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Fertility of dairy heifers given a commercial diet free of β-carotene*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 December 2008

Y. Folman ,
I. Ascarell ,
Z. Herz ,
M. Rosenberg ,
M. Davidsons  and
A. Halevi
Y. Folman
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Science, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel
I. Ascarell
Affiliation:
The Faculty of Agriculture, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
Z. Herz
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Science, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel
M. Rosenberg
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Science, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel
M. Davidsons
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Science, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel
A. Halevi
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Science, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel
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Abstract

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1. Dairy heifers given concentrates including vitamin A and wheat straw from 7 to 17 months of age had an average plasma β-carotene concentration of 20–60 μg/1. Control heifers given the same diet but supplemented with β-carotene had a β-carotene plasma concentration of 630–2190 μg/1.

2. In contrast to previous findings no differences in duration of standing oestrus, length of oestrous cycle, plasma progresterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations and interval between LH peak and ovulation were observed between the groups. All the heifers conceived after one or two inseminations; conception rate being 69% for heifers given a diet free of β-carotene and 78% for the controls.

3. Average rate of growth of heifers not supplemented with β-carotene was 0.75±0.02 kg/d v. 0.81±0.02 kg/d for the controls (P < 0.02).

4. The possible reasons for the discrepancy between present and previous findings are discussed.

Type
Papers on General Nutrition
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 41 , Issue 2 , March 1979 , pp. 353 - 359
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1979

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