Studies on vitamins A and C in bovines: Vitamin C in the liver, kidney and plasma of cows, calves and foetuses

Abstract

Summary The mean values of vitamin C in the livers were as follows 23·2 ± 0·23mg./100g. for 370 cows, 29·3 ± 0.50 mg./100g. for 144 calves up to 7 days old and 17·4 ± 0·92mg./100g. for 62 foetuses. Themean value in the kidney in 367 cows was 8·5 ± 0·61mg./100g. and in the plasma of 197 cows it was 0·26 ± 0·0075 mg./100ml. The liver values were significantly less during May and June and the kidney and plasma levels significantly higher during the period of turnip feeding, i.e., during the colder months of December, January, February and March. The concentration in the livers of foetuses was significantly lower and in calves significantly higher than in cows. There was an abrupt increase in the concentration of vitamin C in the liver at the time of birth.