Conversion of Carotene from Alfalfa and from Water-Dispersible Gelatin Beadlets to Vitamin a by Calves

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Abstract
In conducting studies dealing with vitamin A nutrition of calves, it is desirable to have a source of the provitamin, carotene, which is not only concentrated and stable but also relatively free of other nutrients. The recent development of a dry stabilized form in which carotene is incorporated into water-dispersible gelatin beadlets appeared to meet these requirements. Four Guernsey and 12 Holstein (average age 73 + 4 days) male calves previously raised on a standard regimen to 63 days of age and then partially depleted of their vitamin A stores, were fed one of 2 carotene intakes, 48 or 240 gamma/lb. of live weight per day, from one of 2 sources, artificially dehydrated alfalfa leaf meal or water-dispersible gelatin beadlets. After 12 weeks of carotene supplementation, calves were slaughtered. Plasma and liver caroten-oid concentrations of the calves fed alfalfa were consistently greater than those fed the beadlets. In contrast, calves fed the beadlets had higher average concentrations of vitamin A than did calves fed the alfalfa. Based on the latter data, the carotene from the beadlets was found to be converted to vitamin A 1.42 times as effectively as the carotene from alfalfa.

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