The Ascorbic Acid Content of Ewes’ Blood, Colostrum and Milk and the Effect of Ascorbic Acid Injections

Results are given of the determination of the ascorbic acid content of 104 samples of ewes’ blood and of 165 samples of ewes’ colostrum and milk by titration with 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol, and the effect of injections of ascorbic acid on the content of the milk and blood. The ascorbic acid content of ewes’ blood was found to be 0.43–0.82 mg. per 100 ml. of plasma. The value for the ascorbic acid content of colostrum obtained before the lamb suckled was found to range from 2.01 to 9.94 mg. per 100 ml. The values dropped rapidly during the first 5 or 6 days to the relatively constant value of 0.80 mg. per 100 ml. for milk. Injection of ascorbic acid resulted in a rise in the ascorbic acid level in the blood and milk. The level in the blood returned to practically normal within 1 day and the level in the milk within 3 days. There was wide variation in the magnitude of the rise in milk ascorbic acid in different animals.