Mastitis in beef cows and the effects of supplemental beta-carotene on milk parameters

作者：Whiteman D H^*; Tomkins N W; Young R J; Immig I; Weber G; Elliott R

来源：Animal Production Science, 2010, 50(5-6): 503-507.

DOI：10.1071/AN09171

• calf growth
• grazing cattle
• somatic cell count

Belmont red and Brahman cows (n = 50) were allocated to one of two groups to determine if beta-carotene supplementation could reduce the incidence of mastitis and consequently improve calf productivity from birth to weaning. Both groups received a molasses-based supplement ad libitum; the treatment group supplement was fortified with ROVIMIX (R) beta-carotene and ROVIMIX (R) E50 whereas the control group were provided access to the molasses supplement only. Blood samples were collected from cows pre and post calving and from calves when 84 +/- 0.4 days old to measure plasma beta-carotene concentration (PCC). Milk samples were collected 7 and 84 days post calving and at weaning and analysed for somatic cell count (SCC) and composition. Supplementation had no significant (P > 0.05) effect on SCC, calf PCC, calf LW gain and LW at weaning. Supplemented cows had significantly (P < 0.05) higher PCC compared with unsupplemented cows (4.9 +/- 0.36 v. 3.9 +/- 0.24 mg/L, respectively) at weaning. Cows commenced the study in an above-average condition, and combined with unseasonal green forage it is concluded that beta-carotene supplementation has no effect on mastitis or calf weaning weight.

• 出版日期2010
• 单位CSIRO