β-Carotene and Vitamin a Levels in Blood Serum of Pre-Ruminant Animals

The blood serum β-carotene and vitamin A levels were determined in pre-ruminant calves, buffalo calves and kids born to dams fed on concentrate and ad lib seasonal greee fodders but with no additional source of synthetic vitamin A. The experimental pre-ruminant animals were fed on milk and skim milk plus calf starters and also green fodder ad lib from 19th day of age onwards. On an nverage serum β-carotene lelels (µg/100 ml) at 1, 2 and 3 months of age were52.50±9.12, 59.50±13.58 & 107.50±18.81 in Karan Swiss calves (KS), 29.58±2.98, 85. 83±16. 43, & 146.87±13.86 in Karan Fries calves (KF), 24.79±5.02, 88.85+27.43 & 25250+3832 in Sahiwal calves (SW), 5.83±0.83,10.83±1.23 & 13.75+1.40 in Murah bufalo calves (MC) and 10.88±1.66, 3.43±0.82 & 4.72±0.15 in kids sespectively. The average blood vitamin A levels (µ.g/100 ml of serum) at 1, 2, & 3 months of age were 11.08±1.16, 9.99±1.60 & 14.58±3.18 in KS, 10.79±2.69, 12.54±1.52 & 20.71+3.65 In KF, 7.35+0.64, 10.35+1.11 & 21.87±4.11 in SW, 5.95±1.21, 10.06±0.84 & 7.73.±0.97 in MC aan 10.21±0.83, 10.86±1.65 & 13.93±0.88 in kids. The ege, breee dnd species all had a significant (P<0.01) effect on β-carotene and vitamin A levels. Considering 12-15 µ.g/100 ml serum vitamin A level as adequate for vitamin A nutririon of these animals the study suggested that the calves and kids mav be fed extraneous source of vitamin A upto 2 months of age and buffalo calf upto 3 months of age. Further it was also observed that the blood serum carotene levels which would maintain an adequate blood vitamin Alevelof 12.25µg/100ml in calves were 55-70 µg 100 ml in KS. 85-125µg/100 ml in KF and 137.50 µg/100 ml in SW.