Slov Vet Res 2008; 45 (2): 53-60
UDC 636:618.6:612.64:546.23:661.155:636.293.2
Original Research Paper
reproductive performance and viability of newborns in buffaloes treated antepartum with
VITESELEN AND/OR uLTRA-CORN
Hussein A. Amer*, Mohammed A. Hashem
Department of Theriogenology, Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt Corresponding author, E-mail: amer_vet@hotmail.com
Summary: This study aimed to determine the efficacy of prepartum administration of Viteselen (VS) and Ultra-corn (UC) given at late gestation on IgG level, postpartum fertility, and viability of newborn calves. Forty five buffaloes were divided into 4 groups. First group served as control (n=9), while the others served as experimental groups (n=12/group). Second group received 30 ml of viteselen (1.7 mg sodium selenium and 150 mg vitamin E/ml). Third group was injected with ultra-corn (2 ml/100 Kg body weight). Fourth group was injected with viteselen and ultra-corn. The drugs were injected in 2 doses prior to anticipate date of parturition (60 days). The postpartum fertility was assessed. Colostrum from dams and serum from calves were collected to estimate the level of immunoglobulin (IgG). Body weight, growth rate and viability of calves were recorded. The periods required for fetal membrane expulsion and uterine involution were significantly (P<0.05) reduced in VS group when compared to UC or control groups. Concomitantly, injection of VS or UC significantly (P<0.05) reduced calving to first estrus interval and length of postpartum service period than control. The level of IgG was significantly higher (P<0.05) in both dam colostrum and newborn serum after administration of VS or VS+UC. Moreover, VS injection resulted in a significant (P<0.05) higher level of IgG in both dam colostrum (at parturition) and calves serum (at day-4 and -14 old) than the other groups. Only one case of abortion was received from VS+UC treated dams, while VS or UC treated dams delivered 100% healthy calves. The calves from treated dams showed higher body weight, growth rate/ day and better vitality than control group. Likewise, the best body weight and growth rate/day obtained from VS treated buffaloes. No mortality in the 1st month occurred between newborns from VS+UC treated buffaloes compared to other groups. In conclusion, prepartum administration of VS or VS+UC appear to be beneficial, promising and improve the postpartum reproductive performance and calf viability in Egyptian buffaloes, and additional work involving a larger number of animals is suggested.
Key words: prepartum, buffaloes, viteselen, ultra-corn, IgG, calves, viability.
Introduction
A wide variety of antibacterial agents mainly antibiotics are employed for the prevention and treatment of infection in livestock, these antibiotics cause various problems such as residue and the emergence of bacterial resistance as well as suppression to the host resistance. Depressed immune function causes a marked increase in the incidence of oppor-
Received: 1 February.2008 Accepted for publication: 15 April 2008
tunistic infection (1). Moreover, stress of pregnancy, parturition and lactation cause suppression of the host defense mechanism and increase susceptibility of the animal to infection during pregnancy, parturition and lactation (2).
Recently, there are many drugs used to increase the resistance of the animal by improving the humoral and cell mediate immune response such as Dihydroheptaprenol (3), vitamin B2 (4,5), selenium (6), vitamin E (7), vitamin E and selenium (8,9), and ultra-corn (10). Non-specific immunostimulants have been received considerable attention in the
54
H. A. Amer, M. A. Hashem
vet-field. They appear to provide an efficient method of stimulating the immune system in a non-specific manner with few adverse side effects. Immunostim-ulating compounds have the potential to counteract the effect of environmental or microbial immunosuppressive factors. They may thus reduce morbidity and economic losses resulting from sub clinical or mild infectious diseases (11). Because they may also act as adjuvant, they can also potentiate immune responses to applied vaccine.
