ARS | Publication request: EFFECTS OF SUPPLEMENTATION WITH VITAMIN A AND VITAMIN E ON HEALTH AND WEIGHT GAIN OF NEONATAL CALVES

Submitted to: American Dairy Science Association Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: June 23, 1997
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Twenty-four Holstein bull calves were used to determine the effects of supplementation with one of two forms of vitamin E with one of four levels of vitamin A. Calves were separated from their dams immediately postpartum and were fed pooled colostrum at 5% of their body weight. Twelve hours after the colostrum feeding, calves were fed milk replacer not containing vitamin A or vitamin E at 5% of body weight. Vitamin supplements were added to the milk replacer at each feeding. The four levels of retinyl palmitate were 0, 1700, 34000, or 68000 IU daily. Vitamin E supplementation was 100 IU daily of d-alpha-tocopherol or d-alpha-tocopheryl acetate. Calves remained on trial through 28 days. Calves were weighed weekly before the PM feeding, and the amount of milk replacer fed was adjusted for 5% of body weight per feeding. Fecal scores were recorded at each feeding. Data for plasma concentrations of vitamins are presented in a companion paper. There was no effect of vitamin supplementation on average fecal scores of supplemented calves. There was an effect of vitamin A supplementation on average daily gain (P=0.0255).