Research Article

Effects of using different levels of the emulsified vitamin D3 on performance, blood metabolites and antioxidant parameters of Holstein suckling female calves

Number: Advanced Online Publication Early Pub Date: May 24, 2026

Effects of using different levels of the emulsified vitamin D3 on performance, blood metabolites and antioxidant parameters of Holstein suckling female calves

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of emulsified vitamin D3 supplementation on growth performance, blood metabolites, and antioxidant parameters of Holstein suckling female calves. Thirty-six neonatal calves (average body weight: 36 kg; average age: 1-4 days) were randomly distributed across four treatment groups: a control group without supplementation, and three treatment groups receiving 500, 750, or 1000 IU of vitamin D3 emulsion daily via milk. Average daily gain (ADG) increased linearly, with the highest values observed in calves receiving 750 IU and 1000 IU per day, compared with the control and lower-dose treatments (P<0.05). Dry matter intake (DMI) exhibited a significant linear upward trend across the three supplementation levels (500, 750, and 1000 IU) compared with the unsupplemented controls (P=0.001) over the initial 21 days. Total DMI increased significantly and linearly in the 750 IU and 1000 IU cohorts (P<0.05). The feed conversion ratio (FCR) showed a linear decrease in the 750 IU and 1000 IU treatments relative to the control group (P<0.05). Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) concentration exhibited a linear decrease in calves receiving the higher doses (750 and 1000 IU) compared with the remaining experimental animals (P<0.05). Supplementing suckling calves with Vitamin D3 emulsion leads to higher ADG, greater DMI, and improved FCR. Furthermore, this intervention concurrently supports essential metabolic pathways by elevating serum 25-hydroxy D3 while providing a beneficial systemic effect evidenced by a reduction in the liver marker ALT.

Keywords

Project Number

IR.UMA.REC.1403.101

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Veterinary Food Hygiene and Technology

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

May 24, 2026

Publication Date

-

Submission Date

November 28, 2025

Acceptance Date

May 5, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: Advanced Online Publication

APA
Cheshm Berah, K., Seıfdavatı, J., Abdi-Benemar, H., Seyedsharifi, R., & Salem, A. Z. M. (2026). Effects of using different levels of the emulsified vitamin D3 on performance, blood metabolites and antioxidant parameters of Holstein suckling female calves. Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, Advanced Online Publication. https://doi.org/10.33988/auvfd.1831840
AMA
1.Cheshm Berah K, Seıfdavatı J, Abdi-Benemar H, Seyedsharifi R, Salem AZM. Effects of using different levels of the emulsified vitamin D3 on performance, blood metabolites and antioxidant parameters of Holstein suckling female calves. Ankara Univ Vet Fak Derg. 2026;(Advanced Online Publication). doi:10.33988/auvfd.1831840
Chicago
Cheshm Berah, Karim, Jamal Seıfdavatı, Hossein Abdi-Benemar, Reza Seyedsharifi, and Abdelfattah Zeidan Mohamed Salem. 2026. “Effects of Using Different Levels of the Emulsified Vitamin D3 on Performance, Blood Metabolites and Antioxidant Parameters of Holstein Suckling Female Calves”. Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, no. Advanced Online Publication. https://doi.org/10.33988/auvfd.1831840.
EndNote
Cheshm Berah K, Seıfdavatı J, Abdi-Benemar H, Seyedsharifi R, Salem AZM (May 1, 2026) Effects of using different levels of the emulsified vitamin D3 on performance, blood metabolites and antioxidant parameters of Holstein suckling female calves. Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi Advanced Online Publication
IEEE
[1]K. Cheshm Berah, J. Seıfdavatı, H. Abdi-Benemar, R. Seyedsharifi, and A. Z. M. Salem, “Effects of using different levels of the emulsified vitamin D3 on performance, blood metabolites and antioxidant parameters of Holstein suckling female calves”, Ankara Univ Vet Fak Derg, no. Advanced Online Publication, May 2026, doi: 10.33988/auvfd.1831840.
ISNAD
Cheshm Berah, Karim - Seıfdavatı, Jamal - Abdi-Benemar, Hossein - Seyedsharifi, Reza - Salem, Abdelfattah Zeidan Mohamed. “Effects of Using Different Levels of the Emulsified Vitamin D3 on Performance, Blood Metabolites and Antioxidant Parameters of Holstein Suckling Female Calves”. Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi. Advanced Online Publication (May 1, 2026). https://doi.org/10.33988/auvfd.1831840.
JAMA
1.Cheshm Berah K, Seıfdavatı J, Abdi-Benemar H, Seyedsharifi R, Salem AZM. Effects of using different levels of the emulsified vitamin D3 on performance, blood metabolites and antioxidant parameters of Holstein suckling female calves. Ankara Univ Vet Fak Derg. 2026. doi:10.33988/auvfd.1831840.
MLA
Cheshm Berah, Karim, et al. “Effects of Using Different Levels of the Emulsified Vitamin D3 on Performance, Blood Metabolites and Antioxidant Parameters of Holstein Suckling Female Calves”. Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, no. Advanced Online Publication, May 2026, doi:10.33988/auvfd.1831840.
Vancouver
1.Karim Cheshm Berah, Jamal Seıfdavatı, Hossein Abdi-Benemar, Reza Seyedsharifi, Abdelfattah Zeidan Mohamed Salem. Effects of using different levels of the emulsified vitamin D3 on performance, blood metabolites and antioxidant parameters of Holstein suckling female calves. Ankara Univ Vet Fak Derg. 2026 May 1;(Advanced Online Publication). doi:10.33988/auvfd.1831840