Effect of supplemental Vitamin E on the performance, metabolic profiles, and immune responses of dairy calves.

Forty-six Holstein heifer calves were used from birth to 3 rno to study the effect of supplemental vitamin E at 1400 or 2800 mg dl-a.-tocopherol acetate given orally at weekly intervals or 1400 mg dl-a-tocopherol by intramuscular injection. Weekly starter consumption was 10 to 27 % more (P=.12) and weekly weight gains were 9 to 25% more (P=.13) in supplemented calves. Creatine phosphokinase activity was negatively correlated with serurn tocopherol concentrations, indicating a subclinical muscular dystrophy in unsupplemented calves. Lymphocyte stimulation indices were positively correlated with serum tocopherol concentration. Calves given high level of oral supplementation had higher IgM antibody concentration. It was concluded that supplemental vitamin E is beneficial for calves reared on conventional complete starters to increase disease resistance and to obtain optimum performance

Lasalocid or Rumensin to prevent lactic acidosis in cattle

Lasalocid or Rumensin (monensin) protected cattle gorged with grain from lactic acidosis. Both lasalocid and monensin prevented the decrease in rumen and blood pH and increase in rumen and blood lactic acid (0(-) isomer) usually associated with lactic acidosis. Lasalocid appears more effective in preventing acidosis than monensin