Vol. 45, No. 3, 2001 content next

THE EFFECT OF FEED WITH VARIOUS HIGH-ENERGY LEVELS ON ANATOMICAL AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN ARCTIC FOXES

Kopczewski, A.1, Nozdryn-Płotnicki, Z.2, Ondrašovič, M.5, Bis-Wencel, H.3, Saba, L.3, Zoń, A.4, Sławoń, J.4, Strzałkowski, L.1, Ulewicz, W.1

1Section for Veterinary Hygiene
Gdańsk
Poland		 2Department of Pathological Anatomy of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
UA Lublin
Poland		 3Laboratory of Biology and Animal Reproduction
UA Lublin
Poland		 4Institute of Zootechnics
Cracow
Poland		 5Department of Environmental Protection
University of Veterinary Medicine
Košice
The Slovak Republic

Summary

The influence of feed with various energy levels on the health of the arctic fox was investigated with a special concern for anatomical and histopathological changes. The study took place in the years 1998-1999 on four farms, A, B, C and D, with 270, 700, 200 and 120 animals respectively in the basic skulks. The foxes on farms A and B were fed feed with energy levels from 1155 to 1410 metabolizable energy (ME) per kg feed, expressed in kJ/kcal, and those on farms C and D from 1539 to 1680 ME.kg-1.
Foxes on farm D were divided into a control group with the lower energy content (1539 kcal) and experimental groups A and B supplied feed with the highest energy content (1680 kcal). The feed on the farms C and D was preserved with sodium pyrosulphite (0.2%) and an antioxidant Rendox (300 g.t-1) and improved with premix Ewomix and Taiga Fur Iron at a dose of 1 kg.t-1. In the experimental group A on farm D feed was supplemented with vitamin E and selenium in the form of premix Furomix E. In July, September, and November, 6 blood samples were collected from each group once per month for haematological and biochemical examination, 10 anal swabs were examined microbiologically and 3 foxes were subjected to euthanasia and dissected for anatomical, histopathological and microbiological examination.
The results obtained showed that an increase in feed energy content caused a significant increase in the body weight of the foxes and an improvement in the quality of hair. The anatomical and histopathological findings in individual groups of animals did not differ. Nevertheless, high-energy feeding caused vacuolar and fatty degeneration of the liver and kidneys, while the increased supply of vitamin E and selenium in the premix Furomix E reduced or suppressed the intensification of degenerative processes.

Key words: arctic fox (Alopex lagopus); feeding; anatomical and histopathological changes

References

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Folia Veterinaria / 2001