Delivery of supplemental antioxidant vitamins to cattle placed in feedlots might be
expected to improve health and performance outcomes by reducing the effects of
oxidative stress to which these cattle are presumably exposed. Meta-analytic procedures
were used in this study to assess published experiments on the effects of vitamin E
supplementation in feedlot cattle. The health outcome of morbidity, and the production
outcomes of average daily gain (ADG) and gain to feed ratio (G:F), were analysed. The
currently available data do not support the use of supplemental vitamin E administered as
an injection (morbidity risk ratio = 1.17; P = 0.17). The authors conclude that supplemental
dietary vitamin E should be fed within the [NRC, 1996. National Research Council.
Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle, 7th ed. Natl. Acad. Press, Washington, DC]
recommended range.