The influence of phosphorus (P) supply on the content of ash, P and Ca of the skeleton and soft tissue as well on the P deposition in the empty body of pigs (approximately 35 kg live weight) was studied in 3 individual feeding experiments with different diets (P-content 2.97, 2.41 or 3.7 g/kg diet). In each experiment 2 of the 3 groups (7 or 8 animals per group, initial weight approximately 11 kg) were supplemented with the feed grade phosphates "Rükana" or "Cefkaphos". In the experiments the supplemented amount of P as "Rükana" or "Cefkaphos" was 2.50, 2.33 or 0.5 g/kg of the diet. After intake of approximately 65 kg of the diet the animals were slaughtered. Homogenates of bones and soft tissues of the left half of the empty body were analysed for ash, P and Ca. Both of the feed grade phosphates increased these parameters in the skeleton and soft tissues as well the P deposition in the body to the same level. In the middle of the experiments the P deposition per kg live weight gain amounted to 4.6 g ("Rükana") and 4.4 g ("Cefkaphos").

Five experiments with 18 to 36 male calves each of the black and white dairy cattle breed (age: 14-21 days, initial live weight: approximately 45 kg per animal) were carried out in order to investigate the influence of various vitamin A supply (0-80,000 IU per 100 kg LW and day) on dry matter intake and weight gain as well as the vitamin A status of liver and blood plasma over 84 days. The calves consumed a diet free of carotene and vitamin A consisting of milk replacer, concentrate and chopped wheat straw. The calves were fed in three experiments for a longer time in order to observe the further vitamin A depletion. Nine animals consumed an unsupplemented ration, nine other one got 10,000 IU vitamin A per 100 kg LW and day. Biopsies of liver and plasma samples were taken from 4 animals per group every four weeks. The various vitamin A supplementation did not significantly influence the dry matter intake (Mean: 1.67; 1.48 to 1.80 kg DM per animal and day) and the weight gain of calves (Mean: 702, 599 to 770 g per animal and day). First vitamin A deficiency symptoms (reduced feed intake, decreased weight gain, diarrhoea etc.) were observed in animals of unsupplemented group after 100 days of experiments. After 84 days the vitamin A concentration of liver of animals of unsupplemented groups decreased to 1.3-32.2% compared with the begin of experiments (60.6-155.7 mumol/kg fresh matter). Up to 51% of initial concentration were found when 10,000 IU vitamin A per 100 kg LW and day were fed. About 25,000 IU vitamin A per 100 kg LW and day were required in order to keep the initial level of vitamin A concentration of liver. The plasma vitamin A concentration is unsuitable for estimation of vitamin A status of calves. The concentration of vitamin A of liver and plasma amounted to 114 mumol per kg and 0.25 mumol per litre at the begin of experiments. The vitamin A concentration of liver of unsupplemented group decreased to 20 mumol per kg, that of plasma increased to 0.28 mumol per 1 at the end. A strong vitamin A deficiency (liver concentration: less than 10 mumol/kg) may cause a decrease of vitamin A concentration of blood.

