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Changes In Plasma -Tocopherol and Selenium of Gestating Cows Fed Hay or Silage

Agriculture Canada, Research Branch, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1A 0C6
Agriculture Canada, Experimental Farm, Kapuskasing, ON, Canada P5N 2X9

The effects of dietary hay or silage on plasma -tocopherol and Se concentrations during late gestation and early lactation were studied using 40 crossbred pregnant cows and their calves. Cows received solely either timothy hay or grass silage forage from midgestation to early lactation and 21 d prior to estimated calving were or were not injected with Se (30 mg) and -tocopherol (3000 IU). Five blood samples were collected for determination of concentrations of -tocopherol and Se twice during late gestation and three times after calving. Blood samples from calves were collected at birth and at 10 and 30 d of age. Serum concentrations of -tocopherol were low at birth for both groups of calves and ranged from .83 to 1.08 µg/ml of plasma. Hay had less -tocopherol than silage (15 vs. 35 ppm in the DM). Cows fed silage had significantly higher plasma -tocopherol concentrations (3.41 µg/ml) than cows fed hay (2.25 µg/ml). Cows given one subcutaneous injection of Se plus -tocopherol preparation had significantly higher Se concentration in plasma (30 ng/ml) than did cows in the control group (17 ng/ml). The Se concentration in the placenta of cows that were injected with the Se preparation was significantly higher (64 ppm) than that in the control (47 ppm). Plasma Se concentration of calves at birth was correlated significantly with that of dams soon after parturition.