M. Hidiroglou et al., CHANGES IN PLASMA ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL AND SELENIUM OF GESTATING COWS FEDHAY OR SILAGE, Journal of dairy science, 77(1), 1994, pp. 190-195
The effects of dietary hay or silage on plasma alpha-tocopherol and Se
concentrations during late gestation and early lactation were studied
using 40 crossbred pregnant cows and their calves. Cows received sole
ly either timothy hay or grass silage forage from midgestation to earl
y lactation and 21 d prior to estimated calving were or were not injec
ted with Se (30 mg) and alpha-tocopherol (3000 IU). Five blood samples
were collected for determination of concentrations of alpha-tocophero
l and Se twice during late gestation and three times after calving. Bl
ood samples from calves were collected at birth and at 10 and 30 d of
age. Serum concentrations of alpha-tocopherol were low at birth for bo
th groups of calves and ranged from .83 to 1.08 mug/ml of plasma. Hay
had less alpha-tocopherol than silage (15 vs. 35 ppm in the DM). Cows
fed silage had significantly higher plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrat
ions (3.41 mug/ml) than cows fed hay (2.25 mug/ml). Cows given one sub
cutaneous injection of Se plus alpha-tocopherol preparation had signif
icantly higher Se concentration in plasma (30 ng/ml) than did cows in
the control group (17 ng/ml). The Se concentration in the placenta of
cows that were injected with the Se preparation was significantly high
er (64 ppm) than that in the control (47 ppm). Plasma Se concentration
of calves at birth was correlated significantly with that of dams soo
n after parturition.