A comparison of via of administration of the injection of vitamin E in newly received feedlot calves

Abstract

Fifty Holstein steers calves (121 ± 4 kg) were used in order to determine the effects of route of administration of vitamin E at the time of arrival of feedlot cattle on levels of plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations during the initial 16 days following their arrival into the feedlot. Ten steers served as controls, the remaining 40 steers (20 steers/treatment) were injected either intramuscular (IM) or subcutaneous (SQ) with 1500 IU of vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol). Vitamin E treatments were administered on days 1 and 8 of the arrival, while blood samples were obtained on days 1, 4, 8, 12 and 16. Injection sites were examined visually on day 16 to determine if route of administration affected incidence of injection-site inflammation. Steers were fed a steam-flaked corn based receiving diet with a 72:28 concentrate-to-forage ratio. Plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations of control steers remained low (range from 0.06 to 0.10 mg/dL) throughout the 16-d period. Vitamin E injection increased (P<0.01) 4-fold the plasma alpha-tocopherol concentration. Route of vitamin E administration did not influence (P > 0.10) the incidence of injection site inflammation, averaging 17.5% (χ2, P>0.05). Plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations were not affected (P > 0.30) by the presence of injection site inflammation. Since the risk of lesions in meat are considerably higher with intramuscular application and plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations were not different between routes of application, it is concluded that subcutaneous administration is a practical alternative to the traditional intramuscular of administration of injectable vitamin E for feedlot cattle.