A great deal of interest has developed in implementing biosecurity programs to prevent the transmission of infectious disease to dairy replacement calves. One potential method of transmission of infectious diseases to dairy calves is through feeding infective colostrum and milk. The immune status of the newborn calves is dependent upon the passage of immunoglobulins from dams to the calves through the ingestion of colostrum (12) and its subsequent absorption from small intestine. Their net effect may therefore be to improve weight gain, and to lower mortality and morbidity rates among animals. The major immunostimulants are usually microbial preparations that are rapidly taken up by macrophages (13). Successful attempts to improve reproductive efficiency by administering immuno-potentiators during late gestation in cows (14) and sows (15) have been reported previously. However, little information is available for buffaloes. The level of selenium and vitamin E in the soil and surrounding environment are neglected and we consider all the experimental animals are considered under the same standard condition. Thus, the present investigation aimed to evaluate the efficacy of some immunopotentiators (Viteselen and Ultra-corn) to improve the IgG-level, postpartum reproductive performance, as well as, viability of newborn calves in the Egyptian buffaloes.
Material and methods
Animals
This investigation was conducted on forty five buffaloes in the last trimester of gestation and belonging to a private farm at Sharkia Governorate, Egypt. The animals were 5.47+1.14 years old, apparently healthy (weighted 485.92+36.74) and free from common infectious and contagious diseases as proved by Veterinary Services Authorities. All the animals were received prophylactic routine treatment against internal, external and blood parasites.
The prophylactic immunization program included biannual vaccination against FMD, Rift Vally Fever and Hemorrhagic Septicemia. The last vaccination was given 4 months before the beginning of the experiment. All animals were dried off for 75 days prior to parturition. Each animal was supplied daily with 6 Kg concentrates, in addition to 25 - 30 Kg Barseem clover during the green season or darawa (green maize) during the dry season with suitable amount of rice straw.
Treatment schedule
The animals were randomly divided into one of four treatment groups. The first group served as the untreated controls (n=9). Another three groups served as experimental animals (each group included 12 buffaloes). Those in second group were injected i.m. with 30 ml of viteselen (1.7 mg sodium selenium and 150 mg vitamin E/ml) (Egyptian Co. for Chemical and Pharmaceutical-ADWIA, 10th of Ramadan City). Each buffalo in third group received 10 ml s.c. (2 ml/100 Kg body weight) ultra-corn which is a complete lysate of bacterial extract produced by ultrasound treatment of Corynebacterium cutis. (Vir-bac Co., France). In fourth group, the animals were injected with viteselen and ultracorn. The immuno-potentiators were given 2 doses one week apart, the first injected on day 60 prior to the expected date of parturition.
Analysis of IgG level
Colostral samples were collected within one hour of parturition (first milking) from buffaloes (at parturition) and at day-4 pp in all 5 groups. Blood samples were collected from newborn calves (at day-4 and day-14 old). Colostrum and serum samples were frozen at -20°C until determination of IgG. Frozen colostrum was submitted to determination of IgG level by using IgG Vet-RID (Radial Immunodiffusion) kit (Bethyl Laboratories, Inc., Montgomery, TX) Analysis was performed as previously reported (16). Due to the very high levels of IgG, colostrum samples were first diluted x10 with distilled water, and then 5 |l of the diluted sample was tested. This initial 10-fold dilution was taken into account when back-calculating colostrum IgG level for each sample. Serum IgG concentrations were determined using the same test kit and using the same general testing process. Serum IgG concentrations were determined according to kit instructions and using 5 |l of serum.
Reproductive performance and viability of newborns in buffaloes treated antepartum with viteselen and/or ultra-corn
55
After the samples were placed on the plates, they were left at room temperature for a minimum of 18 h, and then the precipitation ring diameters measured and IgG values calculated. Three standards with known values (625, 2500, and 5000 mg/dl) were also tested for each run. The diameters of the known standards were then used to calculate the tested serum samples.
Reproductive performance
All the investigated buffaloes were kept under close observation during parturition and in the postpartum period until they were confirmed as pregnant again. After calving, the animals were kept individually in open pens and the period prior to the expulsion of the fetal membranes was recorded in hours. Rectal palpation was performed twice a week to examine the time of uterine involution (return to the non-pregnant size). Thereafter, estrus was confirmed in buffaloes by rectal palpation and they were inseminated using frozen thawed semen from a fertile bull.
Viability of the newborn calves
Calves born to the control and treated groups were weighed and kept under close observation. Their viability and health problems were examined
clinically and growth rate (Kg/day) was also recorded: (wt. at 3 months - wt. at calving)/90 days.
Statistical analysis
Data were analyzed using SAS analysis system package (17). Significant differences between each two means were evaluated utilizing Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT) (18).
