Effects of d-a-Tocopherol and dietary energy on growth and health of pre-ruminant dairy calves.

Authors: KRUEGER, LUCAS - Iowa State University; BEITZ, DONALD - Iowa State University; ONDA, KEN - Iowa State University; OSMAN, MOHAMMED - Iowa State University; O'NEIL, MATT - Iowa State University; LEI, SAMANTHA - Iowa State University; STUART, ROBERT - Stuart Products Incorporated; TYLER, HOWARD - Iowa State University; Nonnecke, Brian

Submitted to: Iowa State University Animal Industry Report
Publication Type: Research Technical Update
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/6/2013
Publication Date: 2/5/2014
Citation: Krueger, L., Beitz, D., Onda, K., Osman, M., O'Neil, M., Lei, S., Stuart, R., Tyler, H., Nonnecke, B.J. 2014. Effects of d-a-Tocopherol and dietary energy on growth and health of pre-ruminant dairy calves.. Iowa State University Animal Industry Report. Animal Science Leaflet R2880.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Neonatal dairy calves throughout the United States are commonly fed pasteurized whole milk as the primary dietary component during their first several weeks of life. Whole milk fails to meet the recommendations for dietary inclusion of vitamins D and E for neonatal calves put forth by the National Research Council (2001). Vitamins A, D, and E are all thought to affect innate and cell-mediated immune responses by aiding cell proliferation and differentiation as well as oxidative burst function. All of these functions may vary according to energy status of the animal. As the neonatal calf does not produce measurable endogenous antibody until several weeks of age, these innate and cell mediated immune responses are critical for health. The objective of this study was to characterize the effects of both energy and vitamin supplementation on the growth and health of Holstein bull calves.