Vitamins

Vitamins are organic substances characterized by the following properties: they are essential for the proper functioning of the body, they are active at low doses, they have a specific action, no vitamin is more important than another. The animal is incapable of synthesizing them all, so they must be present in the ration.
The body is capable of synthesizing certain vitamins (vitamin K by the intestinal flora of mammals, vitamins C by the adrenal glands in all domestic animals, group B vitamins by the ruminal flora).
The body can also produce partial syntheses from provitamins.
When the deficiency is not significant, the symptoms are barely visible and are often limited to a drop in performance. In addition, due to the action of vitamins in a large number of vital processes, the symptoms of deficiencies are often not very specific. Depending on the problems encountered, the vitamins can be measured in the blood as a mixture (because they are the measure of the ingested) or individually.
Overall, they are sensitive to oxidation. The samples must therefore be protected immediately after collection (put in the dark and cool).

Vitamin A (retinol) :

It is essential for the synthesis of retinal purple which is involved in vision and it is necessary for the growth and protection of epithelial tissues and mucous membranes. A molecule involved in cell division and differentiation, vitamin A deficiency mainly affects growing animals if the diet does not contain supplementation.

Clinical signs: In cattle, they include decreased appetite and growth, changes in gait and unsteadiness, convulsions, diarrhea, cough, fever and heat intolerance. The hairs become dull with the presence of pityriasis. In addition to these symptoms, important ocular signs appear: amaurosis, poor adaptation to darkness, papilloedema, degeneration of the retina, changes in the cornea, conjunctivitis and aqueous humor, exophthalmos.

A clinical case that we have described: Hypovitaminosis A in a fattening bull calf farm. 2004. P. LEBRETON, C. GARNIER, A. MEYUS, F. SCHELCHER, 2004, Bull des GTV – Special issue – neuropathology of ruminants.105-107.

Vitamin B12 :

Unlike other B vitamins, Vit. B12 cannot be synthesized by plants. It is produced exclusively by bacterial synthesis. Cobalt is an integral part of Vit. B12. Unlike other water-soluble vitamins, Vit. B12 can be stored in tissues for a fairly long period of time.

Signs of deficiency:

• Loss of appetite, cessation or slowing of growth.
• A large rumen that no longer works
  Shaggy, prickly hair, weight loss, “big head”.
• Anemia, deficiency induces an abnormal accumulation of iron in the liver which causes a notable drop in hepatic copper, endothelial dysfunction, neurological disorders (cortex necrosis).
• Cobalt deficiency is similar to parasitic infestation!
• The liver is vulnerable because it can be parasitized, but also suffers from deficiency.
• Under production.

Vitamin D3 :

Vitamin D promotes intestinal absorption of calcium and bone fixation of calcium and phosphorus. Deficiency symptoms are rickets in young people and weakening of bones in adults. Hypervitaminosis D can cause accidents of hypercalcemia and mineralization of soft tissues: heart, kidneys, lungs, vessels.

Vitamin E (α-tocopherol) :

It is the vitamin of reproduction through its anti-oxidant role. It acts as a protector of cell membranes and plays a major role in cell growth. It also has anti-inflammatory properties. In the event of a proven deficiency, neurological, cardiovascular and reproductive disorders may be noted.

Biotin (or vitamin B8 or H) :

Biotin is involved in cell growth, fatty acid production and the metabolism of fats and amino acids. Thus, it is essential in the formation of skin, hair and horny coverings such as the hooves of ruminants or the hooves of horses. Insufficient biotin production may occur in high-producing cows, leading to weakened hoof horns and possible lesions.

Studies show that the more the proportion of concentrates increases in the cows’ ration, the less rumen microorganisms produce biotin (decrease in ruminal pH). It is therefore important to quantify the biotin intake because the rumen is likely to no longer be sufficient to meet the animal’s needs. When biotin needs are not met, we may notice poorer hoof quality and an increase in lameness problems, for example: laminitis, caused by the presence of toxins produced during ruminal acidosis (ration rich in concentrates

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