Results
The IgG level in colostrum of dams and serum of newborn calves were estimated (Table 1). Generally, the concentration of IgG was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the groups injected with immunopotentia-tors than control one. At parturition, the level of co-lostral IgG was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the group injected with VS than the other test or control groups. At day-4 pp, the level of IgG was non-significant between the groups received immunostimu-lants but significant compared to the control one. Regarding the sera of newborn calves, they revealed significantly (P<0.05) higher level of IgG in the group administered VS than test or control group at day-4 old, and revealed a significant (P<0.05) higher level with VS and VS+UC injected groups than UC injected group at day-14 old.
Table 1: Mean (±S.E.) level (mg/ml) of immunoglobulin in colostrum of dams and serum of newborn calves after viteselen and/or ultra-corn antepartum administration
Parameters	Control		Experimental groups	
	group	VS	UC	VS+UC
Parturient dams				
	N=9	N=12	N=12	N=12
At parturition	17.30+0.33 e	23.80+0.79 a	21.27+0.88 b	20.55+0.83 b
Day-4 postpartum	13.60+0.87 b	20.14+1.42 a	17.93+0.87 a	17.79+0.62 a
Newborn calves				
	N=7	N=12	N=12	N=11
Day-4 old	6.36+0.63 e	13.18+0.83 a	9.22+0.44 b	9.12+0.67 b
Day-14 old	4.18+0.57 e	10.59+0.87 a 6.28+0.75 be	7.58+0.87 b
Means with different superscripts in each row are significantly different at level (P<0.05) VS=Viteselen; UC=Ultra-corn
The mean values (±S.E.) of various parameters of pp reproductive performance of the buffaloes in four groups are illustrated in Table 2. The immuno-potentiators appeared to improve the reproductive performance. Prepartum treatment with VS reduced
the period of fetal membrane expulsion compared to the other groups. Both of VS and VS+UC treatments had a significantly (P<0.05) shorter uterine involution period compared to the animals in the UC or control groups. Additionally, the VS and UC treated
56
H. A. Amer, M. A. Hashem
groups had a significantly (P<0.05) shorter calving to 1st estrus interval and first service period compared to the control groups. There was insignificant number of services required per conception between the control and experimental groups.
The control dams delivered only 7 calves because there was one case of abortion and one case of stillbirth, while the group received VS+UC has one case of abortion. Meanwhile, VS and UC treated
dams delivered 12 healthy calves. The calves from treated dams showed higher body weight, growth rate/day and better vitality in comparison with the control. Likewise, body weight and growth rate/day were higher in newly born calves from VS than UC groups. Moreover, no mortality in the 1st month occurred between the newborn calves resulted from VS and UC treated buffaloes compared to the other groups.
Table 2: Mean (±S.E.) values of postpartum reproductive performance of buffaloes treated with viteselen and ultra-corn, and health status of their newborns
Items	Control	Experimental groups		
	group (n=9)	VS (n=12)	UC (n=12)	VS+UC (n=12)
Postpartum reproductive parameters				
Placental expulsion (hr)	9.83+1.57 b	6.51+0.81 a	8.73+1.43 b	8.72+1.03 b
Uterine involution (days)	48.91+4.17 a	27.12+2.29 b	37.22+2.39 ab	34.23+7.29 ab
Calving to 1stestrus (days)	185.11+28.17 a	110.72+15.45 b	113.11 + 17.01 b	167.50+22.90 ab
Service period (days)	225.31+33.03 a	143.71 + 16.49 b	153.76+13.08 b	210.79+42.60 ab
Services per conception	2.36+0.39 a	1.62+0.19 a	1.81+0.15 a	2.00+0.17 a
Health status of delivered calves				
Aborted feti	1	0	0	1
Still birth	1	0	0	0
BW at birth (kg)	34.7	38.3	34.5	35.9
BW 3 months pp (kg)	63.5	83.8	72.4	74.9
Growth rate (kg/day)	0.320	0.505	0.421	0.433
Mortality at 1st month	2/9 (22.2%)	0/12 (0%)	0/12 (0%)	1/11 (9.1%)
Survival rate	7/9 (77.8%)	12/12 (100%)	12/12 (100%)	10/11 (90.9%)
Means with different superscripts in each row are significantly different at level (P<0.05) VS=Viteselen; UC=Ultra-corn; BW=Body Weight; pp=Postpartum
Discussion
Prepartum and early postpartum are critical periods for dairy animals. Proper nutrients intake in these periods helps in keeping the animal in a good condition and avoiding many problems. Vitamin-E and selenium (19) and ultra-corn (10,43,44) are essential nutrients for proper function of various reproductive characteristics of mammalian female. Moreover, pregnant animals are more susceptible to selenium deficiency than non-pregnant animals, which in turn increase the incidence of prepartum and postpartum reproductive disorders (20).
