J. Anim Sci.
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J. Anim Sci. 1953. 12:765-770.
© 1953 American Society of Animal Science
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Serum Alkaline Phosphatase Activity in European and Brahman Breeds of Cattle and their Crossbred Types1

H. O. Kunkel, David K. Stokes, Jr., W. B. Anthony2 and Mary F. Futrell

Texas Agricultural Experiment Station

Abstract

The alkaline phosphatase was determined in a total of 299 cattle using para-nitrophenyl phosphate as the substrate. The animals in this study included animals of the Bos taurus or European breeds, of the Bos indicus or Brahman breeds, and of some of their crosses. The following conclusions may be drawn:

  1. The average of serum alkaline phosphatase activities of immature Brahman cattle is approximately twice that of the European breeds of the same age.
  2. Crossbreds such as the offspring of crosses between the Brahman and the Hereford or Jersey, and the Santa Gertrudis breed have phosphatase levels which fall between the European and Brahman breeds.
  3. Although the alkaline phosphatase activity of bovine serum decreases with age, Brahman cattle continue to have the higher phosphatase levels.
  4. Selection for dairy type as opposed to selection for beef type has little or no significant effect on the serum alkaline phosphatase. Sex has no marked effect.
  5. Repeatability of the serum alkaline phosphatase within groups of Angus or Hereford bulls or Hereford steers is low, suggesting a considerable effect of environmental factors.
  6. In Hereford and Angus bulls, the phosphatase level appears to be negatively correlated with factors affecting rate of gain, efficiency of feed utilization and feed intake.

Footnotes

1 This investigation was conducted in cooperation with the Bureau of Animal Industry, United States Department of Agriculture, as a part of the Southern Regional Beef Cattle Breeding Project S-10 and the Texas Project of the Southern Regional Dairy Cattle Breeding Project S-3. The cooperation of Mr. Thomas C. Cartwright and Dr. B. L. Warwick of the Bluebonnet Farm, and of Dr. R. R. Shrode of the Department of Genetics, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, in obtaining some of the blood samples is gratefully acknowledged.

2 Present address: Department of Animal Husbandry and Nutrition, Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Auburn, Alabama.

3 Departments of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Husbandry, College Station, Texas.






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Copyright © 1953 by the American Society of Animal Science.