Present study was conducted to examine the metabolism of bull spermatozoa under oxygen absence which was prepared by the use of culture tube reported before, 1) Glycolysis of spermatozoa under oxygen absence was almost similar to that of spermatozoa under anaerobic condition up to the incubation period for 120 minutes, but afterwards it decreased greatly. 2) Preincubation of washed spermatozoa for 2 hours at 37°C under oxygen absence decreased their subsequent motility, however, there was no appreciable effect on both respiratory and glycolytic activities of spermatozoa.

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The present work was undertaken to find out the compounds promoting the formation of cooked cured meat color in the high-molecular fraction of sarcoplasm from porcine skeletal muscle. High-molecular fraction of sarcoplasm was first separated by Sephadex G-100 (Superfine) gel filtration. Fraction number 14-18 (Kd=0-0.2, Fraction I), 22-33 (Kd=0.3-0.8, Fraction II) and 39-43 (Kd=1.0-1.2, Fraction III) were found to be highly active in color formation ability (CFA) and decomposition of nitrite. As Fractions I and II exhibited high reducing ability, there is no doubt that the SH groups, released during heat treatment from sarcoplasmic proteins in both fractions, participate significantly in the reaction process of the color formation. In spite of lower content of the proteins, Fraction I specifically enhanced the color formation. The Fraction I could further separate into two fractions, Fractions A (No.12-17, Kd=0-0.2) and B (No.22-33, Kd =0.4-0.8) by gel filtration on Sepharose 6B. The Fractions A was more effective in promoting the color formation on the basis of the protein concentration compared with that of Fraction B. These results demonstrated that the endogenous high-molecular compound(s) exhibiting the specific promoting effect on the color formation is present in Fraction A.

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Natural suckling behaviour of thirty-seven dairy calves during twenty-four hours after birth was observed via TV cameras and recorded. All calves stood during the observation time. The time taken by calves to stand was 73±63 min(M±SD)and over 80% of the calves stood within 90min after birth. The average time taken to the first suckling was 264±279 min, excluding one which failed to suckle during observation. Eighty one % of the calves started suckling during the first eight hours after birth. These measurements varied remarkably and no significant relationship was found to number of calvings of the dam, length of the pregnancy, sex of the calf, body weight at birth and time of the birth. Total time of standing and walking during observation was 350±87 min, much less than that of the dams(720±177 min). During the 1st-5th hours after birth, more time was spent for standing and walking than latter. Suckling spells were 10.1±5.5 during the 24 hours with the total time being 63.6±31.3min and actual suckling time 33.0±16.2min. The calves sucked fore-teats more than rear-teats(74:26, % in suckling time). The calf stood on right or left side of the dam and sucked generally the teats of the side(95.9% in time). Sucklings from the lying dam(1.7%)and through the hind legs of the dam(0.4%)were observed rarely.

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Experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of concentrates on nitrate metabolism of rumen microorganisms of sheep fed fresh high nitrate herbages. The chopped high nitrate Italian ryegrass and green amaranth were brought into the rumen of sheep through fistula with or without concentrates twice a day for about five days. The progressive increase of nitrite contents was recognized in the rumen of all animals received the Italian ryegrass alone, and the individual difference of nitrate reduction in the rumen seemed to be small in the late feeding period when rumen microorganisms adapted to nitrate. In the rumen of animals fed green amaranth, nitrate disappearance, nitrite appearance and followed disappearance were observed to be more rapid in animals fed with concentrates than those of animals fed without. This tendency was accelerated by increasing the concentrate intake. The ruminal pH did not fall to less than 6. 0 under these conditions and there were no wide differences of pH between with and without concentrates. The increase and followed decrease in blood methemoglobin were faster and their maximum values were lower in animals fed with concentrates. The addition of concentrates seemed to increase the rate of both nitrate and nitrite reduction by rumen microorganisms in vitro under the condition that the marked fall of media pH did not occur. From above results, it was concluded that the simultaneous feeding of concentrates with high nitrate herbages to ruminants might alleviate the severity of nitrate poisoning due to the rapid decrease and the fall of maximum values of methemoglobin in the blood, probably as the result of the vigorous reduction of nitrate and nitrite by rumen microorganisms.

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The relationship between true and apparent digestibility of crude protein (CP) was introduced from the definition of CP true digestibility; true digestibility (TD, %)=apparent digestibility (AD, %)+MFN×62.5/CP (%) in dry matter of diet, where MFN=metabolic fecal N, g/kg dry matter consumed. This equation shows that increasing CP content in diet increases its AD because TD and MFN are generally considered to be constant. Mean MFN determined by the regression method with young pigs using fish meal and casein diets was 1.53 under the conditions of the present experiments; average body weight of pigs 30kg, crude fiber content in diets 3-3.5%, daily feed intake 3-4.5% of body weight. The equation obtained by putting 1.53 in the place of MFN in the abov e equation can be used in order to compare digestibility of a diet with that of diet with a different CP content. A new method for calculation of AD in case that CP content of the basal diet is different from that of the experimental diet has been proposed on the basis of the present equation.

