Sodium Ascorbate Nutrition in Calves During Stress

Abstract

A feeding trial was conducted to establish the effect of different doses of Sodium Ascorbate (NaA) on growth of calves under stressful environmental conditions. Sodium ascorbate is an antistress substance with a stable storage form of vitamin C. Forty-eight male Friesian calves, 30 days of age, were fed on replacer milk and supplemented with NaA at 28, 38, 47 or 56 levels mglkg live-weght (L W). The experiment lasted for 65 days. Results showed that calves that received 38 mg ofNaA kg-I LW had the highest (P < 0.05) mean daily increase in LW (656.9 g). Ethological studies indicated that these calves were also less stressed than those that received other doses of NaA. Supplementation of replacer milk of calves with NaA at 38 mg kg I L W may be recommended for optimum performance and maintenance of physiological functions of calves during adverse environmental conditions.