Vitamins Lecture 6

Vitamins Organic compound essential for health but only in trace amounts (ppm). Required for normal growth and maintenance of animal life. Function as catalyst –Enzymes or coenzymes in metabolic processes.

Vitamin Supplementation Vitamin [ ] vary tremendously within sources. –In plants the source is affected by: Harvesting, processing and storage Species of plant Part of plant used –In animal tissue the largest sources are: Liver Kidney

Vitamin Sources Vitamins are generally destroyed by Heat –Exposure to air –Sunlight –Oxidizing conditions –Storage conditions that allow mold growth Better to error on the positive side than have a deficiency

Classification of Vitamins Water soluble –B vitamins and Vitamin C B vitamins synthesized in rumen usually not needed Not stored in body so daily supply is needed if required. –Enough found in feedstuffs Exception – Vit.B 12 not found in plants –Usually supplemented to ensure adequate amounts in diet. Fat soluble –A, D E and K –May be stored in body so daily supply may not be needed ? –Vitamin Supplementation is very important in stressful conditions.

Vitamin Sources Fat soluble vitamins – Vit. A –Carotene Green and yellow plants Excellent source Betacarotene maybe important factor affecting reproduction in high producing dairy cows. –Vitamin A Acetate –Vitamin A propionate –Vitamin A palmitate Can be a problem after processing feed and exposure to air. –Pelleting can reduce vitamin A content up to 40%.

Vitamin Sources cont’d Vitamin A – antioxidants added to reduce storage losses. –Cost of Vitamin A is cheap therefore should be added to diets to be safe. Vitamin D –Ultraviolet rays activate a form of Cholesterol in an oil on the skin and converts it to a form of Vit. D which is absorbed. –Important in the metabolism and absorption of Ca –Present in D 2 form in plants, D 3 in animal products. –Stable unless mixed with limestone or oxidizing compounds- rapid loss in rations.

Vitamin Sources cont’d Vitamin K –Synthesized and absorbed so efficiently almost impossible to cause a deficiency. –Essential for production or synthesis of prothrombin. Related to blood clotting. –Poultry is the only species that may require supplementation. Vitamin E –Primarily, alpha tocopherol present in most feedstuffs, but highest in grem or germ oil of plants (soybean,cottonseed, corn, etc. –Antioxidant – inhibits or retard oxidation, reduce hemolysis of RBC, stabilizes polyunsaturated fatty acids –Rapidly degraded in heat, light and high trace mineral content of feed

General Rules of Vitamin Supplementation Usually limiting in natural diets. –Vitamin A, D, E, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, niacin, choline, and B 12 Biotin may need supplemented in Poultry and Swine. Vit. K synthesis may be inhibited by some feed additives. However, produced by microbes of the digestive tract.

Summary of Vitamins Supplementation is usually inexpensive Animals under stress - Vitamin requirements will change. Vitamin A from 20 – 30,000 to 50,000 IU. Protect from the environment to reduce oxidation. Utilizes within a couple of days once mixed with other feedstuffs. Look up specific requirement for the species you are working with. Poultry usually require more than four footed animals.