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The Effect of Vitamin A from Prenatal Storage and from Ingestion of Colostrum on the Neonatal Calf¹

Animal Industries Department, Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Connecticut, Storrs

ABSTRACT

The effect of vitamin A from prenatal storage and from ingestion of colostrum was studied from birth to 28 days of age in 28 dairy calves. One half of these calves were from dams receiving only a basal ration and one half were from dams receiving the same basal ration plus one million U.S.P. units of vitamin A daily for 30 days prior to the calculated date of parturition. At birth the calves from each of the maternal dietary groupings were subdivided into two groups, one receiving colostrum from dams fed only the basal ration and the other receiving colostrum from dams fed the basal ration plus the supplementary vitamin A.

The data indicate that colostrum significantly increased the plasma vitamin A from birth to 5 days of age and liver vitamin A at 28 days of age. Prenatal storage elevated the blood plasma vitamin A level at birth significantly and contributed to greater liver storage of vitamin A at 28 days of age. The other criteria measured, hemoblobin, whole blood and plasma ascorbic acid, liveweight, fecal pH and dry matter and incidence of scours, were not affected significantly by treatment.

¹ This work was supported in part by the Big-Y-Foundation and Chas. M. Cox Co. The data are in part from a thesis presented by L. Nezvesky to the Graduate School of the University of Connecticut in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. A preliminary report of these data was given at the 1949 Meetings of the American Society of Animal Production.

² Present address: College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.