Calf rearing in the tropics: growth rates and utilisation of milk substitute diets.

Twelve Brahman (Bos indicus) and 36 Holstein (Bos taurus) calves in Trinidad were fed on an amount of milk substitute equivalent to either 10 or 20% of their body weight each day. The diets contained either 10, 20 or 30% added fat. Nutrient balances were studied for 21 days. The liveweight gains of the calves depended on the quantity of milk fed and the breed of calf (Holstein greater than Brahman) but were independent of fat level. The Brahman calves were reluctant to accept milk substitute from a bucket. The digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen and fat was slightly higher for the Holstein than for the Brahman calves but there was little difference between the ME requirements for the 2 breeds.

The effect of short-term total parenteral nutrition on hepatic function in the human neonate: a prospective randomized study demonstrating alteration of hepatic canalicular function.

Twenty-one infants who were candidates for TPN because of respiratory disease were randomized into experimental (TPN) and control (glucose-electrolyte) groups. Serum GOT, GPT, GGTP, 5' nucleotidase, total, direct, and conjugated (ethyl anthranilate-reactive) bilirubin, and bile salt concentrations were determined at entry into the study and at one week. One week of TPN caused significant elevations of GGTP, 5'-N and EA bilirubin values, whereas SGOT, SGPT, SBS, and total and direct bilirubin were unaffected. Addition of a lipid infusion to TPN did not alter these differences. These data are interpreted as showing: (1) amino acid infusion has an early effect on hepatic function which is independent of the many diseases for which this therapy is used and of the concomitant use of lipid; (2) the initial effect appears to be on the canalicular membrane; and (3) the sinusoidal membrane is apparently unaffected by one week of TPN.