ARS | Publication request: PERFORMANCE AND SERUM VITAMIN E CONCENTRATION OF CALVES FED VITAMIN E SUPPLEMENTATION AT 100 OR 200 IU/CALF/DAY IN CALF MILK REPLACER (MIDWEST SECTION ADSA/ASAS)

Submitted to: American Dairy Science Association Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: July 27, 1998
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Two levels of supplemental vitamin E were included in calf milk replacers to evaluate performance, scour data and vitamin E status of Holstein bull calves. A total of 162 calves with an initial weight of 43.9 kg were randomly assigned according to body weight and blood gamma globulin concentration to one of two vitamin E treatments, 100 or 200 IU/calf/day. Milk replacers were formulated to contain 22% protein and 20% fat and were medicated with neoterramycin. Calves were individually housed in crates and fed 2 times daily at 0700 and 1615 hr. No dry calf starter was fed. Weight gains, milk replacer DM consumption, feed efficiency scour scores (1-4 scale; 1=normal; 2=loose; 3=water separation; 4=3 with severe dehydration), duration of scours and medication costs were calculated weekly and for the total 4-wk period. Serum vitamin E concentrations (ng/ml) of calves were measured at the beginning of study and at day 28. Total weight gain, milk replacer DM consumption, feed efficiency, scour score, duration of scours, and medication costs of calves fed milk replacer supplemented with 100 or 200 IU/calf/day of vitamin E were 11.79, 11.79 kg; 21.09, 21.08 kg; 2.16, 2.25; 1.18, 1.14; 3.76, 2.89 days and $5.29, $.46, respectively (p more than .05). Day 0 serum vitamin E concentrations were 531.6, 455.7, respectively (p more than .05). Day 28 serum vitamin E concentrations were 1667.3, 2577.8 ng/ml, respectively (p less than .05). These data indicate that there is no added benefit by increasing total vitamin E intake from 100 to 200 IU/calf/day except for increasing the concentration of vitamin E of serum.