Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate whether vitamin E supplements in larger amounts than recommended could reduce incidence of disease, improve immune competence, and increase rate of weight gain of conventionally barley-fed beef cattle.Mean daily intake of vitamin E by individual calves in the experimental group was 200 mg during the first 2 mo, 400 mg during the next 2 mo, and 600 mg during the rest of the period. Corresponding daily intakes of vitamin E for the control group were 50, 100, and 150 mg.Mean plasma vitamin E of the experimental group increased from .49 mg/L at the start of the trial to 2.03 mg/L at the end, but that of the control group was lower at the end (.36 mg/L) than at the beginning (.53 mg/L). No significant differences were observed between the groups concerning incidence of disease or magnitude of lymphocyte stimulation.The results indicated that there was a surprisingly poor biological availability of the dietary vitamin. Therefore, a comparison in reality was made between calves with inadequate and normal vitamin E status. The differences in daily BW gain and time to reach slaughter weight thus probably were effects of the low vitamin E status rather than positive effects of additional vitamin in the diet.

Keywords

VITAMIN-E SUPPLEMENTATION; IMMUNE STATUS; WEIGHT GAIN; DISEASE INCIDENCE

Published in

Journal of Dairy Science
1991, Volume: 74, number: 3, pages: 1054-1059
Publisher: AMER DAIRY SCIENCE ASSN

SLU Authors

• Pehrson, Bo

  • Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Fossum, Caroline

  • Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Animal and Dairy Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(91)78255-6

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/106581