They may not always be necessary
Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2025 5:50 am
Vitamin A injected in the muscle is used more efficiently to increase liver stores than that given in the feed. This method is often used to supply vitamin A to new feeder cattle. The intramuscular injection of 500,000 to 6 million IU of vitamin A in cows two months before calving has been used in numerous experiments with range and farm herds. There has been no benefit in many cases in respect to fertility, calving percentage or weaning weights.
Vitamin D is called the sunshine vitamin because ultraviolet light acting on a compound on animal skin changes that compound into vitamin D. Vitamin D is found in sun-cured forages. Animals kept outdoors or fed sun-cured hay do not usually suffer a deficiency, whereas animals kept indoors and fed silage may do so. Animals manufacture their own vitamin D requirements from sunlight and fresh or dry feed. The body also stores sufficient vitamin D to overcome dietary deficiency for several months.
Vitamin D is involved in the uptake to Ca and P, so that a phone number data D deficiency resembles a Ca and P deficiency: rickets in the young animals, weak bones in older animals, and a decreased growth rate. Young, growing animals have a greater requirement for vitamin D than mature animals. Under normal conditions, cattle receive adequate vitamin D from exposure to direct sunlight or from consumption of three to four pounds of sun-cured forages daily. Experiments with calves indicate a requirement of approximately 300 IU of vitamin D per 100 pounds of body weight.
Vitamin D increases the absorption from the digestive tract and metabolic use of calcium and phosphorus. It helps regulate blood calcium levels and the conversion of inorganic to organic phosphorus. Vitamin D aids in the formation of sound bones and teeth. Its specific role in the prevention of rickets in young animals or osteomalacia in mature animals is associated with its involvement in the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus.
Vitamin E and selenium have similar and interrelated functions in the body. Use supplements containing vitamins D and E in addition to vitamin A. but cost little to add. Most rations fed to beef cattle in Missouri are adequate in vitamin E. Adding two to five IU of vitamin E per pound to high-grain rations devoid of leafy roughages has increased feedlot cattle performance in a few Corn Belt trials, but not in others. Injecting new feeder cattle with Vitamin E may reduce the incidence and severity of sickness in the starting phase. Vitamin E is contained in green plant material, hay and grain; the concentration in grain decreases during storage.
Vitamin D is called the sunshine vitamin because ultraviolet light acting on a compound on animal skin changes that compound into vitamin D. Vitamin D is found in sun-cured forages. Animals kept outdoors or fed sun-cured hay do not usually suffer a deficiency, whereas animals kept indoors and fed silage may do so. Animals manufacture their own vitamin D requirements from sunlight and fresh or dry feed. The body also stores sufficient vitamin D to overcome dietary deficiency for several months.
Vitamin D is involved in the uptake to Ca and P, so that a phone number data D deficiency resembles a Ca and P deficiency: rickets in the young animals, weak bones in older animals, and a decreased growth rate. Young, growing animals have a greater requirement for vitamin D than mature animals. Under normal conditions, cattle receive adequate vitamin D from exposure to direct sunlight or from consumption of three to four pounds of sun-cured forages daily. Experiments with calves indicate a requirement of approximately 300 IU of vitamin D per 100 pounds of body weight.
Vitamin D increases the absorption from the digestive tract and metabolic use of calcium and phosphorus. It helps regulate blood calcium levels and the conversion of inorganic to organic phosphorus. Vitamin D aids in the formation of sound bones and teeth. Its specific role in the prevention of rickets in young animals or osteomalacia in mature animals is associated with its involvement in the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus.
Vitamin E and selenium have similar and interrelated functions in the body. Use supplements containing vitamins D and E in addition to vitamin A. but cost little to add. Most rations fed to beef cattle in Missouri are adequate in vitamin E. Adding two to five IU of vitamin E per pound to high-grain rations devoid of leafy roughages has increased feedlot cattle performance in a few Corn Belt trials, but not in others. Injecting new feeder cattle with Vitamin E may reduce the incidence and severity of sickness in the starting phase. Vitamin E is contained in green plant material, hay and grain; the concentration in grain decreases during storage.