Utilization of Tocopherol from Artificially Dehydrated Alfalfa by the Holstein Calf

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Abstract
Forty Holstein male calves were fed to 63 days of age on a limited whole milk, limited calf starter and ad libitum hay regimen. Each calf was then fed a vitamin A depletion ration at an intake to provide an anticipated 7-day increase in live weight of 10 lb. plus sufficient vitamin A to provide ample storage. On the 92nd day of age, each calf was fed in addition to the above basal ration plus vitamin A, one of five levels of tocopherol from a dry carrier, 0.000, 0.128, 0.256, 0.512 or 1.024 mg. of free tocopherol per lb. of live weight daily, or one of five levels of tocopherol from artificially dehydrated alfalfa leaf meal, 0.000, 0.125, 0.250, 0.500, and 1.000 mg. of free tocopherol. On the 176th day of age each calf was slaughtered. Based on slope-ratio biological assays, the chemically determined total tocopherol in artificially dehydrated alfalfa leaf meal was found to be 102% as available to the calf as tocopherol from the dry carrier using plasma tocopherol as the criterion. Similar values for liver, heart, trapezius muscle and perinephric fat, based on tissue concentrations of tocopherol at slaughter, were on a wet basis, 77%, 99%, 116%, and 65%, respectively, and on a lipid basis, 80%, 96%, 115%, and 65%, respectively. Averaged unweighted percentages were 92% on a wet basis and 89% on a lipid basis. Considering these percentage availability values in toto, it was tentatively suggested that the chemically determined total tocopherol in artificially dehydrated alfalfa leaf meal was not completely available to the dairy calf. Copyright © . .

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