Effects of injectable fat-soluble vitamins and selenium on serum status in young beef calves

Authors

  • Carl R. Dahlen Department of Animal Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108
  • Rob L. Stuart Stuart Products, Inc., Bedford, TX 76022
  • Bryan W. Neville Central Grasslands Research Extension Center, North Dakota State University, Streeter, ND 58483

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol48no2p109-113

Keywords:

beef calves, selenium, vitamin A, vitamin E, alpha-tocopherol, beef cattle, blood chemistry, blood serum, calves, crossbreds, retinol, vitamin D, vitamins

Abstract

Crossbred beef calves (age 3 to 20 days) were used to determine effects of injectable vitamins on serum concentrations of selenium, vitamin A (retinol), and vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol). Spring-born calves were assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: (1) no treatment (Control, n=10); (2) 4 mL of a product containing selenium and vitamin E (SE, n=10); (3) 5 mL of a product containing vitamin E, vitamin A, and vitamin D (EAD, n=10); or (4) 4 mL SE and 5 mL EAD (Both, n=10). Blood samples were taken from calves immediately prior to (day 0) and 48 hours after treatment, and from their dams on day 0. Concentrations of selenium, vitamin A, and vitamin E in the dams were 112.8 ng/mL, 0.21 æg/mL, and 2.84 æg/mL, respectively. Calves administered SE (70.3 ng/mL) or Both (72.9 ng/mL) had greater (P<0.05) concentrations of selenium on day 2 compared with Control (57.2 ng/mL) or EAD (56.0 ng/mL) calves. Calves administered EAD (0.21 æg/mL) or Both (0.22 æg/mL) had greater (P<0.05) concentrations of vitamin A compared with SE (0.17 æg/mL) or Control calves (0.15 æg/mL). Calves administered EAD (13.8 æg/mL) or Both (15.0 æg/mL) had greater (P<0.05) concentrations of vitamin E compared with SE (6.2 æg/mL) or Control calves (3.4 æg/mL). Administration of injectable EAD increased serum concentration of vitamin A and vitamin E in young beef calves, whereas SE increased concentrations of selenium. Neither duration nor clinical significance of increased concentrations of vitamins and selenium were investigated.

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Published

2014-06-01

How to Cite

Dahlen, C. R., Stuart, R. L., & Neville, B. W. (2014). Effects of injectable fat-soluble vitamins and selenium on serum status in young beef calves. The Bovine Practitioner, 48(2), 109–113. https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol48no2p109-113

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Section

Articles