Health and ruminal variables were intensively measured during adaptation to grain-based diets in 6 beef cattle with fistulated rumens. The cows had been maintained on prairie grass hay-supplemented diets, and were converted to a grain-based finishing ration by feeding each successive diet (diets 1-4, respectively) for a period of 7 days. Each cow was evaluated and samples were obtained 3 times each day for the first 5 days that each diet was fed. Health variables monitored were rectal temperature, pulse, respiratory and rumen motility rates, fecal consistency, demeanor, blood pH, and blood glucose and L(+) lactate concentrations. Ruminal variables monitored were pH and glucose, DL-lactate, and volatile fatty acid concentrations of rumen contents. Data were analyzed by use of a multivariate ANOVA. We determined that most of the health variables were within reference rang limits throughout the adaptation period; however, analysis of pulse and respiratory rates indicated that diets 2 and 4 were stressful. Although blood pH continually decreased during feeding of the 4 diets (7.38 to 7.30), blood L(+) lactate and glucose concentrations had large increases only within diet 4. The pH of ruminal contents decreased progressively from 6.8 to 5.3. Rumen glucose concentration was low (< 1 micromole/ml), except with diet 4 in which values were 8 times higher than for other diets. By the end of the study, the ruminal contents of all animals were acidic (pH < 5.5), and, on the basis of higher than background amounts of ruminal glucose and DL-lactate, it was determined that rumen microbial equilibrium had not yet been achieved. Analysis of results of this study suggested that ruminal imbalance could be evaluated by monitoring pulse and respiratory rates, blood pH, and blood glucose concentrations. Assessment of the rumen alone could be accomplished by monitoring the variables of rumen pH, rumen glucose, and DL-lactate concentrations.

To establish the protocol of a standardized exercise test for evaluating exercise intolerance and degree of fitness in Thoroughbred racehorses, we examined serum lactate concentrations related to exercise intensities using the high speed tradmill. Twelve clinically healthy Thoroughbred racehorses with or without previous training or racing history were assigned to two groups, fit and unfit group, respectively. The protocol used for the standardized exercise test was consisted of two stages:stage ofwarm-up and that of acceleration. During the warm-up, the horses exercised 5 min at 1.8m/s and 3 min 3.4m/s without inclination. At the acceleration stage, exercise test was performed at 10% slope and the speed was increased from the initial 5m/s to the maximal speed which each tested horse could keep up with. The speed was increased with incremental steps of 1 m/s every minute. During the last 15 sec of each step, blood samples were collected for serum lactate determination. V max (masimal treadmill speed which tested horses could keep up with) of the fit group (10.93+_0.33m/s, mean+_SE, n=6) was higher than that of the unfit group (9.52+_0.23m/s, mean+_SE, n=6). Serum lactate concentrations increased exponentially according to exercise intensities. V la4 (speed producing a serum lactate concentration of 4mmol/l) of the fit group, 6.45+_0.26m/s, was higher than that of the unfit group, 5.45+_0.23m/s. La peak (peak plasma lactate concentration during the exercise test) was lower in the fit group (20.34+_1.62mmol/l at 1 min after maximal intensity exercise) than in the unfit group (24.78+_1.09mmol/l at 2 min after maximal exercise step). t50% (time required for the recovery of lactate concentration to be one-half of La peak after maximal exercise) of the unfit group and the fit group were 40.0 and 18.0 min, respectively. Therefore, the protocol of the incremental standardized exercise test utilized in this study seems to be reliable for the assessment of fitness and exercise intolerance for the Thoroughbred racehorses.

In the conditions of the Republic of Belarus taking into consideration the hygienic aspects there were studied the aetiological factors in dermatosis development in productive cows. As a result of realized research it was established that aetiology of skin diseases in the area of a mammary gland were traumas, and following affects were more often marked: skin rhagades of mammillars; wound in the area of a mammary gland and mammillars; fistulas of milk tank vessels; and also sporadic damages of sphincter muscle of teat canal caused by machine milking. This in its turn gives made it possible to consider, that traumas of various character were a contributing factor for occurrence of udder garget - mastitis. In course of the realized analysis there was proved a high therapeutic efficiency of 1% aethonium gel for the treatment of various traumas of mammary gland and udder mammillars of cows. Clinical recovery of animals after administration 1% aethonium gel was stated on 3,2 days earlier, than after administration of Burenushka cream in the postoperative period. Healing and restoring action of 1% aethonium gel for udder tissues was proved by changes in number of somatic cells in milk. The quantity of somatic cells in 7 days after administration of 1% aethonium gel came back to the level which was typical healthy animals, while in the control group the quantity of somatic cells per 1 ml of milk did not decrease essentially.

