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Effect of Ration upon some Constituents of Blood and Milk of Hereford Cows and the Blood of their Calves

Oklahoma A. and M. College

Abstract

1. The effect of three different levels of carotene intake, supplied by alfalfa hay, upon the carotene and vitamin A concentration of the blood and milk of Hereford cows and the blood of their calves is reported.
   
2. Plasma carotene levels were positively correlated with carotene intake. No consistent differences in plasma vitamin A could be attributed to ration. Both plasma carotene and vitamin A declined at or shortly after parturition and then rose during the subsequent 30 days. The plasma carotene and vitamin A level of the calves increased rapidly during the first few days and then decreased to a level which was generally maintained throughout the first month of life.
   
3. Despite the relatively low blood plasma levels of carotene and vitamin A observed during this study all the cows produced normal calves and raised them successfully. It is suggested that seasonal declines of plasma vitamin A and carotene may occur for short periods of time without the appearance of clinical symptoms of avitaminosis.