The influence of vitamin‐mineral supplementation with prolonged action on cows and on the calcium and phosphorus metabolism in calves

Abstract

Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients for the cow's organism. Good vitamin‐mineral nutrition of cows in the dry period allows growth of the developing calf and supports immune function. Nowadays, we have a different nutritional programs of cows in the dry and close‐up transition period but the delivery of the optimal amounts of minerals and vitamins to the cow’s organism is still the important point. The studies were carried out in one of the breeding farms of the Leningrad region. It was Holstein cows aged from 3 to 5 years and their calves. It was six groups (n=5 by each). The cows‐mothers of the 1st experimental group have received two boluses All – mineral plus (the compound: Mg, Zn, Cu, Co, Se, I, Vitamin A, D3, E, Holland Animal Care, Holland), 2d experimental group– two boluses Uno Biotin (the compound: Mg, Zn, Cu, Co, Se, I, Vitamin A, D3, E, Holland Animal Care, Holland), 3d experimental group ‐ one Cattle bolus with Iodine (the compound: Cu, Co, Se, I, Telsol Limited, United Kingdom), 4th experimental group – two Calcium Boluses Extra (the compound: Ca, Vitamin A, D3, E, Holland Animal Care, Holland) in different time, 5th experimental group ‐ one Cattle Bullet (the compound: Mg, Zn, Cu, Co, Se, I, Vitamin A, D3, E, Holland Animal Care, Holland). The 6th group was control with ordinary ration and vitamin‐mineral diet. All cows of experimental groups have got boluses one time which was 60 days before calving. The exception was cows of 4th group which have got one bolus in the time 60 days before calving and another one on the second day after calving. The prolongation of all boluses was 120 days after receiving instead of bolus All‐mineral plus. The prolongation of there was 180 days. We used the biochemical analysis of calves blood samples on the 3d‐5th days after calving. Serum was analyzed for calcium and phosphorus. We were used Student's t‐tests to study differences between groups. Thus, the level of calcium was within the physiological norm in the bloods’samples in all groups. It was the statistically increase the level of calcium in the calves of 1st group (9.6 %), 2d group – 20.7 %, 3d group – 22.5 %, 4th group – 13.4 %, 5th group – 2.8 % compared with data of calves in the control group. The value of inorganic phosphorus in calves of 1st group was 2,19±0,22 mmol/l, 2d group ‐ 3,26±0,82 mmol/l, 3d group ‐ 2,78±0,81 mmol/l, 4th ‐ 4,10±0,97 mmol/l, 5th ‐ 1,95±0,52 mmol/l, 6th ‐ 2,32±0,18 mmol/l. We were observed the insignificant increasing trend of phosphorus’s level in calves of 2d, 3d and 4th groups compared with data of control group. It was the insignificant shift of calcium:phosphorus ratio in the blood of all animals (1.1‐1.2:1) compared with physiological norm. The exception was the result of blood's analysis in the calves of 4th group where the calcium:phosphorus ratio was 2,08:1. The reason of this could be the Calcium Bolus Extra supplementation which include the calcium, Vitamin A, D3, E. We can supposed that the calcium supplementation in the ration of cow‐mothers during all dry time has a positive effect on the calcium and phosphorus metabolism of calves.