Effect of Subclinical Helminthosis on nitrogen metobolism in beef cattle

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Abstract
SUMMARY The differential effect of subclinical helminthosis on digestion and nitrogen metabolism in 1-year-old Brahman x Hereford/Shorthorn cross and British (Hereford/Shorthorn cross) steers was investigated. When helminths were present, the British steers had lower digestibilities of dry matter and nitrogen, lower nitrogen balances, and higher dialysable faecal nitrogen, than had the Brahman cross steers. There were no breed differences in plasma gastrointestinal leakage (estimated by Cr labelling of plasma proteins), plasma content, total plasma protein, plasma protein half-life or plasma urea. When helminths were eliminated, plasma gastrointestinal leakage was reduced, and plasma content and total plasma protein were increased. These changes were relatively larger in the British steers. The Brahman crosses had lower plasma protein concentrations and higher plasma urea concentrations than the British steers. Plasma protein half-life was unaffected by parasites. The breed difference in the haematocrit was not affected by the presence or absence of helminths.