Effects of copper and selenium on antibody response, weight gains and blood parameters in beef calves grazing high or low endophyte (Acremonium coenophialum) tall fescue (Festuca arundinaceae, Schrep)

Thompson, Larry Joseph

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/22944 Copy

Description

Title

Effects of copper and selenium on antibody response, weight gains and blood parameters in beef calves grazing high or low endophyte (Acremonium coenophialum) tall fescue (Festuca arundinaceae, Schrep)

Author(s)

Thompson, Larry Joseph

Issue Date

1996

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Buck, William B.

Department of Study

Veterinary Clinical Medicine

Discipline

Veterinary Clinical Medicine

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• Health Sciences, Toxicology
• Agriculture, Animal Culture and Nutrition
• Biology, Veterinary Science

Language

eng

Abstract

• Parenteral Se and/or Cu was used to supplement growing beef calves (age 7 months) marginally deficient in these two trace elements and pastured on high-endophyte (HE) or low-endophyte (LE) tall fescue. The 64 calves were randomly assigned to one of eight treatment groups (HE or LE, supplemented or non-supplemented Cu, supplemented or non-supplemented Se) and pastured for an 84-day study period during summer months, 4 animals on each of 16 paddocks (8 HE = over 85% infestation, 8 LE = under 20% infestation) 2.024 hectares in area. Parameters included weight gain, whole blood Se concentration, serum Cu concentration, trichloroacetic acid-precipitated serum Cu concentration (TCA-Cu), serum clinical chemistries, hematological evaluations, and serum antibody response (IgG and IgM) to a synthetic antigen, TGAL, as measured by ELISA.
• There was no difference between treatment groups in initial weights, blood Se, serum Cu, TCA-Cu, and baseline serum ELISA values. A significant effect of endophyte level was noted (p =.0001) with HE decreasing weight gain versus LE. A positive treatment effect on weight gain was noted (p =.0204) with the (Cu + Se)-supplemented animals having the highest average daily gain. The combination of Cu + Se resulted in a higher serum Cu than Cu-supplementation alone (p =.0286). Calves on HE had lower serum Cu and TCA-Cu than calves on LE (p =.0002, p =.0001, respectively). Calves on HE had decreases in Ca (p =.0015), glucose (p =.0018), serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) activity (p =.0207), hematocrit (p =.0001), hemoglobin (p =.0001), phosphorus (p =.001), and total protein (p =.0118) and increases in creatinine (p =.0095) versus calves on LE although all values remained within normal physiological limits. Trace element treatment effects were noted for Ca (p =.0001) and hematocrit (p =.0037) with supplemented animals having higher serum Ca and hematocrit. Administration of TGAL resulted in a rise in serum IgG and IgM, as evidenced by increases in ELISA absorbance units. Calves on HE had decreased IgG response (p =.0009) and decreased IgM response (p =.0004) versus calves on LE. Calves supplemented with Cu, Se, or Cu + Se had increased IgM response over controls. Results of this study indicate that pasturing of growing beef calves on HE decreased serum Cu and TCA-Cu as compared with calves on LE, but blood Se was unaffected. The supplementation with parenteral Cu and/or Se decreased the adverse effects of HE on weight gain of calves marginally deficient in Cu and Se, with the supplementation of both Cu and Se being most effective. Calves pastured on HE have decreased antibody response to TGAL versus calves pastured on LE. Supplementation of Cu and/or Se improved the blood concentrations of these trace elements and improved the IgM antibody response.

Type of Resource

text

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/22944

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Copyright 1996 Thompson, Larry Joseph

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