EFFECT OF COPPER AND CADMIUM CONTAMINATED DIETS ON WATER INTAKE, RUMINAL ENZYME ACTIVITIES, CHARACTERISTICS AND NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY IN SHEEP | ||
| Journal of Animal and Poultry Production | ||
| Article 6, Volume 29, Issue 7, July 2004, Pages 3795-3807 PDF (3.44 M) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/jappmu.2004.239287 | ||
| Author | ||
| A. Z. M. Salem, | ||
| Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture (EI·Shatby), Alexandria University, Egypt. | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Nine healthy non-pregnant Rahmani, ewes were used in this study to evaluate the effect of copper and cadmium chloride as heavy metals on water intake, ruminal enzymes and nutrient digestibility. The animals were divided into three groups. The first group was fed 400-g concentrate mixture and 20 g DMlI<g LW of hay and used as a control group. Whereas the second and third groups were fed the same diet but the concentrate was treated with CuCI2 and CdCb, respectively daily just before feeding, CuCI2 or CdCI2 solution (5-mmollL) was sprayed on the weighed . amount of concentrate (400 glh/d). Diets were fed once daily. Drinking water significantly (P? 0.05) increased in the ewes received copper or cadmium contaminated diet. Copper and cadmium decreased significantly (P?0.01) urease activity, whereas no significant differences were observed in the case of alanine aminotransferase (AL T), aspartate aminotransfarase (AST) , and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activities. The activity of all ruminal enzymes studied was significantly affected by cadmium treatment; both AL T and AST activities were significantly increased (P?0.01) while the GGT activities were significantly decreased (P?0.05).Ruminal ammonia concentration was significantly decreased (P?0.05) by copper or cadmium chloride treatment. Lower values were obtained in the copper treated diet animals, but without significant difference (P?0.05) with cadmium treated diet. Ruminal pH and total VFA concentrations were unaffected (P?0.05) by treating the diets with both heavy metals. Copper or cadmium treated diets had decreased significantly (P?O.05) branched-chain VFAs (isobutyric and isovaleric acids), acetic and butyric acids concentrations and had no significant effect on propionic and valerie acids. Treating diets with heavy metals (copper or cadmium) resulted in reduction in the digestibility coefficients of all nutrient components except nitrogen free extract. Results of the present study indicating that, in sheep, eating diets contaminated with copper or cadmium (5-mmol) could increase water consumption, negatively affect several ruminal enzymes activity and nutrient fermentation. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| copper; cadmium; water intake; ruminal enzymes; VFA; digestibility; sheep | ||
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