Effect of protein supplementation on the pathophysiology Cooperia puncatata infection of naive Holstein Friesian calves.

Author(s)

Ricardo Osorio de Oliveira

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI)
• Defense date: 2001-03-30

Examining board members

Maria Cecilia Reale Vieira Bressan; Laerte Grisi; Alejandro Miguel Katzin

• Advisor: Maria Cecilia Reale Vieira Bressan

Abstract

The study of protein levels offered to cattle is very important when one aims at nematode control, since they can effectively affect the development of parasitic infection. The effect of two different levels - 18.5% and 8.6% CP on DM basis on the pathophysiology of Cooperia punctata infection on naive calves was examined. Aiming at determine if protein supplementation allow animals to better withstand parasitic challenge, several parameters were evaluated: body composition, nitrogen retention, clinical evolution, weight gain, carcass yeld, quantitative and qualitative assessment of parasitic burden and histopathology. Supplemented animal presented a milder clinical signs, lost less weight, had higher carcass yeld, greater tecidual lesions, higher urinary nitrogen excretion, expelled parasites to distal parts of gastrointestinal tract and showed a 3.6 greater efficiency for nitrogen retention than animal kept on basal diet. It became clear that protein supplementation resulted in benefits to infected animals. (AU)