Leukocyte functions of young dairy calves fed milk replacers supplemented with vitamins A and E

J Dairy Sci. 1994 May;77(5):1399-407. doi: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(94)77078-8.

Abstract

Holstein calves (n = 44) were fed milk replacers from d 3 to 45 with low or high concentrations of vitamin A (7000 or 87,000 IU/kg) and vitamin E (11.2 or 57 IU/kg) to examine the influence of vitamin concentrations on vitamin bioavailability and leukocyte functions. Concentrations of alpha-tocopherol in plasma reflected increased vitamin E but were unaffected by increased vitamin A. Plasma retinol concentrations were greatest with high supplementation of vitamins A and E at wk 3; however, at wk 6, plasma of calves fed high vitamin A and low vitamin E contained the most retinol. Increased supplementation of vitamin A improved fecal consistency compared with that for calves fed the low vitamin A diet at wk 3 and 4. At wk 3, calves that received increased supplementation of vitamins E and A had enhanced neutrophil bactericidal activity compared with that of calves with increased individual vitamins. Lymphocyte DNA synthesis and chemotactic index were unaffected by dietary treatments. Results indicate that increased vitamin A in milk replacer did not affect plasma vitamin E concentrations, benefited fecal scores regardless of vitamin E concentrations, but was only beneficial to bactericidal activity of neutrophils in conjunction with increased vitamin E.

MeSH terms

  • Animal Feed*
  • Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
  • Animals
  • Blood Bactericidal Activity
  • Cattle / physiology*
  • Diterpenes
  • Kinetics
  • Leukocytes / physiology*
  • Milk*
  • Neutrophils / physiology
  • Retinyl Esters
  • Vitamin A / administration & dosage*
  • Vitamin A / analogs & derivatives
  • Vitamin A / blood
  • Vitamin E / administration & dosage*
  • Vitamin E / blood

Substances

  • Diterpenes
  • Retinyl Esters
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin E
  • retinol palmitate