A study on the effect of a massive prophylactic dose of vitamins A and D on the neonatal dairy calf.

Abstract

In a pilot experiment 3 newborn calves were given 250, 000 I.U. vitamin D and 500, 000 I.U. vitamin A, as Duphasol A + D₃ (Philips-Roxane), and had 6 litres whole milk daily for 16 days. Blood was then sampled and Ca, P and phosphatase were estimated; the calves were killed and tissues were examined histologically. Both blood and tissues were normal. In a repeat experiment at Cornell, 13 calves were given 250, 000 I.U. vitamin D and 500, 000 I.U. vitamin A or twice these amounts in the same compound before they were 14 days old. Blood samples taken before, and 2 and 14 days after, the vitamins were given were normal in respect of Ca, P and phosphatase. Histological examination of kidney and other tissues of 11 of the calves gave no evidence of lesions due to excess of these vitamins.-J. Quarterman. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)