MINERAL METABOLISM AND HORMONE LEVELS IN SERVICING BULLS RED-MOTLEY BREED

Abstract

The state of mineral metabolism, the level of enzymes as well as the content of endogenous
hormones such as testosterone, estradiol, cortisol, thyroxine in domestic red-motley breed bulls aged 2-11
years, in the number of 8 animals on the day of semen collection in the Chernozem zone of the Russian
Federation (Voronezh region) have been studied. The research was carried out by employees of the All
Russian Research Institute of Animal Breeding on the base of JSC “Вreeding enterprise "Voronezhskoye"
using modern equipment and reagents (biochemical analyzer Chem-Well-2902, Awareness Technology Inc,
USA; atomic-absorption spectrometer Kvant-2A, Russia; immune-enzymatic reactions analyzer Uniplan
AIFR-01, CJSC "Immunotech", Russia). Endogenous hormones were determined in duplicate. It was found
that age affects the level of enzymes in animals. Concentrations of аspartatе аminotransferase (AST) and
alanine aminotransferase (ALT) increase with age, while the level of alkaline phosphatase decreases from
161,56 ME/l to 61,87 ME/l (p<0,01). Concentrations of testosterone (p<0.05) and estradiol (p<0.05) increase
significantly with age. There is also an increase in cortisol levels, but not at a significant level. The refined
characteristics of the metabolic profile of bulls of red-motley breeds obtained in the present study, reflecting
the level of enzymes and minerals and the age dynamics of endogenous hormones, can be used for solving
problems of practical breeding in the programs of improvement of the breed and the technology of bulls
operation at the domestic breeding enterprises.