Vitamins are the catalysts for all reactions required to perform specific and vital functions in the cells and tissues of the body. They are absolutely necessary to the animalís ability to utilize proteins. fats and carbohydrates for energy, growth and cell maintenance.  Vitamins are not foods but potent, organic compounds naturally contained in foods. They furnish no energy or building materials for the animal, yet they cause the reactions that release energy from foods and participate in vital processes for health and normal body functions.  While no vitamin contains kilocalories, some vitamins, especially thiamin and niacin, are essential in the production of energy. So, they are closely associated with energy requirements. In other words, providing the animal with adequate levels of fats, carbohydrates and proteins without enough of these two B vitamins means that the foods cannot be converted to energy that the animal can utilize.  Vitamins never work single-handedly but in partnership with each other as well as hormones, enzymes, fats, carbohydrates, and proteins.  A vitamin is a general term for a number of organic substances present in foods in small amounts that are necessary for normal metabolic and physiological functions.  As organic substances, they are easily destroyed by heat, oxidation and chemical processes used in their extraction, In addition, foods normally thought to contain relatively high levels of a particular vitamin can fall far short if grown in chemically abused or neglected soils or stimulated by synthetic fertilizers and plant foods.  During periods of stress (rapid growth, pregnancy, lactation, fever, injury, disease, surgery, other tissue damage, shipping, weather extremes, poor quality feed, poor water or other increased environmental pollutants) higher demands are made upon the body. Requirements for most of the vitamins, especially the water-soluble ones, are increased. LEVELS The scientific study of vitamins is in its infancy. Almost daily, new discoveries as to the ways vitamins are utilized within animals are being made. It is a full-time effort to keep current with new data and reports. Much dedication is needed for a company to produce feed products that utilize this most current information.  Our product formulations reflect the most current research data available in the levels of vitamins used in our pre-mixes. BIOAVAILABILITY  As with minerals, vitamins are available in a variety of different forms. As with minerals, some forms are more readily utilized by the animalís body. And, as with minerals, these highly available forms tend to command a better price on the market place. when the livestock producer is purchasing vitamin packages for his animals, it is prudent to keep in mind the most current research, the vitamin levels  found in the various packages and also, the vitamin forms used in formulation.  We are fortunate to have our products formulated by nutritionists that network with other nutritionists all over the country. Therefore, before we formulate a product, it has been subjected to the scrutiny of many experts in the field of livestock nutrition. We also formulate our products using the forms of vitamins that have the highest BIOAVAILABILITY to the animal.   VITAMIN  E  Vitamin E and selenium play an important role in efficient, profitable goat production and in maintaining optimum health. Vitamin E and selenium are usually considered together in discussions because both function as antioxidants and each has additional specific functions related to maintaining health.  There is an important interrelationship between vitamin E and selenium. Vitamin E can substitute to a certain extent for selenium, and selenium can likewise substitute for some of the vitamin E, but neither one can substitute entirely for the other. Both of these nutrients are needed by the goat and both have a metabolic or nutritional role in the body. Vitamin E in cellular and subcellular membranes is the firse line of defense against peroxidation of vital phospholipids. Selenium, in glutathione peroxidase, is a second line of defense which destroys these peroxides before they cause damage to the membranes (Scott, 1979). For complete protection, both vitamin E and selenium are required particularly when cells are in very active areas and dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels are high (Bieber-Wlaschny, 1989).  Vitamin E functions in at least two metabolic roles: (1) as a fat soluble antioxidant and (2) in a more specific role interrelated with the metabolism of selenium (Scott, 1979). The increasing use of fats or the utilization of feeds with unsaturated fatty acids which are susceptible to rancidity, warrants the use of higher levels of vitamin E, since rancidity destroys vitamin E. Vitamin E also helps to maintain red blood cell levels and to act with selenium in prevention of exertional myopathy (Hintz, 1987).  Deficiency symptoms in livestock are similar for vitamin E and selenium. The classic symptom of vitamin E deficiency is muscle degeneration (nutritional muscular dystrophy). An affliction of the muscle is evident when some of the goats in a herd are unable to rise or exhibit an uncoordinated, staggering gait. Degenerating muscles become edematous and white (white muscle disease). This syndrome affects fast growing goats but may be seen occasionally at any age, include newborns or kidding does. The incidence varies markedly from one year to another and may depend on weather and grain conditions (Bieber-Wlaschny, 1989).  A goatís heart muscle can be affected by vitamin E deficiency. Sudden cardiac failure, dietetic microangiopathy and acute circulatory failure, dietetic microangiopathy and acute circuatory failure appear to be manifestations of the same syndrome, which is known as mulberry heart disease (MHD). In this condition, lesions of the cardiac muscles manifested as pale patches or white streaks are prominent, though other organs may also be affected (e.g. necrotic livers). the signs preceding sudden death are not specific: depression and inappetence may be observed for several hours. Blue-reddish maculae of irregular shape and size may develop on the skin, but these are difficult to distinguish from accidental scratches or superficial wounds (Bieber-Wlaschny, 1989).

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