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Flavor characteristics and preferences were determined by each of the following 13 strains of lactic acid bacteria: Lactobacillus bulgaricus B5b and B-6, L, helveticus (L, jugurti) BC-10, B-1 and LH-1, L. acidophilus LAH, Streptococcus cremoris H-61 and H41-21, S. lactis SC-10 and 527, S. diacetilactis DRC-1 and 13675, and S. thermophilus 510. Volatile components in head-space gas of each fermented milk were analyzed by means of a gas chromatographic technique, and the relationship between the organoleptic features and the production of volatile materials was investigated. The main organoleptic features of milk fermented by S. cremoris or S. lactis, to which panel member expressed a greater preference, were sweet-smelling, milk flavor and refreshing sour taste. On the contrary, green, musty or off-flavor was offen detected in milk fermented by L. bulgaricus, L. helveticus, L. acidophilus or S. thermophilus, for which panel member showed less preference. Main volatile components identified in the head-space gas of the fermented milk were acetaldehyde, acetone, ethanol and diacetyl. Among these compounds, acetaldehyde and diacetyl were considered to have direct effects on the flavor of fermented milk. Most of panel member detected typical "green" or "aldehyde" flavor in the milk fermented by L. bulgaricus B5b, B-6 or L. acidophilus LAH, in which more than 20 ppm acetaldehyde was produced. Aldehyde of 7ppm was not enough to produce a desirable yogurt flavor. Diacetyl flavor was detected only in the milk fermented by S. diacetilactis DRC-1 or 13675, in which more than 1.5 ppm diacetyl was produced.

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A homologous double-antibody radioimmunoassay (RIA) for bovine thyrotropin (bTSH) has been developed. Antibody to bTSH was prepared by injecting with bTSH (NIH-TSH-B7) emulsified in Freund's complete adjuvant to guinea pigs. Antibody to guinea pig gamma globulin (GPGG) was prepared by immunizing rabbits with GPGG emulsified in Freund's complete adjuvant. In the RIA for bTSH, bovine prolactin did not show any significant cross-reaction. Bovine growth hormone, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone showed only a slight non-parallel inhibition. The inhibition curves of bovine plasma and pituitary TSH were parallel to that of bTSH standard (NIH-TSH-B7). The average recovery of bTSH added to bovine plasma was 104.6%. The sensitivity of the assay was 5ng/ml for the bTSH standard. The coefficients of variation within and between assays were 4.9% and 11.2%, respectively. Intravenous injection of synthetic thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) caused an elevation of plasma TSH concentration in lactating cows within 5min, and the peak level was observed after 15 to 20min. The elevation of plasma TSH after TRH administration in the lactating cow was completely inhibited by a short-term pretreatment with thyroid hormones.

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In ruminants such as cattle, the way of attachment of the diaphragm to the abdominal organs may have an important meaning to rumination. In the present study, by the use of bovine fetuses and neonates, the way of attachment particularly to the stomach was examined by observation of formalin-fixed materials and resin-casts of the alimentary canal along with the casts of thoracic and abdominal cavities. The caudal end of esophagus and the cardia were supplied mainly with muscular fibers from the right crus of the diaphragm. Main attachments to the stomach were those by muscular tissues from the left crus. The areas of the diaphragmatic attachment to the stomach showed parallel limbs, both dorso-caudal ends of which were connected like an inverted V-shape with a frontal view. The right limb of this inverted V-shape covered the cardiac region in association with muscular fibers from the right crus, extending backward to the dorsal surface of the cranial sac of rumen to reach the right dorsal surface of the dorsal sac of rumen. The left limb started from the dorsal surface of reticulum, extending backward to the left dorsal surface of the dorsal sac of rumen to reach the spleen. The connecting part of the both limbs was very thin in fetuses, becoming thicker, wider and more tight in neonates. Between these two limbs and under the bridge-like connection of both limbs, a blind tunnel-like space lined by a serous membrane with loose connective tissue was located to leave the so-called "Atrium ruminis" (NICKEL et al.) always free from the diaphragm. The foregoing observations may be helpful in considering the mechanism of rumination.

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The morphological observation of the reproductive organs and the mating test in male quail, treated with estrogen at an early embryonic stage, were carried out. The results were as follows: 1) Most of estrogen administered male quail showed poor swelling of the cloacal gland and disability of foam formation. Approximately 50 percent of birds had been treated with 0.1mg or 0.2mg of estradiol benzoate (E. B.) possessed deformed lips of the cloacal orifice. 2) The administration of exogenous estrogen diminished the size of the testes of the juvenile birds, but they recovered the normal size at their advanced age. 3) The disturbance of development of the ductus deferens was observed in some of the E. B. treated male, and approximately 50 percent in number of sexually matured male quail retained rudimentary oviduct in 0.1mg and 0.2mg groups. 4) In histological examination, the sperm was observed in most of the testes of sexually matured quail which had been treated with estrogen. The administration of estrogen at embryonic stage did not suppress the spermatogenesis of adult quail. 5) Only infertile eggs were obtained from normal females sired by males experienced high doses of estrogen (more than 0.1mg) during the embryonic lives, while a small number of fertile eggs were produced from normal females mated with males which had been treated with low doses of estrogen (0.01 and 0.02mg).

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