Zusammenfassung In drei Versuchen an insgesamt 92 wachsenden Schweinen, die Sojaextraktionsschrot beziehungsweise 8% glucosinolatreiches (> 1% Goitrin) Rapsextraktionsschrot im Futter erhielten, wurde der Gehalt der Leber und des Blutserums an Vitamin A untersucht. In einem Versuch wurde Rapsextraktionsschrot einbezogen, dessen Goitrinanteil durch die Behandlung mit Cu2+ unter die Nachweisgrenze vermindert war. Während der Vitamin‐A‐Zusatz mit 1500 oder 1000 IE/kg Futter innerhalb der Versuche 1,2 oder 3 konstant war, variierte die Jodzulage in den Gruppen von 0,0625 bis 1 mg je kg Futter. Die Fütterung von Rapsexktraktionsschrot in Verbindung mit fehlendem Jod verminderte die Leistung, führte zu Jodmangel und vergrößerte die Schilddrüse und Leber signifikant. Eine Normalisierung des Leistungsniveaus wurde nicht durch die Jodergänzung der Rapsextraktionsschrot‐Ration, sondern erst durch die Inaktivierung des Goitrins und vermutlich anderer Antinutritiva des Rapsextraktionsschrots erreicht. Bei gleicher Vitamin‐A‐Ergänzung des Futters enthielt das Blutserum der mit Rapsextraktionsschrot gefütterten Schweine in der Reihenfolge der Versuche 39, 51 und 87% mehr Vitamin A als das der Kontrolltiere mit Sojaextraktionsschrot (P < 0,05). Die Jodergänzung hatte keinen Einfluß auf den Serum‐Vitamin‐A‐Spiegel; der Leber‐Vitamin‐A‐Vorrat der an Jodmangel erkrankten Tiere war aber im Versuch 2 um die Hälfte (P < 0,05), im Versuch 3 um ein Drittel (P > 0,05) erniedrigt. Die Inaktivierung der Antinutritiva des Rapsextraktionsschrots mittels Cu2+ erhöhte den Leber‐Vitamin‐A‐Vorrat (P < 0,05) und machte den Anstieg des Serum‐Vitamin‐A‐Gehaltes partiell, in Verbindung mit einem Angebot von mehr als 0,25 mg J/kg Futter total rückgängig. Eine wie bei Fütterung des Rapsextraktionsschrotes nachgewiesene Umverteilung des Vitamin A zwischen Leber und Blut könnte ebenfalls für andere Mangel‐ bzw. Belastungszustände charakteristisch sein.

In 9 experiments the vitamin A content of the livers of 64 newborn (still births and deaths up to 48 h p.p.) and 69 weaned piglets, 122 growers and 110 fattening pigs was investigated after slaughtering or autopsy. Liver samples were taken from 78 growers by means of biopsy after latarotomy. A fluorometric analysis of the plasma vitamin A level was made. At the time of birth the vitamin A content of the piglet livers was less than 100 IU/g and did not show any differences between the experiments. At the time of weaning, however, the livers of piglets from large-scale production showed a three times higher content (175 IU/g liver) in comparison to those from traditional production. Highly significant linear relations were established between the vitamin A content of the feed and the liver. According to these, a liver content of vitamin A of approximately equal to 30 IU/g is ensured by approximately equal to 2,000 IU in weaning piglets and by approximately equal to 800 IU vitamin A/kg feed in fattening pigs. The vitamin A activity of the beta-carotene in weaners was ascertained as less than 100 IU/mg. The plasma vitamin A level indicated the vitamin A status only in the range of deficient supply. A different plasma content could not be detected between 1,000 and 4,000 IU vitamin A/kg feed. According to this, a semilogarithmic relation was calculated according to the model of a saturation curve between the vitamin A content of the plasma and the liver. The threshold value for the decrease of the plasma level under 45 IU vitamin A/dl is 35 IU/g liver. Due to the low definiteness measure (B = 0.52) the relation cannot be applied to the individual animal. A contamination of 1,000 mg nitrite/kg feed had a low, and in the course of the experiment decreasing, influence on the vitamin A content of plasma and liver.

In two feeding experiments fattening bulls received on average a daily supplement of 170 or 200 mg Monensin. In a further 8-week experiment the daily Monensin supplement was 0; 500 or 1 000 mg per day. Ergotropic Monensin supplements (experiments 1 and 2) did not change the blood count and the Ca, P and Mg content of blood serum and the activity of AP, AST and LAP in the serum remained unchanged. Net acid base excretion and the content of Na, K and Mg in urine were not significantly influenced either. The influence of 500 mg Monensin per animal and day on the feed intake of animals previously given lower supplements was insignificant. 1 000 mg Monensin per animal and day resulted in a 40% decrease of feed intake and permanent diarrhoea. It was connected with a diminishing of the glucose content in the blood and an increase of net acid base, Na and P excretion in urine. The blood count did not change after the Monensin overdose. In conclusion one can say that the ergotropic Monensin supplement did not change the metabolism parameters.