Introduction
This is part 2 of the series of Calf Notes discussing mineral and vitamin nutrition in young calves. Previous Calf Notes on the topic (#243, and #242) are available at Calf Notes.com. In this Calf Note, I’ll discuss some aspects of water soluble vitamin nutrition for calves.
Water-soluble Vitamins
Water soluble vitamins are not normally considered essential in ruminant diets as rumen microbiota normally produce sufficient amounts of B-vitamins in excess of the animal’s requirements. However, in the case of young calves prior to weaning, it is assumed that there is insufficient microbial synthesis, and, consequently, supplementation is necessary. The 2021 NASEM Committee recommended inclusion of water soluble vitamins in CMR as in Table 4. The Committee recommended water-soluble vitamins in CMR only.
B-vitamin supply in young calves is a combination of dietary supply and production by microbiota in both the rumen and intestine. Because colostrum contains significant amounts of B-vitamins (Foley and Otterby, 1978; Duplessis et al., 2015), blood levels of most B-vitamins are elevated in the first few days after birth (Figure 1, Smith and Allen, 1954). These levels generally decline to a nadir at approximately two to four weeks of age, then either increase (vitamin B12, thiamine) or remain constant or decline with advancing age (riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid).
In the 1950’s and 1960’s researchers documented changes in ruminal, intestine, and blood concentrations of selected B-vitamins in calves in the first four months of life (Kesler and Knodt, 1951; Conrad and Hibbs, 1954; Smith and Allen, 1954; Hibbs and Conrad, 1958). Interestingly, changes in concentrations in rumen and intestine were not always related to intake or age of calf (Figures 2-4). Also, Buziassy and Tribe (1960) reported that concentrations of thiamine, riboflavin, and nicotinic acid in the rumen of grazing lambs increased sharply in the first three weeks of life, but did not change markedly thereafter. After weaning (8 wk of age), the concentrations of vitamins were more stable, though concentrations of nicotinic acid declined. Synthesis of B-vitamins may be significant, as indicated in Figures 2-6. Also, Miller et al. (1986) reported that the intestine is the major site of biotin synthesis suggesting that intestinal microbial B-vitamin production may be significant.
An additional consideration regarding B-vitamin supplementation is effect of diet on rumen vitamin synthesis. Conrad and Hibbs (1954) found that changing % forage from 100% to 0% of the total ration DM changed concentration of thiamine and riboflavin in the rumen fluid of calves as 12 weeks of age. Also, it has been reported that adult cattle may experience subclinical thiamine deficiency when fed high grain diets (Karapinar et al., 2010; Pan et al., 2018), suggesting that high grain diets may be dilatory to adequate synthesis of B-vitamins in the rumen. Because calves are typically fed diets containing 90% or more of concentrate, it is possible that B-vitamin synthesis may not be optimal when calves are fed high concentrate diets.
Vitamin C may be important to calf health under certain circumstances. I summarized the role of vitamin C in immune response in Calf Note #242.
Summary and recommendations
We consider rumen synthesis of B-vitamins to be important to B-vitamin supply. The NASEM Committee considered supplementation of B-vitamins only necessary in CMR. However, I think relative maturity of the rumen is a better indicator of potential B-vitamin synthesis and supply. Data from Quigley et al., (2019a, b) provide an indirect indication of relative maturity; digestion of nutrients approached that of mature ruminants when calves consumed a total of 15 kg of non-fiber carbohydrate (Quigley et al., 2019b). This approach requires B-vitamin supplementation in CMR and calf starter formulations. Inclusion of B-vitamins in calf starters (products intended to be fed for the first two months of life) at levels in Table 4 are recommended. No supplementation is needed in calf grower feeds, as the transition from starter to grower feeds usually occurs at the time at which rumen fermentation is relatively mature. Inclusion of ascorbic acid in stress packs and/or CMR for stressed calves for the first 3 weeks of life as outlined in Table 1 is recommended.
References
Buziassy, C., and D. E. Tribe. 1960. The synthesis of vitamins in the rumen of sheep. II. Levels of thiamine, riboflavin, and nicotinic acid in the rumen of grazing lambs. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 11:1002-1008. https://doi.org/10.1071/AR9601002.
Conrad, H. R., and J. W. Hibbs. 1954. A high roughage system for raising calves based on early rumen development. IV. Synthesis of thiamine and riboflavin in the rumen as influenced by the ratio of hay to grain fed and initiation of dry feed consumption. J. Dairy Sci. 37:512-522. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(54)91292-8.
