Mammary Transfer of Vitamin E in Dairy Cows

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 μg α-tocopherol/ml while concentrations of fresh milk averaged .3 μg α-tocopherol/ml. D-γ-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-α-tocopherol acetate (5 g), plasma and milk concentrations of α-tocopherol were increased from their original values of 4.5 μg/ml plasma and .3 μg/ml fresh milk to 10.9 μg/ml plasma and 1.6 μg/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. © 1989, American Dairy Science Association. All rights reserved.