Alpha-tocopherol concentrations were measured in plasma, liver and adipose tissue of young sheep given dl-alpha-tocopherol acetate, orally or subcutaneously, at dosages of 0, 15, 30, 60 or 120 mg/kg liveweight while the sheep consumed a pelleted diet containing less than 10 mg/kg dry matter alpha-tocopherol. Significant responses in plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations were observed after 1 and 4 days in sheep given oral doses of the vitamin but not in those given subcutaneous injections. Variation between animals within treatment groups was not reduced by expressing plasma alpha-tocopherol as a ratio of various plasma lipid fractions. Oral doses of 30 and 120 mg/kg liveweight of alpha-tocopherol increased the mean liver alpha-tocopherol concentrations at 7 days, but only the highest dose significantly increased liver concentrations above that of untreated sheep at 1 and 2 months. Increases in mean liver alpha-tocopherol concentrations were observed 1 month after subcutaneous injections, at dosages above 15 mg/kg liveweight, suggesting a slow mobilisation of the vitamin from the injection site. Concentrations of alpha-tocopherol in adipose tissue were not altered by alpha-tocopherol treatment. Plasma and liver alpha-tocopherol concentrations were positively correlated, although vitamin E treatments and time from treatment had small but significant effects on this relationship. The results suggest that oral dosage is preferable to subcutaneous injection when administering alpha-tocopherol acetate to sheep. An oral dose of 120 mg/kg liveweight will probably maintain adequate liver alpha-tocopherol concentrations for a period of about 2 months in sheep consuming diets of low vitamin E content.

No abstract

SUMMARY Tests for the detection of animals heterozygous for a‐mannosidosis were undertaken on samples taken from 34,203 cattle registered with the Angus Society of Australia. Results indicates 1,836 (5.4%) of the animals were heterozygotes. Heterozygotes were detected in 214 (51%) of the herds examined.

The stereochemistry of naturally occurring odorine has been established as (+)-(E,2S,2?R)-2-methyl-N-[1'-(1''-oxo-3''-phenylprop-2'- enyl)pyrrolidin-2'-yl]butanamide by synthesis of (-)-odorine and (+)- dihydroodorine from L-proline.

In sheep on pasture of high Mo content a single intramuscular injection of CuHep providing 37.5 mg Cu to adults or 25 mg Cu to weaners will raise liver Cu reserves for at least 9 and 3 months respectively and may be an acceptable alternative to COWP for preventing seasonal Cu deficiency in sheep in southern Australia.