Changes of vitamin E status of periparturient dairy cows and newborn calves
2004
Kumagai, H. (Hiroshima Univ. (Japan)) | Chaipan, Y.
Eleven primiparous Holstein Friesian and their crossbred calves (F1, Japanese Black cattle x Holstein Friesian) and 10 multiparous Holstein Friesian and their Holstein Friesian calves were used to evaluate vitamin E status in periparturient period. Plasma a-tocopherol (alpha-toc) concentrations of the multiparous cows were significantly higher than those of the primiparous cows from 60 days before expected calving to 90 days of lactation (P<0.05). The multiparous cows had a further decrease in the concentrations of alpha-toc and total lipid in plasma to the calving than the primiparous cows. Colostrum alpha-toc concentrations in multiparous cows were significantly higher than those of the primiparous cows (P< 0.05). Plasma alpha-toc concentrations of calves borne by the multiparous cows were significantly higher than those of the primiparous cows at 5 days of age (P<0.05). Plasma alpha-toc concentrations of calves were highest at 5 and 15 days of age in the calves borne by the multiparous and primiparous cows, respectively, and decreased thereafter till 90 days of age. The higher vitamin E status of multiparous cows over primiparous cows might have reflected nutritional composition in the rations. Their calves afforded higher plasma alpha-toc levels after birth because of more alpha-toc transfer via placenta and more alpha-toc secretion in the colostrums thereafter. Plasma alpha-toc concentrations of the calves might have decreased as the calves became dependent upon the solid feed of low vitamin E content.
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