Abstract Background: Very clinical cases of mineral deficiency, specially associated with copper in sheep of Khuzestan province have been annually seen; whereas the studies on soil and forage related mineral and effects of them on zonal domestic animals are rare. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the copper, sulfur, iron, molybdenum and zinc of soil and pastures forages status in order to see the probable correlation of these elements with copper and zinc serum of sheep in Susngerd town of Khuzestan province. Methods: 5 soil and forage samples and 50 blood samples from sheep that were grazing in the area were taken. All the samples were sent to the institute of radiation at atomic energy organization of Iran for the elements measurement. The soil samples were alkaline digested and read by ICP-OES apparatuses. After acidic digesting, forage samples were read by ICP-MS apparatuses. Serum levels of copper and zinc were also measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results: The averages iron and sulfur content of soil were higher than international standard and critical levels, while the averages copper and molybdenum were within normal range. The mean of soil zinc in comparison to the crisis amounts was in the lower level (p= .05). Comparing the mean values of forage elements with their critical levels showed that sulfur and iron were higher than standard levels. The results revealed that the serum copper and zinc were lower than normal and sheep under this investigation were mostly in a borderline deficiency status. Conclusions: It seem that high levels of sulfur and iron in pastoral forages reduces intestinal absorption and bioavailability of copper and zinc in sheep grazing in the under study areas.

The main goal of feed analysis is to predict the productive response of animals, in this case ruminant production, when fed diets of a given nutrient composition. A systematic approach to the overall aspects of animal production is vital for a stable and profitable output. Ranking forages can benefit the local producers to value each type of forages they feed the animals. From this point of view, a database must be developed containing sufficient samples of feeds and forages with relevant data determined under relatively uniform conditions, although animal variation due to preference, physiological state or genetic potential for production may, on the other hand, contribute to errors in measurements of forage quality. Relative feed value (RFV) is the forage quality index used widely in the United States as an important tool in the marketing of forages. In Malaysia, however, this index has not been established for assessing the status of local grass quality and how it relates to the performance of the local ruminant industry. The objective of this paper is to estimate RFV of the local B. decumbens grass towards the future establishment of its index under tropical climate. RFV between 74-84 obtained from this study was calculated using CP and ME values from a 5-year proximate analysis data from the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) of local B. decumbens, sampled from the southern region of Peninsular Malaysia. If this forage is produced on a large scale, this assessment can help the producers and farmers differentiate between lots that are more or less valuable, thus making it a useful marketing and decision-making tool.

Objective: To determine the impact of a free-choice diet on nutritional intake and body condition of feral horses. Animals: Cadavers of 41 feral horses from 5 Australian locations. Procedures: Body condition score (BCS) was determined (scale of 1 to 9), and the stomach was removed from horses during postmortem examination. Stomach contents were analyzed for nutritional variables and macroelement and microelement concentrations. Data were compared among the locations and also compared with recommended daily intakes for horses. Results: Mean BCS varied by location; all horses were judged to be moderately thin. The BCS for males was 1 to 3 points higher than that of females. Amount of protein in the stomach contents varied from 4.3% to 14.9% and was significantly associated with BCS. Amounts of water-soluble carbohydrate and ethanol-soluble carbohydrate in stomach contents of feral horses from all 5 locations were higher than those expected for horses eating high-quality forage. Some macroelement and microelement concentrations were grossly excessive, whereas others were grossly deficient. There was no evidence of ill health among the horses. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Results suggested that the diet for several populations of feral horses in Australia appeared less than optimal. However, neither low BCS nor trace mineral deficiency appeared to affect survival of the horses. Additional studies on food sources in these regions, including analysis of water-soluble carbohydrate, ethanol-soluble carbohydrate, and mineral concentrations, are warranted to determine the provenance of such rich sources of nutrients. Determination of the optimal diet for horses may need revision.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether Mycobacterium bovis remains viable in ensiled forages. SAMPLE Alfalfa, mixed mostly grass, and corn silages. PROCEDURES For each of 10 sampling days, six 250-g replicate samples of each feedstuff were created and placed in a film pouch that could be vacuum sealed to simulate the ensiling process. Within each set of replicate samples, 4 were inoculated with 10 mL of mycobacterial liquid culture medium containing viable M bovis and 2 were inoculated with 10 mL of sterile mycobacterial liquid culture medium (controls) on day 0. Pouches were vacuum sealed and stored in the dark at room temperature. On the designated sampling day, 1 control pouch was submitted for forage analysis, and the other pouches were opened, and forage samples were obtained for M bovis culture and analysis with a PCR assay immediately and 24 hours later. RESULTS None of the control samples had positive M bovis culture or PCR assay results. Among M bovis-inoculated samples, the organism was not cultured from alfalfa and corn silage for > 2 days but was cultured from mixed mostly grass silage for 28 days after inoculation and ensiling initiation. Mycobacterium bovis DNA was detected by PCR assay in samples of all 3 feedstuffs throughout the 112-day observation period. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that properly ensiled forages would be an unlikely source for M bovis transmission to cattle. Further research is necessary to determine whether ensiling kills M bovis or forces it to become dormant and, if the latter, elucidate the conditions that cause it to revert to an infectious state.