The level of IgG was significantly higher in both dam colostrum and newborn serum after administration of immunopotentiating agents than the control group. Moreover, viteselen injection resulted in a significant higher level of IgG in both dam colos-
trum and calves serum in comparison to the other test or control groups. However, the immune status of the newborn calves is dependent upon the passage of immunoglobulins from dams to the calves through the ingestion of colostrum (12) and its subsequent absorption from small intestine. When the mean colostrum-serum IgG levels immediately after birth and on Day 4 were evaluated, they were found to be higher in the experimental group than in the control group. When blood-serum IgG levels of the calves were measured, they were found to be higher after suckling colostrum (0-4 days after birth) than at 14 days after birth in the experimental group or the control group (21). On Day 4 and Day 14 after birth, IgG levels were found to be higher in the experimental group compared to the control group. Moreover, an important reason that calves have variable blood IgG at 24 hours of age is due to variation
Reproductive performance and viability of newborns in buffaloes treated antepartum with viteselen and/or ultra-corn
57
in colostrum IgG content. Colostrum composition is remarkably variable, as colostral IgG can range from a low to high content (22). Subsequently, the amount of IgG in dam's colostrum depended mainly upon prepartum administration of immunopoten-tiators, and in calves depended mainly upon consumption of colostrum directly after parturition.
The significant shorter placental expulsion period in the viteselen treated buffaloes in the present study may be due to improved uterine muscular function. Both vitamin-E and selenium have anti-oxidant functions that protect biological systems from oxidative degradation (23-25). In addition to their general antioxidant roles, selenium and vita-min-E may be involved indirectly in prostaglandin synthesis where proxy radicals are a normal part of the metabolic pathways (24). Vitamin-E has been implicated in the control of Phospholipase-A2 activity (26), which is responsible for cleaving arachidon-ic acid from membrane phospholipids. Arachidonic acid is the common precursor for all prostaglandins and related compounds.
We expect that the levels of selenium and vitamin E in soil are very low and neglected; therefore we had positive influences on the reproductive performance after injection of the viteselen into the experimental animals.
The significant reduction in calving to first estrus and shorter service period in the buffaloes treated with VS compared with the control animals in the present study supported a previous study (27), who reported that the calving to the first estrus and the length of the service period were significantly reduced in cows treated with prepartum injection of vitamin-E and selenium. Contradirectorily, after prepartum vitamin-E/selenium injection, there was no improvement on the subsequent postpartum reproductive performance of dairy cows (28). This discrepancy might be attributed to differences in the prepartum Se status of the animals and frequency of the injections (19). A significant decrease in the number of service per conception was obtained in the present investigation following prepartum VS injection. These findings reinforced those obtained by others (29,30). Additional studies have shown that supplementation with Se and vitamin-E reduces the incidence of retained placenta (29,31,32), metritis, cystic ovaries (29), clinical signs of mastitis (33), and time of uterine involution in cows with metritis (34). Selenium preferentially accumulates in the placentoms, ovary, pituitary and adrenal glands, suggesting specific requirements for Se in
those tissues (23,35). Several studies indicated that both humoral and cellular immune response are enhanced by vitamin-E/selenium treatment (27,36). However, a highly significant elevation of gamma globulins in the vitamin-E/selenium supplemented buffaloes compared to the control was noticed (37). Additionally, cows given vitamin-E and selenium in late pregnancy produce large quantities of colostrum and milk, and have less difficulty in drop of placenta (38).
