The Individuality of the Level of Blood Glutathione in Young Beef Cattle

Abstract
The reduced glutathione content of blood was determined in Hereford, Angus, and Brahman cattle 9–13 months of age. In the Hereford and the Angus breeds repeatability estimates ranging from 0.74 to 0.97 were obtained with subsequent determinations made one to six months apart. The average level of blood glutathione was found to be significantly lower in the Hereford breed than in Angus or Brahman cattle. A preliminary heritability estimate of 0.86 was obtained for the glutathione level in young Hereford cattle. Twenty-five percent of the variation in glutathione level in the Herefords could be accounted for by variation in the hemoglobin concentration. No significant relationship of the level of glutathione with hemoglobin content of blood was noted in the Brahman cattle. It is believed that these data provide definite and specific evidence of biochemical individuality in cattle.

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