The objective of this investigation is to evaluate the level of the some minerals (sodium, potassium and calcium) in the soil, forage and sheep serum, the specimens were 1 Kg of soil and forage and 10 blood samples taken from each district (Nasriya and Shatra) in Thi-Qar province. The results show that significant (p≤0.05) increase in the sheep serum sodium concentration in Nasriya region (44.21±14.9) Mmol/L compared with the Shatra (34.84±6.61) Mmol/L, while the potassium concentration in sheep serum appeared a significant (p≤0.05) decrease in Nasriya district (6.23±1.00) Mmol/L compared with Shatra(13.16±2.42) Mmol/L but there is no significance (p≤0.05) change found in sheep serum calcium between the two studied areas in Nasryia was (0.40±0.12) Mg/dl but Shatra was (0.24±0.05) Mg/dl. The sodium level in the forages is high but not significant(p≤0.05) in the Nasriya(0.369±0.101)when compared with Shatra(0.321±0.011) g/Kg The potassium in forages is higher in Nasriya (0.411±0.011) g/Kg but not significant (p≤0.05) when compared with Shatra (0.255±0.011) g/Kg Calcium of forage was decreased in Nasryia (0.136±0.012) g/Kg but in Shatra was (0.355±0.044) g/Kg with no significancy (p≤0.05). In soil sodium of Nasryia is high (0.942±0.051) g/Kg but not significant (p≤0.05) and in Shatra was (0.887±0.032) g/Kg, the potassium in soil of Nasryia was (0.418±0.023) g/Kg but not significant (p≤0.05) and in Shatra was(0.424±0.022) g/Kg Calcium is higher in Nasriya soil (0.602±0.043) g/Kg but lower in soil of Shatra was (0.657±0.048) g/Kg with no significancy (p≤0.05).

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. Respiratory rate, blood and rumen content pH, and blood L(+) lactate concentrations were significantly (P < 0.001) affected by time after feeding.

Effects of a change from a diet composed primarily of forage to a diet composed primarily of concentrate on abomasal antral and duodenal motility were assessed in 5 lactating Holstein cows. Antroduodenal motility was measured by use of 8 silver electrodes sutured to ther abomasum and duodenum, and abomasal emptying was assesssed by continuous measurement of intraduodenal pH. Both diets were fed to achieve a daily dry matter intake of 2.7 kg/100 kg of body weight. The abrupt change in diet did not alter antoduodenal myoelectric activity or abomasal emptying. Initiation of phase III of the migrating myoelectric complex in the proximal portion of the duodenum corresponded with a decrease in abomasal antral spiking activity and an increase in intraduodenal pH. Results suggest that a high concentrate diet alone does not adversely affect antroduodenal motility in adult dairy cattle.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the differences between conventional and brown midrib (BMR) Sorghum in terms of biomass, nutrient quality, nutrient digestibility, and animal performance. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive database was created by integrating 73 datasets from 29 articles. The different studies were denoted as random effects, while the BMR Sorghum variety was described as a fixed component. Afterward, these two aspects were calculated utilizing a linear mixed model. Results: According to the findings of the present meta-analysis, conventional Sorghum produces higher quantities of forage and grain biomass in comparison to BMR (p &lt; 0.001). As expected, BMR Sorghum has a lower content of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber, and lignin compared to conventional Sorghum (p &lt; 0.001). The digestibility of BMR Sorghum performed better than conventional Sorghum (p &lt; 0.001), especially for NDF digestibility (54.98% vs. 47.37%). BMR shows suitability as a fodder option for dairy cows due to its superior milk yield compared to conventional Sorghum (15.04 vs. 14.06 kg/day; p &lt; 0.01). Conclusion: In conclusion, BMR Sorghum produces higher biomass compared to conventional Sorghum. Nevertheless, in terms of nutrient quality and digestibility, BMR Sorghum is the most optimal choice. The results will significantly improve animal performance. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2025; 12(1.000): 157-168]