Blood serum tocopherol levels in calves born from cows winter fed hay or grass silage

Blood serum tocopherol was determined in 44 calves born in the spring from cows that had been fed either timothy grass silage or timothy hay produced in Norther Ontario. On all sampling dates (at birth and at eight, 21, 35 and 60 days of age), calves from the silage group had higher average tocopherol levels than those from the hay group. Studies on serum tocopherol distribution in cows and their calves obtained 60 days after birth from the silage group showed that alpha-tocopherol averaged 85% and beta + gamma-tocopherols 12%. Only trace quantities of delta-tocopherol were detected in the serum of cows but none in those of calves.