Supplementation of prepartum dairy cows with β-carotene

Abstract

The prepartum supplementation of dairy cows with β-carotene was evaluated. Cows were blocked by parity and expected calving date and assigned to a treatment: β-carotene (1.2 g/cow per d) or control (no supplementation). The same total mixed ration batch was offered to all cows, and β-carotene was top dressed to individual cows once per day. The data set contained 283 Holsteins that received a treatment for >14 d (29.1±6.9 d). Frequency distributions were analyzed with the GENMOD procedure of SAS using logistic regression for binomial data. Continuous variables were analyzed with the MIXED procedure of SAS. Within parity, nonparametric estimates of the survivor function for reproductive variables were computed using the product-limit method of the Kaplan-Meier method with the LIFETEST procedure of SAS. Plasma β-carotene concentration before supplementation was similar between supplemented and nonsupplemented cows (2.99µg/mL) and peaked at 3.26±0.175µg/mL on d -15±2.4 precalving for supplemented cows (2.62±0.168µg/mL for control). Colostrum density, milk yield, and milk composition were similar between treatments. β-Carotene tended to increase milk protein content from 2.90 to 2.96% and to decrease the proportion of primiparous cows with a milk fat to protein ratio >1.5 from 22.6 to 6.4%. The proportion of primiparous and multiparous cows with difficult calving, metritis, progesterone >1 ng/mL at 21 d and at 42 d in lactation, % conception at first service, and % pregnancy at 90 and 150 d in lactation were similar between treatments. A trend for decreased incidence of somatic cell count >200,000 cells/mL was present in multiparous cows supplemented with β-carotene (38.9% vs. 28.1%). β-Carotene was associated with a reduction in the proportion of multiparous cows with retained placenta 12 h postpartum from 29.9 to 21.7%; time of placenta release was 392 min (340 to 440) for β-carotene and 490 min (395 to 540) for control (median and 95% confidence interval). For primiparous cows, placenta release was not affected by β-carotene (incidence was 15.4%). The intervals from calving to first estrus, to first service, and to conception were not affected by β-carotene supplementation in either parity. However, independent of treatment, cows with improved reproductive efficiency had increased postpartum β-carotene concentration in plasma. The prepartum supplementation of β-carotene increased plasma concentration around calving. No response in milk yield or reproductive performance was detected. Beta-carotene supplementation was associated with a lower incidence of retained placenta in multiparous cows.

Vitamins Supplementation Affecting Colostrum Composition in Murrah Buffaloes

“…Improved protein % was observed in colostrum of buffaloes Oliveira et al (2015) reported an increase in milk protein content from 2.90 to 2.96% when supplemented beta carotene @ 1.2 gram/day/cow for 14 days pre-partum. Nieto et al (2015) also reported that Colostrum protein concentration was affected by supplementation of vitamin E in Ewes (14.3% vs. 17.3%, P < 0.05).…”

Beta-Carotene concentration in blood serum of cows from herds with impaired fertility

“…The addition of βcarotene also had a positive effect on the size of ovarian follicles, which in turn means better fertility in cows. The addition of 1.2 g β-carotene per cow/day was associated with a lower incidence of retained placenta in multiparous cows and shorter time required for release of placenta (Oliveira et al, 2015). Serum β-carotene levels increased gradually postpartum in cows both with and without retained placenta, but their levels were significantly lower in cows with retained placenta compared to the control group.…”

“…β-carotene is important for cow fertility. Cows with higher blood β-carotene concentration in the postpartum period have shown higher fertility than cows with lower β-carotene (Oliveira et al, 2015). In addition, de Ondarza et al (2009) found higher fertility in cows fed extra β-carotene after calving.…”

Effects of Beta-carotene Administration on Fertility in Lactating Dairy Cows

“…The authors suggested that βC may positively effect on uterine involution, ovulation rates, progesterone concentrations, conception rates and may reduce the incidence of weak estrus expression, cystic ovaries, early embryonic loss (Kaewlamun et al, 2011;Ay et al, 2012;De Gouvêa et al, 2018;Madureira et al 2020). Previous studies reported that an increase in blood serum βC concentrations determined following parenteral administration of βC (Emre et al, 2018) and feed supplementation (Oliveira et al, 2015). Unfortunately, as a limitation of this field study, we did not collect or analyze blood samples after administration of βC, however, studies were reported that the blood βC concentration significantly higher one week after parenteral administration (Emre et al, 2018;Hye et al, 2020).…”