Regarding preparatum ultra-corn (UC) treated group, a significant decrease was observed concerning uterine involution period, calving to first estrus interval as well as the service period, but still less than VS treated buffaloes. No available literature for the effect of preparatum treatment with UC on postpartum reproductive performance. However, ultra-corn is a complete lysate of bacterial extract produced by ultrasound treatment of corynebacte-rium cutis. The effect of UC on the chicken immune response to Newcastle disease virus vaccine was studied (10). They found that administration of UC induced marked effect on the immune response developed by Newcastle disease virus vaccine especially when given simultaneously with the vaccine. Administration of UC induced marked immuno-potentiating effect in cattle, poultry and buffaloes via increasing phagocytosis, lymphocyte transformation index, total leukocytic count, lymphocytes, monocytes, antibody titre, immunoglobulin and gave protection against mortality (10,39,40). Some of these results are readily explicable on the basis of the expected effects of these immunostimulat-ing corynbacteria. Thus killed corynbacteria (ultracorn) are readily phagocytosed by macrophages and stimulate the release of tumor necrosis factor and inter-leukin I. These monokines may have a secondary effect on lymphocyte function and so stimulate the immune system non-specifically (40). Concomi-tantly, UC has several beneficial effects (41), where it stimulated phagocytosis; cell-mediated immunity; antibodies production and also it stimulated anti-virus defenses in increasing interferone production.
The control dams delivered only 9 calves because there was one case of abortion and one case of stillbirth. Meanwhile, VS and UC treated dams delivered 12 normal calves (in each group), except a case of abortion in VS+UC group. The calves from VS and treated dams showed higher body weight, growth rate/day and better vitality in comparison with the UC or control groups. Moreover, the control calves showed more severe pneumonia and
58
H. A. Amer, M. A. Hashem
enteritis as a result of which 2 (22.2%) calves died within one month of birth. In contrast, the calves born to the preparatum treated dams showed mild disease symptoms and only one calf (9.1%) from UC treated dams died. The present results support the other views (10,40) who found that, UC treatment to late pregnant dams induced better state of delivery with no retained placenta or stillbirth in comparison with the control group. The newly born calves were of heavier body weight, better healthy status and highly resistance to disease. The pre and post-partum supplementation with vitamin-E/selenium combination improved the reproductive efficiency and immune status of Egyptian buffaloes and resulted in a significant elevation of gamma globulins (37). Consequently, a high immunoglobulin-G concentration was observed in calves supplemented with vit.E/Se (42). Circulating IgG has been related to preweaning growth (43) as well as long term performance of calves (44), thus some commercial calf raisers will pay dairy producers a premium for providing calves with serum total protein that exceeds some critical threshold (usually >5.2 to 5.5 g of total protein/dl of serum). Others will reduce the amount they pay to the producer if total protein is too low. Although passive immunity has an important effect on calf health, there are a number of other factors that influence the overall cost of morbidity and mortality on a calf raising operation. These other factors include the level of exposure of calves and level of stress to which calves are exposed. Another critical control point during the calf's life is the first 24 hours. Consumption of colostrum is essential to provide animals with the antibodies and other proteins that calves need to stay healthy. The amount of colostrum (and immunoglobulin, or IgG) consumed determines amount of passive immunity and resistance to disease. When calves consume insufficient amounts of IgG from colostrum within the first 24 hours of life, they are much more susceptible to developing disease and possibly dying. A major reason that preweaning mortality is higher than optimum (defined as less than 5% of calves born alive) is due to inadequate IgG intake (22). Measuring a calf's level of passive immunity within the first week of life allows the producer to know the effectiveness of the colostrum management and calf feeding program. Because this is so important to the health and survival of the calf, it is an essential part of monitoring the overall heifer operation. However, the importance of achieving adequate levels of colostral immunoglobulins to protect the neonate from enter-
ic disease and septicemia has long been recognized (45).
It would be anticipated that as a result of increased health, the newly born calves would show enhanced weight gain. The effect on newborn calves is somewhat more difficult to understand. Clearly, the killed bacteria given to pregnant cows will effectively stimulate their macrophage function and the release of cytokines. These cytokines are relatively small proteins (with molecular weights on the order of 20-30 Kda). Proteins of this size may readily cross the placenta. Thus, any immunostimulating effect on the dam should also be effective in the fetus. Calves born to treated buffaloes may thus be at a significant advantage over untreated calves in the face of microbial challenge (in ultra-corn group). Stimulation of non-specific defense mechanisms has the potential to counteract at types of immu-nosuppressive effects in animals. This is especially true in a country such as Egypt, where there is a high level of sub clinical diseases in reared animals. Sub clinical virus infections, suboptimal nutrition, intestinal parasitism, and so on may all result in mild immunosuppression.
