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Experimental Pathology of Dairy Calves Ingesting One-Third the Daily Requirement of Carotene

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 8, pages 324–346 (1967)Cite this article

Abstract

At 53 days of age, 30 male Holstein-Friesian calves were divided into 2 equal groups and fed for a 17 week period a ration containing either 15 µg (deficient) or 150 µg (control) of carotene per 0.45 kg of live-weight per day.

Twelve of the 15 deficient calves had an elevated cerebrospinal fluid pressure (GSFP), above 200 mm of saline. The mean GSFP of the deficient group was 3 times that of the control group. Fourteen of the 15 deficient calves had varying degrees of papilledema and 6 had hypophyseal cysts. The main parotid duct (Stensen’s duct) was affected by squamous metaplasia, in all the deficient calves.

The mean plasma carotenoid and vitamin A concentrations for the control calves were 5 times higher than the deficient animals. Liver carotenoid and vitamin A concentrations were markedly lower in the deficient calves and correlated well with elevated CSFP, papilledema and parotid duct metaplasia.

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Acknowledgments

Scientific Contribution No. 276, Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Connecticut. This study was supported, in part, by two PHS Research Grants, RO 1 NE-02108 from the National Institutes of Neurological Diseases and Blindness, and 5TIGM 985-02 from the Division of General Medical Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Diseases and the Animal Nutrition Section, University of Connecticut, Storrs, USA

    J. H. L. Mills (Associate Professor), S. W. Nielsen, J. E. Rousseau, C. G. Woelfel & H. D. Eaton

  2. Department of Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada

    J. H. L. Mills (Associate Professor)

Authors
  1. J. H. L. Mills
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  2. S. W. Nielsen
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  3. J. E. Rousseau
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  4. C. G. Woelfel
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  5. H. D. Eaton
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Mills, J.H.L., Nielsen, S.W., Rousseau, J.E. et al. Experimental Pathology of Dairy Calves Ingesting One-Third the Daily Requirement of Carotene. Acta Vet Scand 8, 324–346 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03547820

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Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147