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Erythrocyte Changes, Serum Iron Concentration and Performance Following Iron Injection in Neonatal Beef Calves^1,2,

Iowa State University, Ames 50011

Abstract

The injection of iron-dextran into beef calves at an early age immediately increased values for erythrocyte (RBC) numbers, hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV), even though the calves were not anemic. There were no significant differences in average daily gain (ADG) from birth through 15 wk between those that were injected and those that were not injected. Hereford calves had lower values for PCV, Hb, MCH and MCV than Angus and crossbred calves, and both Hereford and Angus calves had lesser body weight and slower ADG than crossbred calves. Serum iron (Fe) concentrations were higher in calves born in the spring and pastured in the summer than in calves bom in late summer and fall and pastured in the fall. The serum Fe concentration of calves at first sampling (during first week of life) was positively correlated with their weight at that and subsequent times to 15 wk. Mean corpuscular volume and MCH in cows before calving were positively correlated with the MCV and MCH in their calves at first sampling. Serum Fe concentration in cows before calving was negatively correlated with the ADG of their calves through 15 wk.

¹ Supported by the Iowa Beef Industry Council.

² The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance provided by Marshall Ruble, teaching station manager, with weekly sampling and herd management.

³ Dept. of Vet. Physiol. and Pharmacol., College of Vet. Med.

⁴ Dept. of Anim. Sci., College of Agr.

⁵ Dept. of Statist., College of Sciences and Humanities.

⁶ Beef Teaching Farm, Dept. of Anim. Sci., College of Agr., Iowa State Univ., Ames.