Failure to obtain passive transfer of immunity via colostrum can be detrimental to the health and survival of a young pup. It has been stated that pups that do not receive colostrum in the first 2 days after birth, be given adult dog serum as a source of protective immunoglobulins. Twenty-five Beagle pups were obtained by cesarean section from 6 Beagle bitches. The pups were allotted to 3 groups at birth. Group 1 was a control group and was allowed to suckle colostrum. Group-2 pups received 22 ml of pooled adult dog serum/kg of body weight (10 ml/lb) SC at birth. Group-3 pups were given 22 ml of pooled adult dog serum/kg by stomach tube at birth. Pups from groups 2 and 3 were separated from the bitch for 48 hours to prevent colostral antibody absorption and were fed a commercially available milk replacer by stomach tube. After 48 hours, all pups were returned to the bitch until they were weaned at 6 weeks of age. Blood samples were collected from all of the pups at birth and on days 1, 2, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35. The concentration of IgA, IgG, and IgM in serum was determined by radial immunodiffusion and compared by use of a one-way analysis of variance. The control pups had significantly higher serum concentrations of IgA and IgG, than the pups in groups 2 and 3 on days 1 and 2 and 2 and 7, respectively. Group-2 pups had significantly higher serum IgM concentrations on day 1 than either group 1- or group-3 pups.

We compared the frequency and severity of osteochondrosis lesions in young Thoroughbred horses with cervical stenotic myelopathy (CSM) vs that in clinically normal Thoroughbreds of the same age. All lesions of the cervical vertebrae and appendicular skeleton were classified histologically as osteochondrosis or nonosteochondrosis and were measured for severity. Minimal sagittal diameter was significantly smaller in horses with CSM from C2 through C6; no difference was detected at C7. Severity of cervical vertebral osteochondrosis was greater in the horses with CSM, however frequency was not different. Frequency and severity of nonosteochondrosis lesions were not different in cervical vertebrae or appendicular skeleton. Frequency and severity of appendicular skeleton osteochondrosis lesions were both greater in horses with CSM. Osteochondrosis and nonosteochondrosis lesions were more severe on facets at sites of compression than on facets at noncompressed sites in horses with CSM. However, compression was also observed at sites with no articular facet lesions. The association of widespread osteochondrosis and spinal canal narrowing with CSM suggests CSM may represent a systemic failure in the development or maturation of cartilage and bone.

Lectin binding of small intestinal goblet cells was examined in newborn, suckling, and weaned pigs. Sections of duodenum, proximal portion of the jejunum, distal portion of the jejunum, and ileum were embedded in a hydrophilic acrylic resin and treated with each of the following lectins: Canavalia ensiformis, Ricinus communis I, Glycine max, Ulex europaeus I, and Triticum vulgaris. Percentages of goblet cells binding each lectin were calculated within intestinal regions. Differences in lectin-binding affinity were detected among pigs of various ages and among various intestinal regions within pig age groups.

In the conditions of the Republic of Belarus there was studied the influence of methods and means of spot heating and localization of warmth on growth, viability and physiological status of piglets. In course of realization of the experiment there was issued a task of scientific substantiation of application of brooders of different construction and proposition of the most optimal method of microclimate formation in resting area of piglets for the increasing of their growth and viability, and improvement of physiological state. Research results showed that the highest indexes of growth and viability, and intensity of metabolic processes in piglets were obtained after the combined application in course of the first three weeks of suckling period of filament lamps and heated floors and brooders in the form of tops with shields, and at a later stage – only brooders of this construction in comparison with animals which were in course of a suckling period under the infrared radiation lamps or at the space-heating floor.

In the conditions of the Republic of Belarus there was studied the clinical and biochemical status of pregnant cows, as well as the determination of the main reasons of disease incidence of new-born calves with dyspepsia (dyspeptic disorder). Realized clinical and biochemical studies showed that the inappropriate feeding of pregnant cows in animal breeding farms in housing season of husbandry caused the disorders of metabolic processes in the experimental animals. In blood there was noted the lowering of indexes of alkalinity reserve, glucose, phosphorous, carotine, disturbance of calcareous and phosphorous ratio. In other words, in pregnant cows there were stated the latent forms of osteodystrophia, hypovitaminosis A, hypoglycemia, and acidosis. All these factors caused the irritation and damage of liver and other organs. Mammary gland of diseased animals released colostrum milk of low quality and according to the content of nutritious and protective elements quantity it was of low quantity. Besides, derangements in calf feeding of pregnant nonmilking cows led to birth of calves with low resistance indexes to the influence of external environment factors.

In the conditions of the Republic of Belarus there were analyzed the efficiency of 13-18-month old young stock of cattle bred for meat in the conditions of various energy value nutrition levels with the determination of nutrients intake of a diet. It was established that use of rations with various level of metabolic energy and protein breakage rendered the positive influence on nutrient digestibility of rations. This made it possible to improve the digestibility of dry and organic substances, nitrogen-free extractive substances and fibre at the bull calves which were fed with 63% of cleavable protein, as well as to increase the metabolic energy up to 10% in the ration, surpassing the control indexes respectively on 3.1; 2.5; 2.8; and 2.9 items. Adjournment from the acquired nitrogen considerably increased and made up to 64-70%. Productivity of fattening young cattle stock made it possible to obtain 977.7-1011.0 gram of live weight gain. As a result, the growth energy was stated at the level of 15,90-17,33 МJ in the conditions of conversion of metabolic energy into growth of 13,81-14,26% and expenses of metabolic energy of the ration per 1 MJ in live weight gain of 4,72-5,46 MJ.

In the conditions of the Republic of Belarus there was realized a scientific and economic experiment on studying the influence of a multi-enzyme feed additive on productivity, viability, growth and development of calves. The multi-enzyme additive contained in its formula xilanaza; glucanase; cellulose; and dolomite (as a filling agent). It was determined that young growth of cattle which were fed with the multi-enzyme additive in dose 1 gram per 6 kilogram of milk by the end of the experiment had a live weight gain on 13,6% higher than in a control group. Calves which were fed with the additive were characterized by more stretched constitution, had well developed thorax and good development of skeleton in comparison with analogues from the control group.