Vitamins & Supplements Livestock

Vitamin A plays a key role in maintaining healthy eyes, skin, and mucous membranes in the respiratory, digestive, and reproductive tracts. It is also important for the proper functioning of the kidneys and the normal development of bones, teeth, and nervous tissue. Vitamin A comes from carotene, which is found in green and yellow plants.

Vitamin D is crucial for bone and digestive health. The animal body is endowed with a natural mechanism for the formation of vitamin D when exposed to sunlight.

Green leafy foods and whole grains are sources of vitamin E.

“While the animal’s need for vitamin E is critical, the specific physiological function of vitamin E is still unclear,” says Eric Bailey, a cattle feeding specialist at the University of Missouri.  “Its main role may be as a chemical antioxidant to reduce the breakdown of other vitamins and essential fatty acids both in the digestive tract and after they are absorbed.”

In fact, vitamin E has been shown to be effective in treating white muscle disease in calves.

Fortunately, possible problems associated with a lack of one or more of these three vitamins do not occur as often as you might think.