BACKGROUND: Phytase enzyme (EC 3.1.3.8), is used to increase the availability of phosphorus in the feeding of monogastric animals. Increasing public attention to environmental issues, improving livestock nutrition and human health have led to considerable attempts to increase its activity or prevent its inhibition as a food additive. OBJECTIVES: Determination of inhibitory or activating effect of methanolic extract from aerial parts of some herbs, as rich sources of secondary metabolites. METHODS: Phytase was partially purified from wheat barn. After preparation of methanolic extracts from aerial parts of plants, their effects on phytase activity were measured at four concentrations of 0.001, 0.01, 0.1 and 1 mg/ml. Micro plate assays were performed at 405 nm. RESULTS: Among analysed plant samples, extracts from Pedicularis sibthorpii Boiss, Phlomis persica Boiss, Solenanthus Circinatus Ledeb, Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl, had appreciable inhibitory effect, while extracts from Astragalus caraganae Hohe, Hypericum scabrum L, Linum album Ky.ex Boiss, Valeriana sisymbriifolia Vahl, Euphorbia denticulate Lam, Rindera lanata (Lam.) Bge, had a considerable activation effect. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of this report, plants with positive effect on phytase activity, could be used as food additive along with phytase to improve phosphoros uptake. On the other hand, plants with negative effect on phytase could be viewed as unwanted sources in monogastric animals feeding.

Blood ionized calcium (Ca2+) and pH; plasma lactate concentrations; and total protein, total calcium (CaT), albumin, and phosphorus concentrations in serum were determined in 40 healthy horses before (T1), at the finish line (T2), and 10 minutes after the finish (T3) of the cross-country phase of a 3-dayevent competition. Mean ( +/- SEM) Ca2+ concentrations decreased from 6.22 +/- 0.04 mg/dl at T1 to 5.04 +/- 0.07 mg/dl at T2 (P less than or equal to 0.05). This decrease was accompanied by a nonsignificant increase in CaT between T1 and T2. The mean (+/- SEM) percent ionization of calcium decreased significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05), from 50.9 +/- 2.75% at T1 to 40.3 +/- 3.58% at T2. Significant increases in mean albumin, total protein, phosphorus, and lactate concentrations and a significant decrease in mean pH were observed at T2 (P less than or equal to 0.05). At T3, mean Ca2+ and percent ionization had increased, but remained significantly less than resting values. Mean CaT was significantly decreased at T3, compared with values at T1 and T2. Correlation of mean Ca2+ concentration with all other measured variables at each time was evaluated; correlation coefficients between mean Ca2+ and all other variables were low (r2 less than or equal to 0.38), indicating low biological significance.

Mean phosphorus (P) content in bovine rib bone was 102.9, 108.3, and 182.7 mg/g of bone on fresh, dry, and ash weight bases, respectively. Values for calcium (Ca) were 194.3, 203.7, and 344.6 mg/g, respectively, and for magnesium (Mg) were 5.3, 5.5, and 9.4 mg/g, respectively. Mean percentage of ash in rib bone was 59.12%. Expected concentrations of Ca, P, and Mg were determined on fresh, dry, and ash weight bases and for 3 age groups, 3 breeds, and bulls, females, and steers. On an ash weight basis, cattle 6 to 18 months old had 185.74 mg of P/g, 372.52 mg of Ca/g, and 12.37 mg of Mg/g. Those 19 to 36 months old had 182.02 mg of P/g, 322.35 mg of P/g, and 8.09 mg of Mg/g. Those > 36 months old had 174.80 mg of P/g, 340.36 mg of Ca/g, and 6.62 mg of Mg/g. Steers had 183.93 mg of P/g, 352.73 mg of Ca/g, and 10.15 mg of Mg/g. Females had 178.47 mg of P/g, 320.28 mg of Ca/g, and 6.5 mg of Mg/g. Males had 176.15 mg of P/g, aH on an ash weight basis. Dairy breeds were found to have 186.08 mg of P/g, 351.25 mg of Ca/g, and 10.47 mg of Mg/g. Cattle of mixed breeding had 177.42 mg of P/g, 341.28 mg of Ca/g, and 6.54 mg of Mg/g. The Africander breed of beef cattle had 167.07 mg of P/g, all on an ash weight basis.

The ability of ectopic parathyroid tissue to support calcium homeostasis was evaluated by measuring serum concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, albumin, magnesium, and parathyroid hormone before and for 12 weeks after bilateral thyroparathyroidectomy in 14 cats. During the immediate postoperative period, significant decrease was observed in serum calcium, magnesium, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations. Serum PTH concentration remained subnormal and did not significantly increase during the 12-week observation period. Despite persistent hypoparathyroidism, serum calcium and magnesium concentrations gradually increased. Ectopic parathyroid tissue is not capable of maintaining normal serum calcium concentration immediately after thyroparathyroidectomy. Serum calcium concentration gradually normalizes after thyroparathyroidectomy, apparently by means of a PTH-independent mechanism.