In conclusion, the buffaloes have been criticized for its poor reproductive performance. Thus, it appears that a positive effect could be obtained by pre-partum immuno-stimulation using viteselen, ultracorn or combination on postpartum reproductive efficacy and viability of newborn calves. Additional work involving a larger number of animals is suggested to reach appropriate results.
Acknowledgements
The author thanks all the members in The Central Laboratory of The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University. This study was supported partially by a Grant from the Department of Theriogenology and Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.
References
1.	Nakagawa J, Osame S, Ichijo S, Araki S, Kimura M. Effects of active egg white product on neutrophil function in calves. J Vet Med Sci 1993; 5: 259-63.
2.	Lioyd SC. Effects of pregnancy and lactation upon infection. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 1983; 4: 153-76.
3.	Nagahata H, Kociba G, Noda H, Koiwa M, Kimura M. Effects of dihydroheptaprenol on the neutrophil function
Reproductive performance and viability of newborns in buffaloes treated antepartum with viteselen and/or ultra-corn
59
of postpartum dairy cows. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 1991; 29: 163-6.
4.	Saleh MS, Soliman AM, El-Fadaly, MA. Detection of blastogenic response of buffalo neonatal calves inoculated with B.C.G. vaccine and its effect against pneumoenteritis syndrome. In: 4th Scientific Conference of Vet. Profession in the Arab World, Iraq, 1989.
5.	Osame S, Araki S, Kimura M. Effect of vitamin B2 on neutrophil functions in cattle. J Vet Med Sci 1995; 57: 493-5.
6.	Braun U, Forrer R, Furer L, Lutz H. Selenium and vitamin E in blood sera of cows from farms with increased incidence of diseases. Vet Rec 1991; 128: 543-7.
7.	Politis S, Hidiroglou N, White J, et al. Effects of vitamin E on mammary and blood leukocyte function, with emphasis on chemotaxis in periparturient dairy cows. Am J Vet Res 1996; 57: 468-71.
8.	Finch JM, Turner RJ. Effects of selenium and vitamin E on the immune responses of domestic animals. Res Vet Sci 1996; 60: 97-106.
9.	Afaf AH, Susan TK, Nabil AA, Madkour MS. Effect of levamisole as an immunostimulant on infectious bursal disease virus vaccination. J Vet Med Res 1999; 1: 45-57.
10.	Soliman R, Reda I, Youssef SA, Refai MK. Effect of ultra- corn on chicken immune response to Newcastle disease virus vaccine. J Egypt Vet Med Assoc1991; 51: 387-400.
11.	Mayer A. Introduction of paraimmunity in biological products for viral disease. In: Proceedings of Munich Symposium on Microbiology. Munich, 1981: 201-28.
12.	Northeim K, Simensen E, Gjestang K. The relationship between serum IgG level and age, leg injuries, infection and weight gain in dairy calves. Nord Vet Med 1985; 37: 113-20.
13.	Gialdroni G. Bacterial products as immunostim-ulating agents. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol 1985; 76 (Suppl): P119-27.
14.	Flesh J, Harel W, Nelken DC. Immunopotentiating effect of levamisole in the prevention of bovine mastitis, fetal death and endometritis. Vet Rec 1982; 111: 56-7.
15.	Purswell BJ, Dawe DL, Brown J, Williams DJ. Effect of levamisole on immune function and reproductive performance in first litter gilts. Am J Vet Res 1988; 49: 856-9.
16.	Godden SM, Smith S, Feirtag JM, Green LR, Wells SJ, Fetrow JP. Effect of on-farm commercial batch pasteurization of colostrum on colostrum and serum im-munoglobulin concentrations in dairy calves. J Dairy Sci 2003; 86: 1503-12.
17.	Littel RC, Freund JF, Spector PC. SAS system for linear models. 3rd ed. SAS series in statistical applications. Cary, USA : SAS Institute, 1991.
