title: Beta-carotene, retinol and alpha-tocopherol status in calves fed the first colostrum at 0-2, 6-7, 12-13 or 24-25 hours after birth.
abstract: Effects on beta-carotene, retinol and alpha-tocopherol status of feeding 1st colostrum at 0-2, 6-7, 12-13 and 24-25 h after birth were studied in calves. beta-carotene, retinol and alpha-tocopherol concentrations decreased in colostrum during the first 2.5 d of lactation. Plasma beta-carotene, retinol and alpha-tocopherol concentrations in newborn calves were very low. Plasma beta-carotene concentrations increased up to d 3 after the 1st meal and during the 1st month were higher in calves fed 1st colostrum at < 6-7 h than at > 12-13 h after birth. Plasma retinol concentrations increased up to d 5 after the 1st meal and were higher during the 1st month in calves fed 1st colostrum at < 12-13 h than at > 24-25 h after birth, whereas hepatic concentrations increased up to d 5 independent of time of 1st colostrum feeding. Plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations increased after the 1st meal except in calves fed 1st colostrum at 24-25 h after birth and were higher during the 1st month in calves fed the 1st colostrum at 6-7 h than at 24-25 h after birth. In conclusion, delaying 1st colostrum intake by more than 12-13 h after birth impaired the plasma beta-carotene, retinol and alpha-tocopherol status during the 1st month of life, but did not negatively influence hepatic retinol concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutritional Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Berne, Bremgartenstr. 109a, CH-3012 Berne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Zanker
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Hammon
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Blum
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000378:metabolism*; D002417:Cattle / Q000378:metabolism*; D003126:Colostrum / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000032:analysis*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000032:analysis*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019207:beta Carotene; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E