Parenteral Vitamin E for Prevention of Retained Placenta in Dairy Cows
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21423/aabppro20005407Keywords:
transition cows, retained placenta, vitamin E, mastitis, reactions, periparturient healthAbstract
Immune function is suppressed in periparturient dairy cows, and risk of infectious and metabolic disease is increased. Several studies have shown that transition cows supplemented with vitamin E in feed and/or parenterally had decreased risk of retained placenta (RP) or mastitis. However, these benefits are not universally reproducible and may depend on the animals baseline vitamin E and selenium status and other factors. Additionally, a fraction of animals will have hypersensitive reactions to parenterally administered vitamin E. This study investigated the effect of vitamin E on the incidence of periparturient health problems when administered subutaneously to prepartum cows.