Two experiments were conducted to
determine the effect of vitamin E, selenium, and
copper supplementation on the pre- and
postweaning performance, immune responses,
and serum metabolites o f crossbred beef calves.
In experiment 1, 71 calves were blocked by
weight and allotted to one of four individually
fed treatments: 1) control supplement (2 lb
grain creep ) (CS), 2) CS + .27 mg selenium +
500 IU vitamin E, 3) CS + 9.1 mg copper, and
4) combination of treatments 2 and 3. In
experiment 2, 80 crossbred beef calves were
blocked by weight and allotted to 5 individually
fed treatments: 1) control supplement (2 lb
grain creep) (CS), 2) CS + .27 mg selenium, 3)
CS + .27 mg selenium + 500 IU vitamin E, 4)
CS + .27 mg selenium + 1000 IU vitamin E,
and 5) CS + .27mg selenium + 1500 IU vitamin
E. Supplements were fed daily on an
individual basis. In experiment 1, vitamin E
supplementation reduced plasma haptoglobin
levels by the end of the study and tended
(P=.11) to improve postweaning gain.
However, no other effect was noted on calf
performance or immune parameters in either
experiment.
