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The Effect of Lecithin, Choline, and Methionine on the Vitamin A and Carotene Plasma Levels and Liver Stores of Young Dairy Calves¹

Dairy Section, University of Kentucky, Lexington

ABSTRACT

An efficient utilization of carotene and vitamin A is essential for the health of the young dairy calf, especially when the available intakes are equal to or below the actual needs of the calf. It is of fundamental importance, therefore, to determine if various methylating agents might conceivably aid more efficient utilization of carotene and vitamin A by the young dairy calf.

Conflicting data have been published concerning the effect of lecithin on the absorption and utilization of vitamin A in calves and rats. Esh et al. (7, 8) observed that when lecithin was fed along with vitamin A during the later stages of the gestation period a greater amount of vitamin A was transferred to the colostrum as well as stored in the fetal livers by way of the placenta. These same workers also found that calves fed a skimmilk ration supplemented with lecithin and vitamin A gained in body weight and showed blood plasma levels of vitamin A comparable to a colostrum-fed group of calves.

¹ The investigation reported in this paper is in connection with a project of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station and is published by permission of the director of the station.

² Present address: Department of Dairy Science, University of Illinois, Urbana.

³ Present address: Lederle Laboratories, Pearl River, N. Y.

⁴ Present address: Dairy Department, Michigan State University, East Lansing.