VITAMIN-A STATUS OF NEONATAL FOALS ASSESSED BY SERUM RETINOL CONCENTRATION AND A RELATIVE DOSE-RESPONSE TEST

The objective of the study was to evaluate the vitamin A status of the newborn foal. Serum retinol and the relative dose response (RDR) test between 12 and 24 hours postpartum were used to assess vitamin A stat us in 28 Thoroughbred foals born to mares in 3 different feed groups b eing supplemented with vitamin A palmitate, beta-carotene or a placebo . A correlation was found between foal and mare serum. Serum retinol l evels were lower and RDRs were higher in the newborns than in the mare s. No differences were found between foals born of mares with differen t vitamin A supplementation.