Mammary Transfer of Vitamin E in Dairy Cows

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Abstract
Milk vitamin E from eight dairy cows was analyzed for vitamin E by HPLC during the 1st mo of lactation. Colostrum gave a mean value of 1.9 .mu.g .alpha.-tocopherol/ml while concentrations of fresh milk averaged .3 .mu.g .alpha.-tocopherol/ml. D-.GAMMA.-tocopherol concentrations were observed in very small amounts. When six cows at the end of the 1st mo of lactation were injected intraperitoneally with an emulsion of dl-.alpha.-tocopherol acetate (5 g), plasma and milk concentrations of .alpha.-tocopherol were increased from their original values of 4.5 .mu.g/ml plasma and .3 .mu.g/ml fresh milk, 12 h later. The results show that intraperitoneal administration of vitamin E to dairy cows in an effective way of increasing plasma and milk tocopherol concentration.