Bock, B. and Russell, R.

The present experiment was aimed to verify if Cr-EDTA and Co-EDTA are useful as tracers of the glucose distribution volume (GDV) in ewes. Ewes (n equal to 3) fitted with indwelling jugular cannulas and urinary catheters were injected with a single bolus of L-3-glucose, known to be an excellent tracer of GDV, and doses of Cr- and Co-EDTA. The curves of plasma clearance from tracers, and of urine excretion of tracers were analysed. No difference was found in the rate of plasma clearance from L-3H-glucose, compared with the chelates, and between the doses and asymptotic values calculated by exponential analysis of plasma clearance and urinary excretion. However, GDV, measured by using L-3H-glucose as tracer, tended to be greater (p less than 0.12) than measured by using the EDTA-chelates as tracers. Crand Co-EDTA have potential to be useful as tracers of GDV, but additional work with greater numbers of sheep should be carried out before the method is routinely used.

Recent advances in small ruminant nutrition

Proc. Seminar of the FAO-CIHEAM Network of Cooperative Research on Sheep and Goats