Constant infusions of D-[U-'4C]glUCOSe, D-[6-3H]glucose and ~-[U-'~CJlactate were used to determine rates of apparent turnover, de novo production, disposal and interconversions of glucose and lactate, together with total recycling of glucose-C, in ewes and dairy cows during late pregnancy and early lactation. The cows were also examined while being fasted. In the fed animals, infusions were made within 5 h after the morning meal when steady-state conditions appeared to exist.2. In the ewes, circulating concentrations of glucose and lactate, and magnitudes of apparent turnovers of glucose and lactate, tended to be higher during lactation than during pregnancy, while the extent of interconversions of glucose and lactate tended to be lower.3. Although the metabolic pattern seen in the cows appeared to be similar to that of the ewes during pregnancy, there were clear differences during lactation. Thus, in the lactating cows, as compared with the lactating ewes, circulating concentrations of glucose and lactate were lower, as was apparent lactate turnover related to metabolic body-weight. Furthermore, the percentage of lactate turnover converted to glucose was higher.4. In the cows, fasting was characterized by low rates of apparent turnover of glucose and lactate and relatively high rates of interconversion of the two compounds.5. The results indicated that, under the conditions used in this study and when feeding is to recommended levels, carbohydrate metabolism in ewes is more precarious during late pregnancy than during early lactation, while in dairy cows it is more or less equally precarious in both physiological states.6. A further conclusion is that the extent of glucose-lactate interconversions, and thus Cori cycle activity, seems to be lower in ruminants than in other species.

This study set out to investigate tolerance of the body water pool to short-term water deprivation in horses and, in particular, to assess whether feral horses from the Namib Desert showed tolerance to dehydration superior to Transvaal. Hydration status was compared in six feral horses from the Namib Desert and in six Boerperd farm horses under conditions of normal hydration and after 72 h of dehydration. Under normal hydration, the two groups did not differ significantly in water intake, plasma sodium and potassium concentrations, plasma osmolality, hematocrit, total plasma protein, body water content, or water turnover (ml.kg-0.82.day-1). The Namib horses were significantly smaller (P less than 0.0001) and turned over 5 liters less water per day than the Boerperd during normal hydration and 4 liters less during dehydration. Increases in plasma sodium concentration after 72 h of dehydration were greater (P less than 0.05) in the Namib horses. It was concluded that horses can easily tolerate water deprivation that results in a 12% reductions in body mass. The feral horses of the Namib desert were not significantly different per unit mass from domestic horses with regard to indexes of total body water content under conditions of normal hydration and after 72 h of dehydration. Their smaller size and, hence, lower water turnover might be mechanisms they use for survival in the Namib Desert.

This chapter discusses the anatomy and physiology of the liver, and its role in ammonia metabolism and ureagenesis, amino acid metabolism and hepatic protein turnover.

Exogenous bovine growth hormone at a dose of 0·1 mg kg-1liveweight increased yields of milk and milk constituents and milk fat content when injected over 5 days into ewes in mid-lactation. These changes in milk production were associated with changes in the supply to, and utilization of, nutrients by leg muscle and mammary tissues.Arterial concentrations of glucose and non-esterified fatty acids increased significantly, concentrations of lactate and 3-hydroxybutyrate tended to increase, and concentrations of triglycerides associated with very low-density lipoproteins decreased significantly. Growth hormone increased mammary uptake of nonesterified fatty acids, decreased mammary uptake of very low-density lipoproteins and tended to reduce the release of lactate from leg muscle. Oxidation of non-esterified fatty acids in the whole body and mammary tissue was increased by growth hormone and there was a tendency for reduction of glucose oxidation in mammary tissues.During injection of growth hormone, blood flow to leg muscle and mammary tissues increased as did the calculated ratio of blood flow : milk yield. These changes in blood flow, together with changes in arterial concentrations and tissue utilizations of key metabolites, were sufficient to account for the synthesis of extra milk and milk constituents.Extra keywords: milk yield, milk components, arterio-venous differences of nutrients across leg muscle and mammary tissue, oxidation of glucose and non-esterified fatty acids, plasma triglycerides, blood flow.