EFFECTS OF VITAMIN-E INJECTION ON BODY-TEMPERATURE AND PLASMA ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL CONCENTRATIONS IN PIGS, LAMBS AND CALVES

Fifteen pigs, 15 lambs, and 15 calves were used to study the effect of supplementation of vitamin E on body temperature and plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations following 1 intramuscular injection in 3 doses (1x, 3x, 5x). The 1x doses for pig, lamb, and calf were 500, 1 000, and 1 500 IU, respectively. Data on body temperature and plasma alpha-tocopherol concentration were analyzed by least-squares procedures separately for each species. In each species plasma alpha-tocopherol concentration increased with increase in the dose of vitamin E injection, highest on d 1 postinjection and declined slowly throughout the remaining observation period. There was a transient elevation of body temperature on d 1 and 2 after injection in all species.