The Vitamin A Requirements of Dairy Cows for Production of Butterfat of High Vitamin A Value. III. Availability of Carotene in Dehydrated Alfalfa Hay as Compared with Carotene in Oil

Summary 1. Experiments have been conducted to determine the relative availability of carotene in dehydrated alfalfa hay as compared with isolated carotene (in oil) as a source of vitamin A in the rations of dairy cows. 2. Two groups of cows were used in these experiments. Each group of cows was fed equal amounts of carotene at levels of 130, 200, and 300 milligrams daily. 3. The results of these experiments indicate that dairy cows can utilize the carotene from the alfalfa hay as readily as isolated carotene.