[The redox status of the blood plasma in cattle from ecological farming--1. Influence of genotype and age on the antioxidant defence capacity in the blood plasma].

The present study examined the effects of race and age on the redox potential behavior of blood plasma samples. The oxidative stability was studied in the reaction with p-benzoquinone. The investigated animals represented three different cattle races (Limousin, Angus and Hereford), grazed on pasture. The blood samples from clinical healthy heifers (44) and calves (45) were investigated. The following parameters were determined: the start level of redox potential and the level after adding 10, 20, and 30 mg p-benzoquinone to the samples. The analyses of the redox potentials showed the advantage of oxidative stability of heifers compared with calves. The results showed a significant effect of race on the redox potential behavior of blood plasma.