Effects of parenteral supply of iron and copper on hematology, weight gain, and health in neonatal dairy calves

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to examine the effects of parenteral administration of iron and copper on hematological parameters, weight gain, and health of neonatal dairy calves in the period when iron and copper deficiency could be existed. Twenty-four Holstein calves were used for the experiment and randomly assigned to four different treatments. Treatments consisted of (1) control (no injections of Fe and Cu), (2) test 1 (1000 mg Fe as fe-dextran was injected to each calf at day 2 of age), (3) test 2 (160 mg Cu as methionine-copper complex was injected to each calf at day 14 of age), and (4) test 3 (Fe and Cu were injected to each calf as mentioned previously). Blood samples were collected from all of the calves within 24-48 hours after birth and at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of age for measuring hematological parameters and within 24-48 hours after birth and at 14, 21 and 28 days of age for the determination of iron, copper, TIBC concentrations, and AST activity. Anti-coagulated blood was analyzed shortly after collection for: number of red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), heamatocrit (HCT), total leukocyte count (WBC), Platelet (Plt), MCH, MCV, MCHC, and differential leukocyte counts. The amounts of iron, copper, TIBC, and AST were measured in serum. Group had significant effects on the amounts of HCT, RBC, hemoglobin, MCV, neutrophil, weekly weight gain, and daily gain during each week (p < 0.05). Sampling time had significant effects on the amounts of RBC, MCV, MCH, MCHC, WBC, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, platelet, fibrinogen, copper, TIBC, AST, weight, weekly gain and, daily gain during each week (p < 0.05). significant interactions between sampling time and group were seen for HCT, RBC, hemoglobin, MCV, platelet, total protein, fibrinogen, iron, and TIBC (p < 0.05). Improved RBC parameters and MCV were seen in calves of group 4 (test 3) in comparing with control group. Total and daily gains were also significantly improved in test groups in comparing with control group (p < 0.05). No significant difference was seen for the days of treatment between groups.

Effects of Protein-Iron Complex Concentrate Supplementation on Iron Metabolism, Oxidative and Immune Status in Preweaning Calves

“…Studies have also been conducted on administering iron parenterally. Providing Fe-dextran via this route for 2-day-old calves resulted in improved RBC parameters, increase of Fe in blood and weight gain during the first month of life in neonatal dairy calves [ 1 ]. High iron content in the diet of other species like rats resulted in decreased growth [ 28 ].…”

“…Iron plays an important role in the organisms of humans and animals, and its deficiency leads to numerous health conditions. The iron requirement of animals varies according to the age, sex and condition of the organism [ 1 , 2 ]. Young animals in the early stages of life are most susceptible to iron deficiency, however neonates do have some iron reserves in their body.…”

Evaluating Potential Biomarkers of Health and Performance in Veal Calves

“…Hb might also be used as predictor of diseases in calves. As a consequence of their anemic status, both health and robustness of calves are affected and calves are more vulnerable to diseases ( 106 ). In animals iron deficiency (with blood Hb lower than 6.0 g/dl) is known to affect both humoral and cell-mediated immunity ( 107 ).…”

Changes in the Level of Calcium, Zinc and Copper in the Serum of Horses in Relation to the Feeding Season

“…Copper deficiency in horses may lead to disturbances in the growth and development of long bones or to deformation of joints and limbs (Gehrke 1997). The association between copper metabolism and estrogenic hormones is manifested as reproductive disorders during periods of deficiency of this element (Tuormaa 2000;Heidarpour et al 2008). As an antibody activator copper plays a role in systemic immune processes.…”