Two studies were conducted to determine the
effects of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and/or selenium (Se)
on the humoral immune response of weaned steers fed
diets deficient in these minerals. Steers were bled
weekly for eight weeks to measure plasma mineral
levels. Humoral immune response was measured as
antibody response to Keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH)
over seven weeks of the trials. Steers were injected
with 0.5 ml KLH vaccine on weeks 2 and 5 of the Zn
study. Ten steers (5 per treatment) were randomly
assigned to either a Zn supplemented (z), 3.25 ml
injectable zinc-oxide suspension (100 mg/ml oil) or a
control (c) treatment. Plasma Zn was maintained at
higher (P<.05) levels in supplemented steers from week
3 through week 8. Humoral immune response was not
different (P>.10) between treatments. In 1988, 20
steers were stratified by weaning weight and randomly
assigned to one of four treatments: 1) Injectable Se 1
ml Mu-Se/ 90.9 kg body weight, 2) Injectable Molycu 2
ml, 3) control, or 4) Se + Cu. Plasma Cu was higher
(P<.05) in treatments 2 and 4 from week 2 through 8.
Steers were injected with 0.5 ml of KLH vaccine on
weeks 2 and 6. Immune response was not different
(P>.10) between Cu supplemented steers and other
treatments. Plasma Se was higher (P<.05) in treatment
1 as compared to 2 and 3, but not different (P>.10)
from 4. Immune response was highest (P<.05) in
treatment 1 with others not different(P>.10). In 1990,
a second trial was conducted with 48 steers stratified
by weight and randomly assigned to one of the same four
treatments. Plasma Cu was higher (P<.05) on week 3 for
both groups receiving Cu. Plasma Se was higher (P<.05)
on weeks 2 through 5 for both groups receiving Se.
Humoral immune response was higher (P<.05) on weeks 7
and 8 for both groups receiving Se. Humoral immune
response was uneffected by Zn status of weaned beef
steers. Selenium had a positive effect and Cu had no
effect on humoral immune response of weaned beef
steers. Copper also tended (P=.07) to reduce the
positive response from Se. / Graduation date: 1991
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/37102 |
| Date | 03 May 1991 |
| Creators | Dill, Thomas O. |
| Contributors | Weber, Dale, Turner, Harley |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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