Blood pH, total plasma carotene, plasma vitamin A fractions and some plasma proteins were determined in newborn calves (n = 38) and their dams. Calves were assigned to one of two groups according to their blood pH immediately after birth: group 1 (normal) with pH above 7.2 (n = 27) and group 2 (slightly acidotic) with pH 7.0 to 7.2 (n = 11). The difference between the neonatal blood pH values of the two groups immediately post partum disappeared 24 h after birth. The blood pH of the dams was normal. The extremely low plasma carotene concentration (group 1: 32.7 micrograms/l; group 2:20.5 micrograms/l) and the low plasma globulin fractions (group 1:19.6 g/l; group 2:19.2 g/l) immediately after birth were elevated by the intake of colostrum. There was no significant change in plasma vitamin A fractions (retinol, retinyl ester) during the early postnatal period (3 days post partum) in newborn calves. The acid-base balance of newborn calves does not have any influence on the physiological alterations of plasma vitamin A, carotene and some plasma proteins during the first three days of life.