Unraveling the Vitamin Requirements of Beef Cattle: A Historical Perspective

From the earliest biblical references to contemporary scientific understanding, the journey of unraveling the vitamin requirements of beef cattle spans millennia. One such biblical passage highlights the importance of green grass for the sustenance of cattle, hinting at a rudimentary awareness of their nutritional needs.

However, it wasn't until the four-decade period between 1910 and 1950 that significant strides were made in the realm of vitamin research. This era witnessed groundbreaking discoveries, laying the foundation for our contemporary understanding of these essential nutrients. Vitamin B12, the last recognized vitamin, was discovered over four decades ago, marking a significant milestone in nutritional science.

Today, vitamins are classified into two main groups: fat-soluble and water-soluble. This classification, based on solubility characteristics, offers valuable insights into the nature of these vital nutrients. Fat-soluble vitamins consist solely of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, while water-soluble vitamins, with exceptions like inositol and vitamin C, also contain nitrogen, sulfur, or cobalt.

Animals equipped with a developed rumen possess the remarkable ability to synthesize all recognized water-soluble vitamins, provided their diet contains the necessary elements. This synthesis capability underscores the intricate relationship between diet composition and vitamin production within the animal's body. However, deficiencies in key elements like cobalt can disrupt this synthesis process, leading to detrimental health effects.

For instance, a deficiency in cobalt impedes the synthesis of vitamin B12, which is vital for maintaining normal hemoglobin levels. Consequently, cattle suffering from cobalt deficiency may exhibit symptoms of anemia, reflecting the crucial role of vitamin B12 in blood health. In such cases, veterinarians often administer supplemental B vitamins, including vitamin B12, as part of a "stress pack" to support the animals' health during periods of heightened need.

In conclusion, the exploration of vitamin requirements in beef cattle represents a journey marked by both ancient wisdom and modern scientific inquiry. From biblical references to contemporary veterinary practices, the understanding of these essential nutrients continues to evolve, ensuring the health and well-being of livestock worldwide.
Unraveling the Vitamin Requirements of Beef Cattle: A Historical Perspective

Vitamin A requirement for cattle

Vitamin A (retinaldehyde) is necessary for the production of rhodopsin (a vision pigment) that is necessary for low light vision. Carotene occurs in the forages consumed by cattle and is the precursor of physiological active vitamin A.

The vitamin A requirement for cattle can be met by pro-vitamin A carotene in feeds or vitamin A supplements, or combination of the two.

Vitamin A is needed for normal growth and development including fetal growth, spermatogenesis, and for maintenance of skeletal tissue and epithelia tissue.

Vitamin A also increases disease resistance and has stimulatory effects on cell-mediated immunity.

Cattle store vitamin A and carotene in the liver and in body fat during times of abundant intake from pasture and other feeds. These storage reserves, if sufficiently large, may rely upon for several months of time in reducing or completely covering the needs of cattle for vitamin A.

Growing and finishing steers and heifers fed for several months require about 2200 IU of vitamin A per kg of dry ration; pregnant heifers and cows about 2500 IU and lactating cows and breeding bulls about 3900 IU.
Vitamin A requirement for cattle

Vitamin Requirements of Beef Cattle

Vitamin Requirements of Beef Cattle
There is a biblical reference to the fact that “cattle were not able to see because there was no green grass for them to eat.”

So possibly an awareness of this fact may represent some of the very earliest knowledge of the science of nutrition.

However, there is a long period from that biblical beginning until the four decades between 1910 and 1950 when so much knowledge concerning vitamins was uncovered.

It is now more than four decades since the last recognized vitamin – vitamin B12 – was discovered.

Generally, the vitamins are now classified into “fat soluble” and “water soluble” groupings. This method of classification is largely a physical one and does not reveal much more about the vitamins than their solubility characteristics.

Fat soluble vitamins contain only carbon, hydrogen and oxygen while the water-soluble vitamins –excepts inositol and vitamin C – also contain, nitrogen, sulfur, or cobalt.

It is generally accepted that animals with a developed rumen can synthesis all of the recognized water-soluble vitamins of their diet contains all the elements needed.

A good example of this affect is for a cobalt deficiency, in which cattle are unable to synthesize vitamins B12 for which cobalt is an essential constituent.

Such cattle will show varying symptoms of anemia, since vitamin B12, is needed for normal levels of hemoglobin.

Veterinarians often administer supplemental B vitamins as a part of a “stress pack” when ruminant animal need special attention, considering that a less than normal rumen may not be capable of synthesizing B vitamins at a normal rate.
Vitamin Requirements of Beef Cattle