Cattle

Urea is largely used as a fertilizer (ISy ), and as a non-protein feed supplement for sheep and cattle. The most important chemical use, which however accounts for only a small part of urea production, is in the manufacture of urea-formaldehyde resins. U is also used in the manufacture of adhesives, pharmaceuticals, dyes and various other materials. U.S. production 1981 7 0 megatonnes urea resins 1983 6 megatonnes. 

Nitriles react with ammonia, or primary or secondary amines in the presence of an acid catalyst to give amidines (Scheme 26) (75, 77, 81). The catalysts used are hydrochloric acid and aluminium chloride. The amidines are anthelmintics for animals such as sheep, goats, cattle, horses, and Swine. 

Sanger also determined the sequence of the A chain and identified the cysteine residues involved m disulfide bonds befween fhe A and B chains as well as m fhe disulfide linkage wifhin fhe A chain The complefe insulin sfruefure is shown m Figure 27 11 The sfruefure shown is fhaf of bovine insulin (from cattle) The A chains of human insulin and bovine insulin differ m only fwo ammo acid residues fheir B chains are identical except for the ammo acid at the C terminus... 

Economics. Estimates of anaboHc steroids in growing cattle indicate that savings associated with reduced feed costs are approximately 50.00 per animal. Increased value of the carcass resulting from the increased amount of saleable lean meat produced is estimated to range from 15.00 to 30.00 per animal. 

The FDA first approved use of a polyether ionophore as a feed additive for catde ia 1975. Ionophores were first isolated from bacteria generally of the Streptomjces genus, but are produced commercially by bacterial fermentation (qv). Monensia [17090-79-8] and other ionophores are being fed to over 90% of feedlot cattle grown for beef (53) to enhance efficiency of gain improvements of 5—10% are common. Ionophores also are used as anticoccidial dmgs ia poultry production and have similar, but lesser, effects ia mminants (54). 

The more variable responses with growing catde appear to result from lower doses, nutritional constraints, or lesser responsiveness of younger animals, ie, veal calves. A dose-dependent reduction in feed intake in finishing cattle, which also reduced average daily gain, has been observed (84). However, carcass composition was improved in a dose-dependent manner. 

Rotenone-containing iasecticides have been used as dusts of ground roots, dispersible powders, and emulsive extracts. Their principal uses have been for appHcation to edible produce just prior to harvest and for the control of animal ectoparasites and cattle gmbs. 

The fiber stmcture is very fine near the surface of the skin and this fine stmcture imparts a silky feel to the leather. The smaller the animal of a given species the finer the surface fibers. The value of the skin or hide is then dependent in part on this smoothness (2). Calfskin leathers are smoother and have a silkier feel than cattle hide leathers. Calfskin leather is used in the shoe uppers of high quahty, expensive men s and women s shoes, and specialty items. 

The manufacture of leather foUows the same general steps for a great variety of leathers (Fig. 2). The largest category of hides taimed is catde hides. Of the cattle hides chrome tanning of unhaired hides is by far the dominant system used throughout the world. The tanning of other types of hides and skins requires variations in the systems used for cattle hides (3). 

Fig. 2. Process flow diagram for the production of chrome-tanned cattle hide leather. Adapted from Ref. 3.

In 1956 selenium was identified (123) as an essential micronutrient iu nutrition. In conjunction with vitamin E, selenium is effective iu the prevention of muscular dystrophy iu animals. Sodium selenite is adrninistered to prevent exudative diathesis iu chicks, a condition iu which fluid leaks out of the tissues white muscle disease iu sheep and infertility iu ewes (see Eeed ADDITIVES). Selenium lessens the iacidence of pneumonia iu lambs and of premature, weak, and stillborn calves controls hepatosis dietetica iu pigs and decreases muscular inflammation iu horses. White muscle disease, widespread iu sheep and cattle of the selenium-deficient areas of New Zealand and the United States, is insignificant iu high selenium soil areas. The supplementation of animal feeds with selenium was approved by the U.S. EDA iu 1974 (see Eeed additives). Much of selenium s metaboHc activity results from its involvement iu the selenoproteia enzyme, glutathione peroxidase. 

Sodium is an indispensable element for some crops (notably sugar beet), can partially substitute for potassium in several crops, contributes to neutralising soil and subsoil acidity, and has a positive effect on soil phosphoms solubiUty. Sodium is an essential nutrient for cattle, and sodium appHcation to soil increases its content in pastures. Sodium nitrate is particularly effective as a nitrogen source for sugar beet, vegetable crops, tobacco, and cotton (qv), and for any crop in acid soils. 

Nutritional Requirements of Dairy Cattle 3rd ed.. National Academy of Science, National Research Council, Washiagton, D.C., 1966, p. 1349. 

Nutrition. Zinc is essential to the proper functioning of plants and animals and, as zinc sulfate and oxide, it is used as a feed supplement (49—51) (see Mineral nutrients Feedsand feed additives). Most crops use less than a kilogram of zinc per 1000 m per year, so that zinc salts added at 1.3—4.5 kg/ha gradually build up the zinc reserve (52). Animals, including humans, store relatively Htde available zinc and, thus, require a constant supply in the diet. For instance, beef cattle require 10—30 mg/kg dry feed, dairy cattle 40 mg/kg, and breeding hens 65 mg/kg. Zinc from plants is considered less available to monogastric aminals than zinc from animal protein. 

Anticoccidial Activity. The 1968 report that claimed monensin has activity against Eimeria sp., particularly E. tenella E. macdma., and E. acervulina greatly altered the prevention and control of coccidiosis in poultry (172). It is estimated that the polyether ionophores presently constitute more than 80% of the total worldwide usage of anticoccidials (173). Lasalocid and monensin have been approved for use in control of coccidiosis in cattle. 

Because feed comprises over 80% of the cost of producing and fattening cattle, the maximum utilization of ever increasingly expensive rations is of upmost importance (179). Monensin under the trade name of Rumen sin (Elanco Products) was introduced in 1976 at a recommended level of 30 ppm in cattle feed. Lasalocid having the trade name Bovatec (Hoffmann-LaRoche, Inc.) was marketed some years later. 

Salinomycin (180) and narasin (128) have been reported to be effective in improving feed efficiency but neither has been marketed for this use. Laidlomycin propionate (Syntex, Inc.) and tetronasin (Coopers Animal Health, Inc.) have been under investigation in cattle and sheep (181,182). 

---