Effects of injection of vitamin E and selenium on absorption of colostrum immunoglobulin, some blood parameters, performance and growth indices in calves

Fifteen female Holstein calves with average body weight 39.55±6.8 kg were randomly assigned to three groups immediately after birth. Treatment 1 (control): intramuscular injection of 0.14 ml normal saline per kg body weight before colostrum feeding, treatments 2 and 3: intramuscular injection of 0.07 and 0.14 ml selenofrol (each ml include 0.5 mg selenium and 50 mg vitamin E) per kg body weight after birth and before colostrum feeding, respectively. Sampling was conducted from the jugular vein immediately after birth (before colostrum feeding) and days 3, 14, 28 after birth. The serum IgG concentration was measured by ELISA method. Weight gain and indices of skeletal growth were measured at birth time and weekly for four weeks. Health status and feces flux coefficient was evaluated daily. Average of contents white blood cell, red blood cell, packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), hemoglobin, total serum protein and indices of skeletal growth had not significant difference among treatments. Activity of aspartate aminotransferase enzyme of control group was higher significantly than 2 treatments at 14 day of age. Average feces flux coefficient in control group was higher significantly than treatment two (P<0.05). Weekly gain of supplemented treatments was higher significantly than control group at third weeks of life. The results of obtained differential leukocyte counts indicated that neutrophils of control group was lower significantly than treatment two at 14 day of age (P<0.05). According to results of this study it could be concluded that injection of vitamin E and selenium administration at birth day had not significant effect on IgG absorption of colostrum.