18.	Duncan DB. Multiple range and multiple F-test. Biometrics 1955; 11:1-42.
19.	Awad YL, Youssef RH, Mikhail MF. Influence of pre-partum selenium treatment on the reproductive pattern of Egyptian buffaloes and on the born calves. Egypt J Vet
Sci 1985; 22: 55-60.
20. Youssef RH, Awad YL, Mikhail MF. Effect of prepar-tum selenium treatment on retained placenta in buffaloes and on their subsequent fertility. Egypt J Vet Sci 1985; 22: 10: 65-71.
21. Arthington J D, Cattell M B, Quigley J D. Effect of dietary IgG source (colostrum, serum or milk-derived supplement) on the efficiency of Ig absorption in newborn Holstein calves. J Dairy Sci 2000; 83:1463-7.
22.	Quigley J. Managing variation in calf and heifer programs. In: Proceedings of the 20th Annual Southwest Nutrition and Management Conference. Tempe, Arizona, 2005; 11-22.
23.	Buck EL, Schmitz JA, Swanson LV. Incorporation of Se into endocrine glands and reproductive tissues of the prepartum ewe and fetus. In: Spallholz JA, Martin JL, Ganther HE, eds. Selenium in biology and medicine. Westport, CT: AVI Publications, 1981: 514.
24.	Diplock AT. The role of vitamin E and selenium in the prevention of oxygen-induced tissue damage. In: Spallholz JA, Martin JL, Ganther HE, eds. Selenium in biology and medicine. Westport, CT: AVI Publications, 1981: 303.
25.	Freeman BA, Crapo JD. free radicals and tissue injury. Lab Invest 1982; 47: 412-4.
26.	Pappu AS, Fatterpaker P, Sreenivasan A. Role of vitamin E in cellular processes. World Rev Nutr Diet 1978; 31: 190.
27.	Baalsrud KJ, Overnes G. Influences of vitamin E and selenium supplement on antibody production in horses. Equine Vet. J 1986; 18: 472.
28.	Gwazdanskas FC, Bibb TL, McGilliard ML, Lineweaver, GA. Effect of prepartum selenium -vitamin E injection on time for placenta to pass and on productive function. J Dairy Sci 1979; 62: 978-82.
29.	Harrison JH, Dancock DD, Conrad HR. Vitamin E and selenium for reproduction of the dairy cow. J Dairy Sci 1984; 67: 123-5.
30.	Cortese V. Selenium and reproductive performance in dairy cattle. Agri- Pract 1988; 9(4): 5-7.
31.	Hemken RW, Olds RL, Botts L, Bull LS. Selenium injection prior to calving on prevention of retained placenta. J Dairy Sci. 1978; 61(Suppl. 1): 209.
32.	Eger SD, Drori I, Kadoori N, Miller N, Schindler H. Effect of selenium and vitamin E on incidence of retained placenta. J. Dairy Sci 1985; 68: 2119-21.
33.	Smith KL, Conrad HR, Amiet PA, Schoenberger PS, Todhunter DA. Effect of vitamin E and selenium dietary supplementation on mastitis in first lactation dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 1985; 68: 190-3.
34.	Harrison JH, Hancock DD, Pierre NS, Conrad HR, Harvey WR. Effect of prepartum selenium treatment on uterine involution in the dairy cow. J Dairy Sci 1986; 69: 1421-5.
35.	Harrison JH, Conrad HR. Selenium and glutath-ione peroxidase activity in tissues of the dairy cow after short-term feeding. J Dairy Sci 1984; 67: 2464-6.
60
H. A. Amer, M. A. Hashem
36.	Nockles CF. Effect of supplemental vitamin E against infection. Fed Proc 1979; 38: 2134.
37.	Hoda AA, Omaima HE, Mohamed FF. Effect of pre-partum and postpartum vitamin E and selenium supplementation on serum electrophoresis and some reproductive patterns of Egyptian buffaloes. Alex J Vet Sci 1993; 9: 33-6.
38.	Lacetera N, Bernabucci U, Ronchi B, Nardone A. Effect of selenium and vitamin E administration during late stage of pregnancy on colostrum and milk production in dairy cows and on passive immunity and growth of their offsprings. Am J Vet Res 1997; 57: 1776-80.
