Abstract: The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of green tea extract on serum oxidant and antioxidant profile, liver and kidney function. 40 Friesian calves are included in this study and allocated into two groups: Group I (n=20) clinically healthy calves showing no clinical abnormalities, not receiving any treatment and served as control; group II (n=20) received green tea extract (GTE) for 30 days. Non-significant changes in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were detected between groups, on contrary, serum creatinine and activities of liver enzymes aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) were significantly different between two groups. There were significant increases in the mean values of serum antioxidative parameters (total antioxidant capacity, catalase, superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione and glutathione peroxidase) in group II. Whereas, the activity of lipid peroxidase significantly decreased in GTE treated calves when compared to control.
Abstract: Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the most isolated bacteria
from blood circulation of septicemic calves. Given the prevalence of
septicemia in animals and its economic importance in veterinary
practice, better understanding of changes in clinical signs following
disease, may contribute to early detection of disorder. The present
study has been carried out to detect changes of clinical signs in
induced sepsis in calves with E. coli. Colisepticemia has been
induced in 10 twenty-day old healthy Holstein- Frisian calves with
intravenous injection of 1.5 X 109 colony forming units (cfu) of
O111:H8 strain of E. coli. Clinical signs including rectal temperature,
heart rate, respiratory rate, shock, appetite, sucking reflex, feces
consistency, general behavior, dehydration and standing ability were
recorded in experimental calves during 24 hours after induction of
colisepticemia. Blood culture was also carried out from calves four
times during experiment. ANOVA with repeated measure is used to
see changes of calves’ clinical signs to experimental colisepticemia,
and values of P≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Mean
values of rectal temperature and heart rate as well as median values
of respiratory rate, appetite, suckling reflex, standing ability and feces
consistency of experimental calves increased significantly during
study (P 0.05). The
results of present study showed that total score of clinical signs in
calves with experimental colisepticemia increased significantly,
although score of some clinical signs such as shock did not change
significantly.
Abstract: To evaluate the effect of intramuscular administration
of vitamin A in pregnant dairy cows during late stages of pregnancy,
on vitamin A status of neonatal calves, a total of 30 cows were
randomly selected and divided into three groups; two treatment
groups and one control group. Single intramuscular injection of
2000000 IU vitamin A; was carried in 10 dairy cows at 7 months of
pregnancy (group 1). In second group of treated animals (10 cows)
the injection was performed in 8 months of pregnancy (group 2). Ten
pregnant dairy cows were received saline injection as placebo and
selected as control group. Blood samples were collected from
experimental dairy cows at 7 and 8 months of pregnancy as well as
their newborn calves’ pre and after colostrum intake. There was no
significant difference between vitamin A and β-carotene
concentration of dairy cows of three groups in two last months of
pregnancy (P> 0.05). Vitamin A concentration of calves of two
treatment groups before and after receiving of colostrum were
significantly higher than that in control group (P< 0.05). There was
no significant difference between serum concentrations of vitamin A
in calves of two treated groups (P> 0.05). β-Carotene concentration
of serum samples of dairy cows and neonatal calves of three groups
were not significantly different as compared with together. From
results of the present study it can be concluded that single injection of
vitamin A during at 7 or 8 month of pregnancy can significantly
increase level of vitamin A in their colostrum and neonatal calves.
Abstract: Fever, bloody diarrhea and high mortality rate were the main clinical finding in a group of fattening calves. Analysis of corn silage revealed presence of aflatoxins at level of 370 ppb. This level of aflatoxins in the feed of cattle is somewhat low to be the main cause of reported signs. Leukocytopenia, anemia, decreased lymphocytic activity and lowered phagocytic index are the main hematological and immunological alterations in diseased calves. Bacteriological investigation revealed isolation of pathogenic Salmonella typhimurium from the rectal swabs of diseased calves. Our results suggested that, long duration of exposure to aflatoxins even at small concentrations may considered as predisposing factor for the incidence of natural infectious outbreaks as salmonellosis due to its immunosuppressive effect. We can conclude that the veterinarians and owners must be given an attention to the relation between aflatoxicosis and salmonellosis under field condition. We are recommended that the treatment program during similar outbreaks must be including anti-aflatoxins preparations beside the antimicrobial therapy.
Abstract: Sixteen female Holstein calves allocated in three
treatments including: 1: control, 2: fed raw fiber concentrate (RFC)
for 45 days and 3: fed RFC for 90 days. RFC supplement (Vitacel®
200) was added to milk immediately before feeding (10 g/L milk).
Withers height and body weights of calves were measured monthly.
Individual dry matter intake was recorded daily. Blood samples were
taken monthly. The result showed that calves consumed RFC had
significantly greater weaning and final body weight. Treatment effect
on dry matter intake was not significant (p>0.05). Calves fed RFC
had better feed efficiency. Withers height of calves fed RFC were
taller than the control group (p