Influence of Mountanious Environments on the Blood Constituents in Grazing Steers

This experiement, one of the fundamental studies on increasing the productivity of beef cattle, was carried out to investigate the influence of the mountainous rearing environment on the blood constituents in grazing steers at Oishi Farm (800m in altitutde). The animals used here were Japanese Black steers, 8 months old at beginning of the experiment. The experimental period was about 7 months from May 29 till December 25. The number of red blood cells (RBC) and white blood cells (WBC), total protein (TP), glucose (SG) and total cholesterol (T. ch) concentrations in blood serum were estimated. The results obtained were as follows: 1) Average number of RBC and WBC during the entire period laid within the normal limits. However, the number of RBC increased gradually with age. It was assumed that this fact would be of much value for the object of improving the meat color. 2) Levels of TP were slightly down and maintained relatively constant levels at any age through the experimental period. The correlation of TP contents with TDN and DCP intake were statistically insignificant. 3) Serum glucose concentrations were influenced by feed intake and environmental temperatures but those levels remained in the physiologically normal range through the experimental period. 4) Average T. ch levels during the entire period laid nearly within the normal limits, although the levels tended to be down in summer time and to be raised from autumn time. 5) No problem was found in animal health during the entire period in each steers. 6) From analysing these results, it was possible to elavate by means of the feeding in mountainous regions, in spite of unfavourable environmental condition