Plasma β-Carotene, Vitamin A and Vitamin C Levels in Cyclic and Pregnant Cows

Abstract

Summary The aim of this study was to determine the plasma β-carotene, vitamin A and vitamin C levels and correlation between these parameters in cyclic and pregnant dairy cattle. A total of 101 Holstein cows used for this aim. Artificial inseminations (AI) were performed 12 h after determining the oestrus. The cows were allocated to two groups as pregnant (n=81) and nonpregnant (n=20) after the determination of pregnancy. Progesterone level was only higher on day 21 in pregnant cows than that in nonpregnant cows (P<0.05). There were variations in the mean levels of β-carotene and vitamin A in pregnant and nonpregnant cows (P<0.05) whereas vitamin C levels in nonpregnant cows did not differ during the oestrus cycle. There was a negative correlation between the plasma levels of progesterone and β-carotene (P<0.01) and progesterone and vitamin A (P<0.05) in pregnant cows, and a positive correlation between the plasma levels of β-carotene and vitamin A in both pregnant and nonpregnant cows (P<0.01), during the cycle. In conclusion, differences were determined in the levels of β-carotene, vitamin A and vitamin C in pregnant cows, and b-carotene and vitamin A in nonpregnant cows with the stages of the oestrus cycle in this study. In addition to this, more research is needed evaluating the relationship between these parameters and their effects on bovine reproduction.