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Effect of Duration of Deficient Carotene Intake upon Subsequent Utilization of Carotene from Alfalfa by Holstein Calves¹

Animal Industries Department

C. F. Helmboldt

Animal Diseases Department

D. G. Gosslee³

Storrs (Conn.) Agricultural Experiment Station, Storrs

ABSTRACT

Thirty-two Holstein male calves, approximately 63 days of age, were fed a vitamin A depletion ration at an intake to provide an anticipated seven-day increase in live weight of 10 lb. until partially depleted of their vitamin A stores. When the average plasma vitamin A concentration was 8.0 ± 1.8 per 100 ml., each calf was then fed in addition to the vitamin A depletion ration, one of two initial period carotene intakes per pound of live weight per day, 12- or 48-, for one of two durations, 4- or 16-wk. Each calf was then changed to one of two final period carotene intakes, 60- or 240-. Durations for the final periods were either 24 wk. for the calves fed the initial period carotene intake for 4 wk., or 12 wk. for the calves fed the initial period carotene intake for 16 wk. During the terminal seven-day period of the initial 16-wk. carotene intake period, only those calves fed the 12- carotene intake had cerebrospinal fluid pressures above 120 mm. of saline. During the terminal seven-day period of the 12-wk. final carotene intake period, those calves fed the 12- initial period carotene intake and the 60- final period carotene intake had pressures greater than 120 mm. but of smaller magnitude than observed during the initial carotene intake period. Based upon blood plasma and liver vitamin A concentrations, determined on samples obtained terminally during the final carotene intake period, calves fed the 12- initial carotene period intake for 16 wk. utilized the 60- and 240- carotene intakes 0.6 to 0.8 as effectively as calves fed 48- carotene intake initially. While the differences between the 12- and 48- carotene for the 4-wk. duration were slight, across both the 4- and 16-wk. durations, calves fed the 12- intake utilized carotene between 0.7 and 0.9 as efficiently as calves fed the 48- intake.

¹ This study was supported in part by funds provided by Wirthmore Feeds, Inc., Waltham, Massachusetts.

² Present address: Animal Science Department, Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station, Wooster, Ohio.

³ Station biometrician.