Vitamin E and selenium concentrations in month-old beef calves.
Three groups of beef cow and calf pairs were studied to determine plasma vitamin E and blood selenium (Se) concentrations of calves at 1 month old. Group 1 was managed on irrigated pasture and calves received no Se/vitamin E injections at birth. Group 2 was managed on irrigated pasture, and the calves were injected with Se/vitamin E at birth. Group 3 was managed on dry foothill grasslands, and these cows were supplemented with 56.3 mg vitamin E and 3 mg Se daily, and the calves received a Se/vitamin E injection at birth. The plasma concentration of vitamin E in group 1 and 2 cows (9.5 +/- 1.24 and 8.43 +/- 1.0 microg/ml, respectively) was significantly higher than that of the group 3 cows (2.28 +/- 0.42 microg/ml; P < 0.05). The blood Se concentrations in group 3 cows (169 +/- 37 ng/ml) were significantly higher than those in group 1 and 2 cows (36.4 +/- 15.9 and 31.1 +/- 12.5 ng/ml, respectively; P < 0.05). Calf Se was highly correlated to cow Se (r = 0.965), and calf vitamin E was moderately correlated to cow vitamin E (r = 0.605). Calf vitamin E concentrations were consistently lower than cow vitamin E concentrations, and many values would be considered deficient.
Maas
John
J
Veterinary Medicine Extension, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, 1325 Surge III, Davis, CA, 95616, USA. jmaas@ucdavis.edu
Hoar
Bruce R
BR
Myers
Daniel M
DM
Tindall
Justin
J
Puschner
Birgit
B
D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling; D002417:Cattle / Q000097:blood*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*
D014810:Vitamin E; D012643:Selenium