The partition of carotenoids and vitamin A in the colostrum and milk of the cow and the goat

Abstract

The partition of carotenoids and vitamin A in the colostrum of nine cows and six goats and in the milk of three cows and two goats was determined using chromatographic and spectrophotometric methods. The following were the main results:1. The content of β-carotene and vitamin A in the colostrum decreased rapidly during the first nine milkings in both the cow and the goat. The rates of decline were logarithmic. Logarithmic regressions also showed that the decreases in β-carotene were more rapid than those of vitamin A.2. The heifers secreted more vitamin A in their colostral fat than did cows on the same ration. The vitamin A content of the colostral fat of goats was greater during the first lactation than in later lactations. There was no difference in the rates of decrease of the vitamin A content of heifer and cow colostrum, but the difference between the rates of decreases of colostral vitamin A of first and later lactation goats was significant.3. The colostral fat of cows at pasture contained more vitamin A than that of cows on winter rations. There was no difference between the logarithmic rates of decrease in the two groups during the first nine milkings. The colostral fat of four goats receiving winter rations was richer in vitamin A than that of three cows treated similarly, and this superiority of the goat over the cow persisted throughout lactation.4. There was no difference between the carotene content of the colostral fat of the first and later lactation cows. The yield of fat and β-carotene of the heifers was smaller than that of the cows. Cows at pasture secreted more β-carotene in their colostrum than the cows on winter rations. The presence of β-carotene was demonstrated in goat colostrum, although mature goat milk was free from any measurable quantity of carotenoids.

The effect of mastitis on the carotenoids, vitamin A and phosphorus compounds of milk

“…This agrees with the earlier finding of the present author (Chanda, 1953) that the vitamin A content of cow and goat milk fat, in contrast to that of the carotenoids, continues to change throughout lactation. In these earlier experiments Chanda (1953) showed that variations in the ratio ofvitamin A/g. fat to ,B-carotene/g.…”

“…4) or are induced artificially by hormones (Chanda et al 1952) or are produced naturally during declining lactation (Chanda & Owen, 1952b). The inverse relationship between phosphatase and phosphorylated thiamine has also been demonstrated in human milk ) and in goat milk (Chanda, 1951). Phosphatase (phenol units) Fig.…”

“…At the same time results of analysis for other milk consti-tuents are included, in order to show that the milk from the cows which were studied had its composition changed by the disease in the same way as had been found by earlier workers. Chanda & Owen (1949, 1951 found the changes in the partition of phosphorus produced by thyroxine and thiouracil treatment could be related to simultaneous changes of phosphatase. Accordingly, phosphatase was also studied in the present experiments.…”

Section A. Physiology of dairy cattle: Part II. Physiology and Biochemistry of Rumination

“…Exophthalmus, muscular inco-ordination and diarrhoea were other symptoms of the extreme deficiency. This is apparently because only the ester form of vitamin A in the blood reflects the carotene intake, as Chanda (390) in these laboratories showed for grazing animals and as Chanda et al showed in further experiments. Eaton et al (371,375) found that artificially dried and pelleted hay maintained liver stores better than artificially ground hay, which in turn was better than field-cured hay.…”

“…In determining the carotenoids and vitamin A in the colostrum and milk of the cow and the goat, Chanda (390) found vitamin A alcohol in cow's milk and in goat's colostrum but not in goat's milk. Though most of the vitamin A in cattle blood was in the form of the alcohol, and though vitamin A alcohol in the blood of the cow tended to be constant the ester varied from cow to cow and from time to time in the same cow.…”