Research results showed that in the conditions of correct organization and application of technological methods of livestock breeding and feeding it was possible to achieve high livability rate of sheep and lambs up to 90%. Also it was possible to get a substantial break of infection chain of many sheep diseases (especially those which had a respiratory nature). Research results showed that simultaneous application of convalescent-phase serum against sheep acute respiratory diseases, as well as Nitox 200 and Invamek for treatment of sheep and especially 2-3 month old lambs with respiratory infectious diseases promoted the recovery of 80-100% of animals.

Investigation of antimicrobial activity of liquid extractions from the following medicinal plants and their mixtures against S. aureus, B. subtilis, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and P. vulgaris was realized in the conditions of the Republic of Belarus: peat moss (Sphagnum); greater plantain (Plantago major); plumepoppy (Macleaya); common comfrey (Symphytum officinale); speckled alder (Alnus incana). Research results showed that the best results for septic wounds treatment were obtained apter application of mixture of plumepoppy and greater plantain as it showed the acute antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healthing effect. Antimicrobial activity of the analyzed infusion formula revealed in quicker (on 3-6 days in comparison with control) wound cleansing from microorganisms, quick lowering of bacterial content up to 10E3 bodies per 1 g of tissue and in provision of wound healing without inclusion of saprogenous microflora. Anti-inflammatory effect was characterized by quick (by 2 days) cancellation of acute inflammatory response, that was revealed in lowering of neutrophilic leukocytes quantity up to 59,8 +/- 0,49 %; quicker normalization hematologic indexes and early reduction of perifocal edema; weakening of hyperthemia and hyperemia; decreasing of wound secretion without purulence; absence of leaks and leak pouch; normalization of microcirculation in wound. Wound-healthing effect was revealed in increasing of fibroblast number from 7,1 +/- 0,4 % up to 29,4 +/- 0,4 % on the 7th day and in activation proliferate and synthetically function

Investigation of connection of experimental trichophytosis and relations between changes of clinical implications of disease and dimensions of some immunological indexes was realized in the conditions of the Republic of Belarus. At the first stage of the experiment there analyzed 48 guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) infected with Trichopyton verrucosum. Phagocytic ability of phagocytes and level of circulating antibodies in indirect hemagglutination test were investigated each 5 days before and during disease. The second stage was realized by the example of 2,5-6 months old calves. In course of study there were analyzed blood and blood serum indexes, indexes of nonspecific resistance, as well as some indexes of cell-mediated immune response and antibody mediated immunity. Comparative analysis the following morphological and biochemical blood indexes of clinically healthy calves, calves after trichophytosis, and calves sick with mild, moderate and severe of disease were presented: erythrocytes; hemoglobin; leukocytes; basophils; eosinophiles; rods; microxyphils; lymphocytes; monocytes; ESR; total albumin; albumins; alpha globulins; beta globulins; gamma globulins; carotene; calcium; inorganic phosphorous; alkaline reserve; copper. The realized experiment made it possible to conclude that determination intensity of leukocyte absorption of microconidia of the agent, antibodies against the agent, and specific for cytoplasm fungus, morphological and biochemical blood indexes made it possible to control the development of inflammatory phenomenon in centers of infection, as well as to predict the formation of face, infiltrative and suppurant disease forms

Determination of influence of long acting antihelminthics (Aversictini boluses and boluses with albendazole) and influence of usual antihelminthics (farmatsin, alverm, fenbendavet) on first stomachanimal digestion, as well as on quantity and quality composition of microflora and microfauna in first stomach and large bowel was realized in the conditions of the Republic of Belarus. In course of the experiment there were used 6 groups of calves infested with helminths (Neoascaris vitulorum, Strongylata sp.). Research result showed that different antihelminth preparations to a greater or lesser degree rendered negative influenced on quantity and quality composition of microorganisms in first stomach and large bowel of cattle. Alverm and boluses with albendazole rendered the least influence on microflora and microfauna that could be explained by low toxicity of active substance (albendazole) of the above preparations. Aversictini boluses, fenbendavet, and farmastin changed the composition of microorganisms. It could be explained by high toxicity of preparations containing aversictini which rendered influence not only of gastro-intestinal tract but also on the whole organism. Active ingredient of mentioned above preparations (Aversektin C), being the product of microbial synthesis, rendered the antagonist action on the normal microflora of digestive tract. Negative influence of fenbendavet was caused by the chemical composition of the preparation and neurotoxic action of fenbendazol