젖소의 혈장 베타카로틴 농도 조사

Study of plasma β-carotene concentration in dairy cows

This study was carried out to determine the effects of ${\beta}-carotene$ on the control of mastitis in dairy cows during the dry period. The relationship between the levels of plasma ${\beta}-carotene$ and the status of udder health in Holstein dairy cows were investigated. Blood samples were collected from 117 cows to compare the levels of plasma ${\beta}-carotene$ in lactating cows. The levels of plasma ${\beta}-carotene$ were $1.82{\mu}g/ml$ in healthy cows(n = 65) and $1.12{\mu}g/ml$ in mastitic cows(n = 52), respectively(p < 0.01). In the experiment to compare the level of plasma ${\beta}-carotene$ in the cows at different stages of lactation, the plasma ${\beta}-carotene$ levels were $1.73{\mu}g/ml$ in lactating cows(n = 22), $1.29{\mu}g/ml$ in nonlactating cows(n = 35) and $0.43{\mu}g/ml$ in cows after calving(n = 16)(p < 0.05).