Significant decrease of serum vitamin A level in Japanese Black beef steers after introduction to a farm.

Significant decrease of serum vitamin A (V.A) level in 4 out of 5 Japanese Black beef steers on day 7 after introduction was described in the present study. The feeder steers were fed the diets containing much more V.A than they required. In the farm where they were introduced, the productivity was high and the frequency was low in bovine cases of death and disease. The herd management; i.e. feeding method and environment of the farm were properly arranged. Results obtained from blood serum analyses revealed that health and nutritional status of the feeder steers were good on the day of introduction. The feeder steers, clinically healthy on the day of introduction, manifested mild bronchitis and diarrhea on days 2 and 10 after introduction, respectively, and slightly decreased dietary intake on both days. Serum V.A levels of the feeder steers were within the normal range. However, significantly decreased serum V.A level was detected in 4 feeder steers out of 5 on day 7 after introduction. This may be attributed to stress-increased V.A consumption rather than the decreased V.A intake.

Values of the serum components in Japanese black beef steers at farms with high productivity and low frequencies of disease and death in Miyazaki Prefecture.

Few reference values for use in metabolic profile tests for the maintenance of high productivity and the prevention of production diseases have been reported in Japanese Black beef cattle. To obtain basic data, 101 healthy steers at farms with high productivity and low frequencies of disease and death in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, were examined for the values of their serum components in this preliminary study. At the later fattening stage (5 to 20 months after introduction), statistically significant increases were observed in the mean serum activities of lactic dehydrogenase, glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, and creatine phosphokinase, the mean serum contents of triglyceride, total cholesterol, albumin (Alb), total protein, blood urea nitrogen, magnesium, and vitamin E, and the mean serum calcium (Ca)/inorganic phosphorus (IP) ratio, and statistically significant decreases were seen in the mean serum alkaline phosphatase activity and the mean serum contents of glucose, IP, and vitamin A. The mean serum Alb/globulin ratio and the mean serum Ca and nonesterified fatty acids contents demonstrated no statistically significant changes.

Serum vitamin A and vitamin E in Japanese black fattening cattle in Miyazaki prefecture as determined by automatic column-switching high performance liquid chromatography.

Japanese Black fattening cattle in Miyazaki prefecture, Japan were examined for serum vitamin A (V. A) and vitamin E (V. E) by automatic column-switching high performance liquid chromatography with automated deproteinization. Results indicated that most Japanese Black fattening cattle in Miyazaki prefecture may be provided with V. A supplement and diets including little V. E, moderate beta-carotene and V. A during the early fattening stage, and diets including little beta-carotene, V. A and V. E during the middle and later fattening stages. Therefore, monitoring serum V. A and V. E in Japanese Black fattening cattle throughout the fattening period seems necessary for farmers in Miyazaki prefecture to avoid economic loss attributable to these deficiencies.