The present study was conducted in order to get the normal blood chemical values of Korean Jindo dogs. Blood samples were taken from 160 (male 34, female 126) healthy Jindo dogs in Jindo area. The mean values of serum total protein (TP), albumin (Alb) and globulin (Glb) content, cholesterol (Chole), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), inorganic phosphate (P), potassium (K), sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl) concentration in the group of less than one year old were 6.64 (male 6.62, female 6.64), 3.63 (male 3.57, female 3.65) and 3.00 (male 3.05, female 2.99) g/100ml, 170.97 (male 166.46, female 172.68) mg/100ml, 1.45 (male 1.43, female 1.46), 5.76 (male 5.62, female 5.81), 4.80 (male 4.95, female 4.75), 4.84 (male 4.72, female 4.89), 148.93 (male 148.79, female 148.98) and 110.22 (male 110.42, female 110.14) mEq/L, respectively, whereas the TP, Alb and Glb content, Chole Mg, Ca, P, K, Na and Cl concentration in the group of one year old and more were 6.88 (male 6.84, female 6.89), 3.65 (male 3.63, female 3.66) and 3.23 (male 3.21, female 3.23) g/100ml, 167.48 (male 173.80, female 166.48) mg/100ml, 1.40 (male 1.36, female 1.40), 5.69 (male 5.53, female 5.71), 4.62 (male 4.73, female 4.60), 4.88 (male 4.90, female 4.87), 149.86 (male 149.60, female 149.90)and 110.03 (male 110.70, female 109.92) mEq/L, respectively. The ratios of mean serum albumin to globulin (A/G), calcium to inorganic phosphate (Ca/P) and sodium to potassium (Na/K) in the group of less than one year old were 1.21 (male 1.17, female 1.22), 1.20 (male 1.14, female 1.22) and 30.77 (male 31.52, female 30.47), respectively, whereas the A/G, Ca/P and Na/K in the group of one year old and more were 1.13 (male 1.13, female 1.13), 1.23 (male 1.17, female 1.24) and 30.71 (male 30.53, female 30.78), respectively. The mean values of Alb content, Mg, Ca and K concentration, A/G and Ca/P ratio appeared to be higher in the female than in the male, whereas the reverse was the case with P concentration. No differences were found between male and female in the TP and Glb content, Chole, Na and Cl concentration and Na/K ratio.

Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) has been the most promisingand high yielding fodder giving dry matter yields. This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of cutting intervals on the yield and nutrient composition of six cultivars of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) which is 3rd Generation Napier, India Napier, Kobe Napier, Red Napier, Taiwan Napier and Zanzibar Napier. The grasses were cut close to the ground levelto get a uniform stand on day 70 after planting and the cutting intervals were at 35 and 42 days and carried out for 3 times.After each harvest, the rates of maintenance fertiliser used were 150 kg of nitrogen, 60 kg of phosphorus and 100 kg of potassium per hectare per year. Harvested plant material was weighed, pre-dried in a forced-air drying oven at 60 °C overnight before grinding. Ground samples were used to determine dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude fibre (CF) and metabolised energy. The data were analysed using Statistical Analysis System (SAS™) followed by Tukey’s post-hoc test. AP value of less than 0.05 (p<0.05) are considered statistically significant. Results showed that increasing the cutting interval (i.e. advancing age of maturity) increased dry matter and crude fibre significantly.However, in terms of nutrient content, crude protein and metabolised energy percentage was markedly decreased as thecutting interval increased. From the results presented, it is clear that cutting a stand of Napier grass at 35 days will achieve greater yield and nutrient content.

This study was conductedon raw cow’s milk collected in seven statesof Malaysia to investigate the compositionof minerals and trace elements in the milk.Raw cow’s milk samples were collectedfrom Kedah, Perak, Johor, Melaka,Pahang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilanfrom January to November 2015. ICPMStechnique combined with microwavedigestion were applied to determine theconcentration of five major minerals (Na,Mg, K, Ca and P) and eleven trace elements(Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Sr, Mo,Baand Pb) in the milk samples. The resultof analysis showed relatively constantcomposition of minerals and trace elementsin the samples but some variations wereobserved in certain states. Application ofprincipal component analysis (PCA) in thecomposition data showed different clusterexists between the states of Selangor andNegeri Sembilan as well as Kedah andNegeri Sembilan. There is no significantdifference observed in the compositionsof minerals and trace elements betweenother states. The compositions of mineralsand trace elements in raw cow’s milk inMalaysia are comparable with reports fromother research. Further studies can be doneto investigate the source of nutrient, foodor environmental condition that producedthe amounts of minerals and trace elementsin the milk.

Objective: To determine alterations of serum biochemical variables in relation to changes of near- and far-field mean grayscale histogram (MGSH) and attenuation rates in liver ultrasonograms of periparturient cows. Animals: 67 Holstein cows. Procedures: Cows were allocated on the basis of body condition score into underconditioned (n = 21), moderately conditioned (23), and overconditioned (23) groups. Serum samples (obtained every 10 days from 30 days before to 30 days after calving) were analyzed for aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and γ-glutamyltransferase activities and BUN, albumin, calcium, and inorganic phosphorus concentrations along with digital estimation of near- and far-field MGSH values of liver ultrasonograms and deep attenuation. Values were compared among groups and within each group, and their correlations were determined in the pre- and postpartum periods. Results: Serum biochemical variables did not differ significantly among groups. Aspartate aminotransferase and γ-glutamyltransferase activities increased in the postpartum period. Fluctuations of alanine aminotransferase activity were not significant; BUN decreased significantly in the peripartum period. Albumin concentration decreased prior to parturition and remained low, but significantly increased after parturition. Calcium concentration decreased on day 10 but subsequently increased. Phosphorus concentration decreased stepwise until day 10 after calving. Postpartum biochemical variables had weak correlations with near- and far-field MGSH values in overconditioned cows. The highest levels of sound attenuation were found in overconditioned cows on calving day. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Liver ultrasonographic features were poorly correlated with changes of serum biochemical variables. This suggests that liver ultrasonography is not a good technique for estimating functional liver abnormalities in periparturient cows.