Crha J., J. Stfi~, M. Skfivanek, Z. Valach: Rumen Ciliates in Lamb Postnatal Ontogenesis. Acta vet. Bmo, 60, 1991: 137 -141.The development of rumen microfauna in 7 Merino lambs from birth to 3 months was investigated. In the first week after birth, the genus Entodinium appeared; in the second week Polyplastron multivesiculatum; in the third week ,Eremoplastron bovis and Enoploplastron triloricatum; in the 5th week Diploplastron affine and Isotricha prostoma; and in the 8th week Ophryoscolex tricoronatus and Dasytricha ruminantium. The average numbers of ciliates were 7 x 10 8 .ml-l in the second and third weeks, 6 x 10 8 .ml-l in the 4th week, and later they oscillated between 3 x 10' and 1 x 10'.ml-l rumen liquor. Ciliates, rumen, ontogen, sheepKnowledge of the forestomach microfauna in the young of ruminants is essential for understanding oftheir preruminant digestion (Oxford 1955; Bryant et a1. 1958;Hungate 1966; Fonty et a1. 1984). Contact with adults provides the original colonization by microfauna ). Data on rumen ecology are necessary for efficient use of various feed additives that may cause changes in rumen metabolism and digestion of the organic matter and thus substantially influence performance of the animals.The aim of the present work is to study the occurrence of the individual ciliate species in the young ruminants and to compare their rumen microfauna with that of the contacted adult individuals. Materials and MethodsA group of 7 Merino lambs born within a week in the Cooperative Farm Bofitov was used in the study. The animals were examined for 3 months from the first week of life. From birth to 3 weeks of age the lambs were placed in pens with their mothers and were separated from other animals. From week 4 they were placed with other lambs and had contact with their dams during sucking. Until week 9 they were allowed to suck at any day or night time from their mothers placed in a neighbouring pen. From the end of week 9, they were gradually weaned.From week 3, the lambs were fed ground meal in the morning, from week 7 they were given granulated alfalfa. From week 8, they were fed a concentrate mixture for lambs, in the morning and hay with granulated alfalfa in the afternoon, and water. After weaning they were fed concentrate for lambs, hay and water.Samples of rumen fluid were collected once weekly at the same time of day with a special oesophageal tube and underpressure pump. The collection apparatus was rinsed and disinfected prior to each sampling. The collected rumen fluid was immediately mixed with 10 % formaldehyde.To compare microfauna of mothers and their young, in the second week after delivery, the rumen fluid of the dams was collected, too.Prior to microscopical examination each formaldehyde-treated sample was shaken, a part of it was placed into a Fuchs-Rosenthal counting chamber and the numbers of ciliates in 1 ml rumen

StfU, J., Jagos, P., Pokorny, L.: Influence of EDTACAL Spofa Application on Some Biochemical and Hematological Parameters in Sheep Blood. Acta vet. Bmo, 54, 1985: 61-71. In five clinically healthy sheep of the Caucasian merino breed the effect of EDTACAL Spofa application at the dose of 40 mg.kg-1 of the live body mass, applied i.v. once daily in the duration of 5 days, upon the values of 23 biochemical and hematological parameters in blood has been followed. The EDTACAL treatment induced a marked (P < 0.05 -< 0.01) increase of the values of urea, glucose, magnesium (even from the initially hypomagnesiemic levels), blood pH, BE, SB, BB, and on the other hand a marked decrease was seen of the zinc levels (down to the subnormal level), copper, leukocyte count, GMT activity. Moreover, statistically insignificant rise of sodium, potassium, inorganic phosphorus, Hb, % of methemoglobin levels and an insignificant fall of calcium, cholesterol, hematocrit, erythrocyte count, AST activity and later even of sodium level was found. The increase of pC02 values was almost undetectable; insignificant changes were found in the total protein. Following the application of the preparation the values of urea, sodium, magnesium, zinc, copper, pH of blood, GMT activity and of leukocyte count were observed to increase already after 24 hours and of pCOa, BE, SB and BB after two days. The increase in Hb and glucose levels was found after 3 and 4 days, resp. The AST activity decreased only after the cessation of the application. The return to the initial values appeared in most parameters, being established gradually within 2 to 5 days following the cessation of the preparation administration; only the changes in GMT, blood pH and leukocyte count were observed to outlast for further 5 days. The effect of EDTACAL upon the acid-base balance was found to be alkalogenic. EDT ACAL also stabilized some parameters by decreasing the individual daily variations (urea, sodium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, hemoglobin, erythrocytes, leukocytes), and levelled also the differences between individual animals (urea, glucose, sodium, calcium, zinc, erythrocytes and leukocytes). The EDTACAL influence during its application was thus manifested by a broader interference with various metabolic processes in the experimental animal.