Age-Related Variability of the Suckling Calves Morphophysiological Status in the Selenium-Deficient Region
We have studied the effect of a dietary supplement such as selenopyran on the morphophysiological parameters of the calves, grown under the conditions of the selenium-deficient region, in the following phases: feeding with colostrum, milk, and transitional. Materials and methods. Two groups of calf-analogues (n = 20) with identical conditions of drinking, feeding and maintenance were formed. I group animals served as a control. Calves of group II at the age of 1, 25 and 50 days received an organic selenopyran compound in a dose of 0.1 mg/kg body mass. At the age of 1 day, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 days, morphological, physiological and biochemical indices were studied in the experimental animals using the «Abacus Junior 5 vet» and «Stat Fax 1904 Plus» analyzers. The digital material was processed in Statistica 6.0. The results were considered reliable by the Mana-Whitney criterion at P <0.05. The Spearman correlation coefficient (r) was calculated. Results. The clinical and physiological parameters of the experimental calves lay within the limits of the physiological norm. Body mass of experimental calves from the beginning to the end of the observations increased from 30.2 ± 0.49...30.5 ± 0.37 to 157 ± 5.69...168.2 ± 5.91 kg. In the period of 30...60 days the advantage of young animals receiving a joint venture was 12.29 % (P <0.01) in relative growth rate, and 2.1 % at 150...180-day age. The number of leukocytes in the blood of control and experimental animals was in the range 10.0 ± 0.62...12.5 ± 0.77 and 7.7 ± 0.27...10.6 ± 0.66 • 109 /l, respectively. At the age of 60 days, the difference between the groups was 22.9 % (P <0.05). The number of erythrocytes of the experimental animals was significantly lower than in the control (P <0.05), and, as they grew and developed, waved in a range from 3.47 ± 0.24 to 5.45 ± 0.16 • 1012 /l. The level of total protein in the blood serum from 30 to 180-day-old age was higher in calves receiving SP (0.16...5.83 %). An increased concentration of glucose in the vast majority of 1-day calves (3.8...6.6 mmol/l) was noted. The activity of AlAT increased during the studies: 9.7 ± 0.29 vs. 30.9 ± 0.88 and 10.6 ± 0.66 vs. 32.1 ± 1.28 u/l in the I and II groups, respectively. The dynamics of AsAT was undulating (39.0 ± 1.53...73.5 ± 2.67 u/l). The correlation analysis of the studied parameters of 1-day calves showed the presence of significant positive connections between the number of erythrocytes and the level of hemoglobin (0.77... 0.99, P <0.05) and strong negative between body mass and the activity of AP (-0.76; P <0.05), the number of leukocytes and the activity of AlAT, the glucose content (-0.83, -0.70, P <0.05). At the 180-day-old age, the ratio of high closeness between the number of leukocytes and the activity of alkaline phosphatase (0.70), the activity of AlAT and AsAT (0.77, P <0.05) in group I, as well as between glucose and body mass, the number of erythrocytes 0,91; 0,68), AsAT activity and leukocyte count, total protein concentration (-0.73, -0.66); AlAT activity and triglyceride level (0.65), erythrocyte count and hemoglobin level (0.72, P <0.05) in group II. Conclusions. The appointment of the biologically active additive of selenopyran in the conditions of the selenium deficit biogeochemical province of the region is accompanied by selective stimulation of morphophysiological and physiological-biochemical indices due to the normalization of the requirements of animals in selenium participating in the metabolism of iodine. This contributes to the formation of a high level of vitality of the growing organism, adaptation of its physiological processes and functions to environmental factors.