Serum constituents and metabolic hormones in sheep and cattle fed Kochia scoparia hay.

Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad. is a prospective forage crop for arid areas, although its potential value is constrained by occasional toxicity that may involve alteration of metabolic hormones. The present research compared serum clinical profiles and metabolic hormone concentrations in steers and wethers fed kochia hay (85% OM, 13% CP, 45% ADF, and 6.3% total oxalate) to those of suitable controls that were pair-fed equal amounts of DM as alfalfa hay (91% OM, 13% CP and 42% ADF). Eight steers (240 +/- 2 kg BW) that were pair-fed kochia or alfalfa hay for 21 d had similar levels of serum insulin (INS) or somatotropin (GH), but kochia lowered prolactin (PRL) (6.0 vs 118 ng/ml; P = .14). Kochia hay did not elevate serum bilirubin at d 21 in these steers; however, lactic dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase activities were elevated 1.3-fold (P less than .05). Ten fine-wool wethers (29 +/- kg BW) pair-fed kochia or alfalfa hay for 21 d had similar levels of PRL and INS at d 0, 5, 10, and 21; however, GH was lower in wethers fed kochia at d 5 (P less than .05) and somewhat lower at d 10 and 21. Kochia elevated serum unconjugated bilirubin 1.25-fold over pair-fed controls (P = .06) and increased (P less than .05) activities of aspartate and alanine aminotransferases. Metabolic hormone responses to kochia hay differed in steers vs wethers during undemutrition and mild toxicosis that occurred within 3 wk.