The Importance of Vitamins E, A and β-Carotene for the Health and Prosperity of Dairy Calves

Authors: Kadek R*, Filipek J and Illek J

DOI: 10.23880/izab-16000382

Volume 5, Issue 3

Abstract

Raising healthy and viable calves is the goal of every farmer who wants healthy cows in their breeding, with excellent milk production and reproductive parameters. And it is not just infectious and metabolic diseases that are clinically visible. Even minor nutritional deficiencies and insufficient supplementation of certain important vitamins and mineral elements can affect the calf's future health and prosperity. This mini-review summarizes the latest results on the importance of vitamins E, A and β- carotene, especially for the antioxidant and immune system of calves. It also discusses briefly effects of vitamins on the hematological profile of calves. A necessary precondition for ensuring the optimal concentration of these vitamins in calves is their sufficient supply in colostrum/milk or milk replacer. Interesting results were obtained by works focused on the effect of vitamin supplementation (parenterally or per-orally) in pregnant cows before parturition on vitamin concentrations in colostrum and plasma/serum of their calves. This can also be a way to ensure a sufficient concentration of vitamins for calves.

Keywords: Antioxidants; Immunity; Neonatal Calves; Colostrum; Vitamins

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