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The Influence of Pasture and Early Rumen Development on the Changes in the Plasma Carotenoids, Vitamin A and Ascorbic Acid and the Liver Storage of Carotenoids and Vitamin A of Young Dairy Calves

Department of Dairy Industry, Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station, Wooster, Ohio

ABSTRACT

An experiment was conducted to measure the influence of pasture and early rumen development on the performance of calves and as a means of meeting some of their vitamin needs. Twelve calves, one-half of which were rumen inoculated with cud material from older cattle, were tethered during the day on a lawn-type bluegrass-white clover pasture beginning at 4 days of age. One-half of the calves in both groups were fed a 14 per cent simple grain mixture free choice while on pasture. The pasture calves were compared to three calves fed in the barn on dry feeds. Milk feeding of all calves was limited to 0.9 lb. per 10 lb. of body weight at birth.

The calves on pasture were able to utilize the nutrients from the grass, as indicated by their high blood plasma and liver carotenoid and vitamin A levels plus satisfactory growth and appearance. The calves fed grain in addition to pasture increased in body weight more rapidly than those that did not receive grain. The plasma carotenoids of the pasture-fed calves averaged 255 per 100 ml. at 42 days of age. The average plasma ascorbic acid level at 14 days of age was also higher in the pasture-fed calves than in those that did not receive pasture. Otherwise, no marked differences were observed in the plasma ascorbic acid among the groups.

Rumen inoculations were not shown to affect the blood or liver vitamin levels which were observed, even though the inoculations and variations in the feed resulted in marked differences in the rumen microorganism picture (7).

Data also are presented showing the changes in plasma carotenoids, vitamin A and ascorbic acid before and after turning five older calves out to pasture. These calves had been fed in the barn, three with and two without rumen inoculation, prior to the pasture period.

Based on these findings, plus those presented in an accompanying paper (7), it is concluded that good pasture grass, when available, can be utilized by calves, even at an early age, as an effective means of meeting some of their vitamin needs and as a source of other nutrients.

The authors wish to acknowledge the assistance of John Tate, Miss Barbara L. Carson and C. E. Knoop in conducting this investigation.