Duplessis, M., S. Mann, D. V. Nydam, C. L. Girard, D. Pellerin, and T. R. Overton. 2015. Short communication: Folates and vitamin B12 in colostrum and milk from dairy cows fed different energy levels during the dry period. J. Dairy Sci. 98:5454–5459. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2015-9507.
Foley, J. A., and D. E. Otterby. 1978. Availability, storage, treatment, composition, and feeding value of surplus colostrum: A review. J. Dairy Sci. 61:1033–1060. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(78)83686-8.
Hibbs, J. W., and H. R. Conrad. 1958. High roughage system for raising calves based on the early development of rumen function. VIII. Effect of rumen inoculations and chlortetracycline on performance of calves fed high roughage pellets. J. Dairy Sci. 41:1230-1247. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(58)91079-8.
Karapinar, T., M. Dabak, and O. Kizil. 2010. Thiamine status of feedlot cattle fed a high-concentrate diet. Can. Vet. J. 51:1251–1253.PMID: 21286325.
Kesler, E. M., and C. B. Knodt. 1951. B-vitamin studies in calves. I. The relation between age of calf and levels of thiamine, riboflavin, and nicotinic acid found in the digestive tract. J. Dairy Sci. 34:145-148. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(51)91683-9.
Miller, B. L., J. C. Meiske, and R. D. Goodrich. 1986. Effects of grain source and concentrate level on B-vitamin production and absorption in steers. J. Anim. Sci. 62:473–483. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas1986.622473x.
Pan, X., X. Nan, L. Yang, L. Jiang, and B. Xiong. 2018. Thiamine status, metabolism and application in dairy cows: a review. Br. J. Nutr. 120:491-499. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114518001666.
Quigley, J. D., W. Hu, J. R. Knapp, T. S. Dennis, F. X. Suarez-Mena, and T. M. Hill. 2019. Estimates of calf starter energy affected by consumption of nutrients. 1. Evaluation of models to predict changing digestion on energy content in calf starters. J. Dairy Sci. 102:2232–2241. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2018-15353.
Quigley, J. D., W. Hu, J. R. Knapp, T. S. Dennis, F. X. Suarez-Mena, and T. M. Hill. 2019b. Estimates of calf starter energy affected by consumption of nutrients. 2. Effect of changing digestion on energy content in calf starters. J. Dairy Sci. 102:2242–2253. https://10.3168/jds.2018-15354.
Smith, Q. T., and R. S. Allen. 1954. B-vitamin levels in the blood of young dairy calves fed a milk replacement diet with and without aureomycin. J. Dairy Sci. 37:1190-1197. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(54)91389-2.
Table 1. Recommended concentrations of B-vitamin concentrations in calf milk replacer (CMR) from 2021 NASEM. Values are on a DM basis.*
| Nutrient | mg/kg |
| Biotin | 0.10 |
| Choline | 1,000 |
| Folic acid | 0.5 |
| Niacin | 10 |
| Pantothenic acid | 13 |
| Pyridoxine | 6.5 |
| Riboflavin | 6.5 |
| Thiamine | 6.5 |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.007 |
*During periods of stress, inclusion of ascorbic acid at 3 g/d for 7 d, then 2 g/d for 7 d, then 1 g/d for 7 d is recommended. If included in CMR, the recommended vitamin C inclusion is 0.15% of DM.
Can you speak on the lack of regulation on milk replacer tags and what must be listed? So many times I discuss diets with producers and they assume products are the same because the specs are the same as well as the ingredients listed. Additionally, so many of the vitamins and minerals are left off because they do not need to be listed, so a producer reading an article like this will truly not know what is contained in their CMR anyway.
Thank you, always an interesting read.
Requirements for feed tags are established by feed regulatory agencies such as FDA/AAFCO in the United States. Requirements for listing ingredients and nutrients are a “balance” between the government’s requirements to provide information about the formula while allowing the manufacturer some flexibility in formulation. In the case of vitamins, there are generally only requirements for vitamin A (here’s a link to the AAFCO labeling guide: http://otscweb.tamu.edu/Laws/PDF/AAFCO_Labeling_Guide.pdf). You’re correct in that it’s usually not possible to know the amount of any added vitamins or minerals in a formula.
An interesting comment from Table 1 in the AAFCO labeling guide says “Typically, if the feed is not intended or represented to be a principal source of the nutrient then a guarantee is not required, but can be voluntarily provided by the guarantor.” This would imply that manufacturers CAN include nutrient listings if they choose. As feeds become more complex, it would seem reasonable that feed manufacturers would be more willing to include the information needed for consumers to make more informed decisions. Or perhaps if consumers demanded the information.
Thanks for your note!