Effects of d-α-tocopherol and dietary energy on growth and health of preruminant dairy calves

Abstract

To observe the effects of supplemental dietary d-α-tocopherol in relation to dietary energy on growth and immune status in dairy calves, 32 newborn Holstein bull calves were assigned to 1 of 4 treatments for 5 wk in a 2 × 2 factorial, randomized complete block, split-plot design. Calves received moderate growth (MG) or low growth (LG) all-milk dietary treatments, formulated to support daily gains of 0.5 or 0.25 kg/d, respectively, per the dietary energy recommendation for milk-fed calves according to the National Research Council's Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle. Calves in both groups were either injected i.m. with Vital E-A+D (injectable solution of vitamins E, A, and D) on d 1 and supplemented with Emcelle Tocopherol (micellized vitamin E) via milk daily (MG-S and LG-S), or were not supplemented (MG-C and LG-C) during the study period. Total weight gain of MG calves was greater than that of LG calves and tended to be greater in MG-S calves than in MG-C calves. Calves receiving vitamin supplementation demonstrated greater concentrations of plasma α-tocopherol, retinol, and 25-(OH)-vitamin D than did control calves, whereas MG calves demonstrated a lower concentration of plasma α-tocopherol than did LG calves. The apparent increased utilization of α-tocopherol by MG calves was accompanied by a rise in serum haptoglobin, a positive acute-phase protein and indicator of inflammation, especially in MG-C calves. Serum amyloid A, also a positive acute-phase protein, was not different among groups, but was elevated from baseline in all groups during wk 1 through 3. Plasma IgG1 concentrations were higher in MG-S and LG-S calves than in their nonsupplemented dietary counterparts, whereas plasma IgG2, IgA, and IgM concentrations were not different among groups. In summary, dietary supplementation of d-α-tocopherol improved plasma α-tocopherol status and tended to increase growth in calves fed for 0.5 kg of average daily gain. Vitamin supplementation ameliorated the rise of serum haptoglobin associated with acute inflammation in MG calves, and may have improved passive transfer of maternal antibody. These results indicate a role for α-tocopherol in prevention of proinflammatory state associated with greater dietary energy and onset of infectious disease.

Acute phase response elicited by experimental bovine diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection is associated with decreased vitamin D and E status of vitamin-replete preruminant calves

“…Calves fed milk replacer, however, consistently achieve serum 25(OH) D concentrations greater than 30 ng/mL (Nonnecke et al, 2009a(Nonnecke et al, , 2010 due to the high vitamin D content in commercial milk replacers, often 10-to 20-fold more than the current NRC recommendation (NRC, 2001). In contrast, milk-fed calves not provided supplemental vitamin D frequently have low circulating 25(OH) D concentrations (Rajaraman et al, 1997;Kreuger et al, 2014), often decreasing to levels that would be indicative of clinical deficiency in humans (≤10 ng/mL; Holick, 2009). Evans and Bishop (1922) were the first to identify vitamin E and its obligatory role in reproduction.…”

Effects of fractionated colostrum replacer and vitamins A, D, and E on haptoglobin and clinical health in neonatal Holstein calves challenged with Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis

“…Pasteurized whole milk (PWM) is a common component in calf diets on commercial dairy farms in the United States, as producers seek to capture losses from waste milk. Recent literature, however, has suggested that PWM alone does not meet the vitamin A, D 3 , and E nutritional requirements of young calves and that these requirements are increased by increased growth rates and immune challenge (Krueger et al, 2014;Nonnecke et al, 2014). Suggested mechanisms by which vitamin A and D 3 metabolites affect growth and immunity include the targeting of nuclear receptors to affect cell differentiation, tissue development, and immune cell signaling (Hall et al, 2011;Nelson et al, 2012;Rhinn and Dollé, 2012), whereas vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects cell membrane unsaturated fatty acids from oxidative processes such as respiration and inflammation (Traber and Atkinson, 2007).…”

Effect of vitamin E supplementation in milk replacer and Shiga toxoid vaccination on serum α‐tocopherol, performance, haematology and blood chemistry in male Holstein calves

“…However, the findings by Krueger et al. () that higher vit E supplementation in preruminant calves is associated with lower serum haptoglobin, a positive acute phase protein, do not support this hypothesis.…”

“…Krueger et al. () reported increased α‐tocopherol demands of preruminant calves with 0.5 kg/day live weight gain and Nonnecke et al. () observed α‐tocopherol utilization in calves that achieved growth rates of 1.16 kg/day relative to calves fed maintenance requirements suggesting vit E to be a limiting nutrient for growth rate.…”

“…Nonnecke, Foote, Miller, Beitz, and Horst (), and Krueger et al. () recently suggested an association between growth rate and vit E status but demanded further research to substantiate this notion. Dietary vit E requirements for calves are poorly defined.…”