Effect of breed on plasma carotene concentration in New Zealand dairy
heifers
S-A.N. Newman, T.W. Knight, K.T. O'Neill, A.F. Death, M. Ridland
AgResearch, Flock House Agricultural Centre, Private Bag 1900, Bulls,
New Zealand
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 1994,
54: 119-120
Factors affecting plasma carotene concentration were investigated in New
Zealand dairy heifers. Blood samples were collected from 4000 dairy heifers in
spring in November 1992. Significant (P<0.001) variation was found in
plasma carotene concentrations due to region, breed and farm. Values for
individual cows ranged from 1.7 to 56.2 ug/ml. Purebred Jersey heifers had the
highest plasma carotene levels (18.2 ± 0.4 ug/ml), purebred Friesians the
lowest (14.4 ± 0.2 ug/ml), crossbreds were intermediate with 50% Jersey and
50% Friesian significantly different from the purebreds (16.9 ± 0.6 and 15.4 ±
0.4 ug/ml respectively).
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
Dairy cattle; plasma carotene; breed.
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Last Updated 25-01-1997
