Effect of Dietary Fat and Vitamin E on -Tocopherol and ß-Carotene in Blood of Peripartum Cows

¹ Department of Dairy Science, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Ohio State University, Wooster 44691

Nonlactating cows were fed diets containing 88% grass forage and 12% concentrate (DM basis). Starting 14 d prior to anticipated calving, the concentrate was changed to provide 0 or 200 g of supplemental fat and 0 or 890 IU of supplemental vitamin E daily. Following parturition, cows were fed for 14 d a 50% concentrate diet that provided the same amounts of supplemental fat and vitamin E that were fed during the dry period. Plasma was sampled and analyzed for -tocopherol and ß-carotene. Supplemental dietary fat elevated plasma concentrations of both nutrients during the peripartum period. Supplemental dietary vitamin E elevated concentrations of -tocopherol during that period. Dietary fat also increased concentrations of plasma cholesterol. When -tocopherol and ß-carotene were expressed per unit of plasma cholesterol, fat supplementation did not affect concentrations. Dietary treatments did not influence concentrations of -tocopherol in blood neutrophils and did not affect intracellular kill of bacteria by neutrophils. Essentially no ß-carotene was found in the neutrophils. For colostrum, dietary vitamin E increased concentrations of -tocopherol and decreased concentrations of ß-carotene.

Key Words: vitamin E • ßbeta;-carotene • fat • cows

Submitted on November 8, 1993
Accepted on January 21, 1994

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