Farms.com Home   News

When Should We Be Concerned About Vitamin a Supplementation?

By  Lawton Stewart

Vitamins are a unique dietary component for beef cattle and are categorized into two groups: water-soluble and fat-soluble. Bacteria in the rumen synthesize water-soluble vitamins (e.g. B12, thiamin, niacin). Therefore, supplementation is generally not needed as long as the rumen if functioning properly. This leaves the fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K). Of these, Vitamin A is considered the most important when feeding cattle.

What is Vitamin A and why is it important?
Vitamin A, also known as retinol, is a compound that is essential for growth, reproduction, maintenance of body tissue, and bone development. Technically, Vitamin A is not . 

Source : osu.edu

Trending Video

Episode 86: Rest Stops During Long-Haul Transport: Helpful or Harmful?

Video: Episode 86: Rest Stops During Long-Haul Transport: Helpful or Harmful?

Transport regulations have renewed attention on the role of rest stops for weaned calves. While the idea is that breaks during long-haul transport might reduce stress and improve animal welfare, research from 2018–2020 tells a different story. Across all trials, rest stops showed no consistent benefits—and calves that rested actually carried more BRD-related bacteria than those hauled straight through. Tune in to learn why rest stops may pose more risk than reward.