higher content of nitrogenous matters in the diet. No significant inter-group differences were found in the activity of enzymes in serum and in liver, nor were they found in the adrenocortical activity.