Effect of colostral beta-carotene and vitamin A on vitamin and health status of newborn calves

The present study was conducted to clarify the relationship between colostr al and plasma vitamin A and beta -carotene. and to evaluate the effect of v itamin status on diarrhea and anemia of 46 Holstein newborn calves at 6 day s of age. Colostral beta -carotene and vitamin A concentrations at parturit ion ranged from 17.8 to 342.9 and from 33-.9 to 350.0 mug/dl, respectively. Plasma beta -carotene and vitamin A of calves increased at 6 days of age. Colostral beta -carotene at parturition was positively correlated with plas ma beta -carotene of calves at 6 days of age. but there was no significant correlation between colostral and plasma vitamin A. Fecal DM concentration of calves decreased at 6 days of age, and fecal DM of calves at birth and 6 days of age ranged from 21.2 to 44.2 and from 11.7 to 40.6%, respectively. Plasma beta -carotene and plasma vitamin 4 were positively correlated with fecal DM, but no correlations were observed between plasma vitamins and er ythropoiesis components. These results suggest that beta -carotene status o f calves at 6 days of age is dependent on colostrum concentrations of beta -carotene and affects the occurrence of diarrheal and vitamin A status depe nds on colostral vitamin A and placental vitamin A transfer during gestatio n. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.