39.	Salem SS. Comparison of passive immunity of buffalo calves following vaccination of dams with commercial and immunopotentiated K99 vaccine. Kairo: Microbiology Department , Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, 1992. Thesis
40.	Shalaby MA, Saleh SM, El-Atrash S et al. Application of Corynebacterium cutis lysate as an immune stim-
ulant in cattle. Mol Biother 1992; 4: 147-50.
41.	Fivaz M. A study on the non-specific immunostimu-lant (ultra-corn). Israel J Med Sci 1992; 10: 291-4.
42.	Stable JR, Speare JW, Brown TT, Brake JC. Selenium effects on glutathione peroxidase and the immune response of stressed calves challenged with pasteurella hemolytica. J Anim Sci 1989; 67: 557.
43.	Nocek JE, Braund DG, Warner RG. Influence of neonatal colostrum administration, immunoglobulin, and continued feeding of colostrum on calf gain, health and serum protein. J Dairy Sci 1984; 67: 319-33.
44.	Wittum TE, Perino LJ. Passive immune status at postpartum hour 24 and long-term health and performance of calves. Am J Vet Res 1995; 56: 1149-54.
45.	Robinson JD, Ston GH, DeNise SK. Effects of passive immunity on growth and survival in the dairy heifer. J Dairy Sci. 1988; 71: 1283.
REPRODUKCIJSKA SPOSOBNOST IN VITALNOST NOVOROJENCEV PRI BIVOLIH, TRETIRANIH S PRIPRAVKOMA VITESELEN IN ULTRA-CORN V PREDPORODNEM OBDOBJU
H. A. Amer in M. A. Hashem
Povzetek: V raziskavi smo želeli ugotoviti vpliv pripravkov viteselen (VS) in ultra-corn (UC) na raven imunoglobulinov G, na poporodno plodnost in vitalnost novorojencev. Imeli smo 45 bivoljih samic, ki smo jih razvrstili v 4 skupine. Prva (n=9) je bila kontrolna, ostale pa eksperimentalne (n=12/skupino). Živali druge skupine so prejele po 30 ml viteselena (1,7 mg sodium selenium in 150 mg vitamina E/ml). Živalim tretje skupine smo aplicirali ultra-corn (2 ml/100 kg telesne mase). Živalim četrte skupine smo dali oba pripravka. Pripravka smo vbrizgali v dveh odmerkih 60 dni pred pričakovanim dnevom poroda. Po porodu smo ugotavljali telesno maso, prirastek in vitalnost telet, ocenjevali smo reprodukcijsko sposobnost mater ter v mlezivu in serumu telet določili raven IgG. Pri skupini, ki je prejemala VS, je bil čas luščenja posteljice in involucije maternice bistveno krajši kot pri UC in kontrolni skupini (P<0.05). Je pa aplikacija katerega koli od pripravkov bistveno skrajšala poporodni premor do prve gonitve in poporodni premor do zabrejitve (P<0.05). Raven IgG je bila bistveno večja (P<0.05) tako v mlezivu mater kot v serumu novorojencev pri dajanju VS ali VS+UC. Dodajanje VS je vplivalo na bistveno višjo raven IgG tudi še pri štiridnevnih in dvotedenskih teletih. Pri eni od živali, tretirani z VS+UC, je prišlo do abortusa, ostale iz vseh tretiranih skupin pa so povrgle popolnoma zdrava teleta. Teleta tretiranih mater so imela višjo povprečno telesno maso, večji dnevni prirastek in boljšo vitalnost kot teleta iz kontrolne skupine. Najboljši prirastek smo zabeležili pri teletih iz skupine VS. V prvem mesecu po rojstvu ni poginilo nobeno tele. Zaključimo lahko, da predporodno dajanje pripravka viteselen ali kombinacije viteselena in ultra-corna pozitivno vpliva na poporodno reprodukcijsko obdobje in vitalnost telet egiptovskih bivolov, za natančnejšo opredelitev pozitivnih učinkov pa bi bile potrebne raziskave na večjem številu živali.
Ključne besede: predporodno obdobje; bivoli; teleta; viteselen; ultra-corn; imunoglobulini G; vitalnost