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Conversion of Carotene from Alfalfa to Vitamin A by Guernsey and Holstein Calves¹

Animal Industries Department

C. F. Helmboldt and E. L. Jungherr

Animal Diseases Department

D. G. Gosslee⁴

Storrs (Conn.) Agricultural Experiment Station, Storrs

ABSTRACT

Twelve Guernsey and 12 Holstein male calves whose average age was 83 ± 10 days and which were partially depleted of their vitamin A stores to an average plasma vitamin A level of 7.8 ± 2.5 per 100 ml., were fed daily one of four levels, 30, 60, 120, or 240 , of carotene from alfalfa per pound of live weight for 12 consecutive seven-day periods and then slaughtered. Guernseys had higher concentrations of carotenoids in plasma and liver than did Holsteins. Conversely, Holsteins had higher concentrations of vitamin A. The linear rates of change of either plasma or log liver vitamin A concentrations on log carotene intake for Guernseys and for Holsteins were essentially parallel, but Holsteins maintained higher average levels than did Guernseys. Based on this, it was calculated that Holsteins converted carotene to vitamin A 1.4 times more efficiently than did Guernseys, when employing plasma vitamin A as the criterion, with 95% confidence limits between 0.8 and 2.5. A similar value, when utilizing log liver vitamin A as the criterion, was 1.8 with limits between 1.2 and 2.8, and for log liver vitamin A. per 100 lb. of live weight, 1.7, with limits between 0.8 and 4.5.

¹ This study was supported in part with grant-in-aid funds provided by Wirthmore Feeds, Inc., Waltham, Mass.

² Present address: Route 1, Alamosa, Colorado.

³ Present address: Animal Industry and Experimental Statistics Departments, North Carolina State College, Raleigh.

⁴ Station biometrician.