J. Anim Sci.
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J. Anim Sci. 1959. 18:288-297.
© 1959 American Society of Animal Science
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Relative Value of Carotene from Alfalfa and Vitamin A from a Dry Carrier Fed to Lambs and Pigs1

G. S. Myers, Jr., H. D. Eaton and J. E. Rousseau, Jr.2

Storrs (Conn.) Agricultural Experiment Station,3

Abstract

Graded levels, 40, 80, 160 and 320 mcg. of carotene from artificially dehydrated alfalfa leaf meal or, 8, 16, 24 and 32 mcg. of vitamin A from a dry carrier per lb. of live weight per day were added to vitamin A depletion rations of 24 lambs and 32 pigs, partially depleted of their vitamin A stores, for a period of 6 weeks duration. Daily gains were not affected. Plasma vitamin A concentrations increased at diminishing rates and liver vitamin A concentrations increased at essentially constant rates with increasing intakes of carotene or vitamin A. Liver vitamin A was transformed to logarithms to minimize variances and along with plasma vitamin A resulted in essentially linear regressions on logarithms of intake. A greater rate of response with increasing vitamin A intake than with increasing carotene intake was observed. The relative values of carotene to vitamin A were determined from these linear regressions. Based on plasma vitamin A, the following carotene to vitamin A (alcohol) ratios on a weight basis were found: At the 40 mcg. carotene intake level, for the lambs 8:1 and for the pigs 6:1; at 80 mcg., respectively, 9:1 and 7:1; at 160 mcg., 11:1 and 9:1; and at 320 mcg., 13:1 and 11:1. Similar values based on log liver vitamin A were: At the 40 mcg. carotene intake level, 6:1 and 4:1; at 80 mcg., 8:1 and 5:1; at 160 mcg., 10:1 and 7:1; and at 320 mcg., 13:1 and 9:1.

Footnotes

1 This study was made in part with funds provided by Wirthmore Feeds Inc., Boston, Mass. The vitamin A supplement was supplied through the courtesy of Dr. M. Hochberg, Nopco Chemical Co., Harrison, N. J., and the B-complex vitamin and antibiotic supplements fed to the pigs by Dr. Ralph Elliott, American Cyanamid Co., Pearl River, N. Y. B. A. Donohue, T. Watts and R. Landeck cared for the animals; Mrs. Mae Miller and Mrs. Elaine Trantum provided computational assistance; and Don Grant aided in obtaining the lambs and pigs. We are indebted to Dr. H. J. Fisher, Conn. Agr. Exp. Sta., New Haven, for the proximate analyses of the feedstuffs. The data are in part from a thesis submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Connecticut by the senior author as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the M.S. degree.

2 Present address: U. S. Fishery Products Lab., Ketchikan, Alaska.

3 Animal Industries Department.






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Copyright © 1959 by the American Society of Animal Science.