EFFECT OF ORAL VITAMIN E SUPPLEMENTATION ON ABSORPTION OF COLOSTRAL IGG IN CALVES

The ingestion and absorption of colostral immunoglobulins are essential for improving immunity of calves. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of oral supplementation of Vitamin E on IgG absorption from colostrum by newborn calves. The same amount and quality of colostrum with or without Vitamin E addition was fed to paired calves (n = 12) once at birth. Blood samples were collected three-times at 0, 12 and 24 hours after birth from each group. Plasma was obtained and analyzed with HPLC and ELISA for Vitamin E and IgG concentration, respectively. Plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations of calves supplemented with vitamin E were significantly higher than the control calves. Feeding of colostrum containing 1000 IU Vitamin E insignifacantly increased IgG amount in the these of plasma of calves 24 h after birth. This study revealed that Vitamin E supplementation to colostrum did not increase IgG amount in blood plasma, Howevere was found that there was no conflict between Vitamin E supplementation and IgG absorption in newborn calves.