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Changes in the Level of Vitamin A and Carotene in the Blood Plasma of Dairy Cows Associated with Parturition and Beginning Lactation

The Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station and The Ohio State University

ABSTRACT

The changes in blood-plasma vitamin A and carotene associated with parturition and beginning lactation were studied in 28 dairy cows. The total output of vitamin A and carotene in the colostrum during the first 3 days of lactation in 26 of these cows was also determined.

Both vitamin A and carotene were found to decrease markedly in the blood plasma at the time of parturition and beginning lactation. Under the conditions of this experiment the maximum decrease in blood-plasma carotene was reached one week following parturition and amounted to 46 per cent of the 3-week pre-partum level.

The maximum decrease in blood-plasma vitamin A for the entire group was reached 3 days following parturition and amounted to 52 percent of the pre-partum level.

The total output of vitamin A and carotene in the colostrum during the first 3 days post-partum averaged 48,847 micrograms of vitamin A and 56,524 micrograms of carotene.