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The effects of an atypical blindness-producing ration upon the vitamin K and C content of calf blood

University of Wisconsin

Abstract

Previous work by Phillips and Bohstedt (6) with rabbits indicated that the atypical blindness-producing ration used by Walker (8) was primarily deficient in vitamin A or its precursors. Later Moore (5) concluded that constriction of the optic nerve and papillary edema were associated, that night blindness was a separate process, but that all were caused by the same deficiency.

In order to check the rabbit work done on this problem an experiment was planned to test the adequacy of the Walker ration when higher amounts of crystalline carotene were fed. For this purpose 3 Holstein heifer calves were selected at 8–10 weeks of age. One was vealed and liver analyses made. The other two were placed on experiment. Skim milk and the basal ration were fed until they could be shifted to the basal ration entirely. The basal ration was that used by Walker (8) and was composed of white corn, 22 parts; linseed oil meal, 23 parts; wheat middlings, 11.5 parts; oat mill feed, 40 parts; ground limestone, 3.0 parts; iodized salt, 0.5 parts; and irradiated yeast, 0.1 part. Calf 10 received the basal ration plus a 5 cc. capsule of Wesson Oil per day. Calf 15 received the basal ration plus a 5 cc. capsule of Wesson Oil per day charged with sufficient crystalline carotene (S.M.A. Corporation) to furnish 100 micrograms of carotene per kg. of body weight, or 45 micograms per 1 pound of live weight. During the course of the experiment carotene analyses of the feces indicated that large quantities of carotene were excreted, apparently unabsorbed. It seemed advisable to increase the quantity of Wesson Oil sufficient to dissolve the carotene, since the 5 cc. level was only a carotene suspension. Completely dissolving the carotene in the oil and feeding 25 cc. per day with the ration did not greatly reduce the carotene excreted although there was a slight improvement in its absorption. It was calculated that the basal ration alone furnished approximately 50 cc. of oil and fat per day, which was more than sufficient to dissolve the carotene administered.