Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Jun 25;14(13):1868.
doi: 10.3390/ani14131868.

Impact of Parenteral Maternal Supplementation with Trace Minerals and Vitamins on Neonatal Calf Antioxidant System and Growth in a Dairy Herd

Evangelina Miqueo  1   2 , Guillermo A Mattioli  3 , Dadin P Moore  1   2 , María G Bilbao  2   4 , Karen D Moran  2   4 , Alejandro E Relling  5
Affiliations

Impact of Parenteral Maternal Supplementation with Trace Minerals and Vitamins on Neonatal Calf Antioxidant System and Growth in a Dairy Herd

Evangelina Miqueo et al. Animals (Basel). .

Abstract

Oxidative stress may affect new born calves due to high stress suffered around birth. We hypothesized that maternal supplementation with micronutrients and vitamins in late gestation enhance the neonatal calf's antioxidant system, decreasing the occurrence and duration of diarrhea, and improving growth from birth through weaning. To test this hypothesis, 80 multiparous cows were cluster-assigned to treatment groups. Treated group (TG) cows received mineral and vitamin supplementation while control group (CG) cows received saline solution. Feed intake and fecal score were measured daily until the ninth week. Weight and body measurements were registered weekly, and blood samples were collected from postpartum cows and calves after birth and at 7, 14, and 63 days of life. Although CG calves had greater fecal scores (p = 0.01), diarrhea characteristics did not differ. Calves in the TG showed greater starter intake (p = 0.04). Feed efficiency showed a trend with treatment-age interaction (p = 0.06). Calves in the CG had wider hips in the first week (p = 0.03), but not by the ninth week. Total antioxidant status, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and haptoglobin did not differ between treatment groups. Serum metabolites showed no differences. Supplementation did not impact calf antioxidant system or growth in the first two months.

Keywords: dairy calves; fetal programming; oxidative stress; performance; trace minerals; vitamin A; vitamin E.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Fecal score in Holstein calves, from birth to 63 days of life, born from cows with (TG) or without (CG) supplementation with mineral and vitamins during the prepartum period.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Evolution of starter intake (g/d) of Holstein calves, from birth to 63 days of life, born from cows with or without supplementation with mineral and vitamins during the prepartum period.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Evolution of feed efficiency (ADG/total DMI) of Holstein calves, from birth to 63 days of life, born from cows with or without supplementation with mineral and vitamins during the prepartum period.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Sundrum A. Metabolic disorders in the transition period indicate that the dairy cows’ ability to adapt is overstressed. Animals. 2015;5:978–1020. doi: 10.3390/ani5040395. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Abuelo A., Alves-Nores V., Hernandez J., Muino R., Benedito J.L., Castillo C. Effect of Parenteral Antioxidant Supplementation During the Dry Period on Postpartum Glucose Tolerance in Dairy Cows. J. Vet. Intern. Med. 2016;30:892–898. doi: 10.1111/jvim.13922. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Soldá N.M., Glombowsky P., Campigotto G., Bottari N.B., Schetinger M.R. Injectable mineral supplementation to transition period dairy cows and its effects on animal health. Comp. Clin. Pathol. 2017;26:335–342. doi: 10.1007/s00580-016-2378-y. - DOI
    1. Folnožić I., Samardžija M., Đuričić D., Vince S., Perkov S., Jelušić S., Valpotić H., Ljubić B.B., Lojkić M., Gračner D., et al. Effects of infeed clinoptilolite treatment on serum metabolic and antioxidative biomarkers and acute phase response in dairy cows during pregnancy and early lactation. Res. Vet. Sci. 2018;127:57–64. doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2019.10.010. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Folnozic I., Turk R., Duricic D., Vince S., Pleadin J., Flegar-Mestric Z., Valpotic H., Dobranic T., Gracner D., Samardzija M. Influence of body condition on serum metabolic indicators of lipid mobilization and oxidative stress in dairy cows during the transition period. Reprod. Domest. Anim. 2015;50:910–917. doi: 10.1111/rda.12608. - DOI - PubMed

Grants and funding

LinkOut - more resources