Effects of injectable fat-soluble vitamins and selenium on serum status in young beef calves

Abstract

Crossbred beef calves (age 3 to 20 days) were used to determine effects of injectable vitamins on serum concentrations of selenium, vitamin A (retinol), and vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol). Spring-born calves were assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: (1) no treatment (Control, n=10); (2) 4 mL of a product containing selenium and vitamin E (SE, n=10); (3) 5 mL of a product containing vitamin E, vitamin A, and vitamin D (EAD, n=10); or (4) 4 mL SE and 5 mL EAD (Both, n=10). Blood samples were taken from calves immediately prior to (day 0) and 48 hours after treatment, and from their dams on day 0. Concentrations of selenium, vitamin A, and vitamin E in the dams were 112.8 ng/mL, 0.21 æg/mL, and 2.84 æg/mL, respectively. Calves administered SE (70.3 ng/mL) or Both (72.9 ng/mL) had greater (P<0.05) concentrations of selenium on day 2 compared with Control (57.2 ng/mL) or EAD (56.0 ng/mL) calves. Calves administered EAD (0.21 æg/mL) or Both (0.22 æg/mL) had greater (P<0.05) concentrations of vitamin A compared with SE (0.17 æg/mL) or Control calves (0.15 æg/mL). Calves administered EAD (13.8 æg/mL) or Both (15.0 æg/mL) had greater (P<0.05) concentrations of vitamin E compared with SE (6.2 æg/mL) or Control calves (3.4 æg/mL). Administration of injectable EAD increased serum concentration of vitamin A and vitamin E in young beef calves, whereas SE increased concentrations of selenium. Neither duration nor clinical significance of increased concentrations of vitamins and selenium were investigated.