By Emma Reints, Iowa State University
Vitamin A is critical in reproduction, growth, and health in cattle. Though green grass is rich in the precursor to vitamin A, beta carotene, deficiency in vitamin A may be of concern due to recent years of drought. National recommendations for vitamin A supplementation assume cows have been eating lots of green grass for a significant portion of the year, building stores for critical processes such as vision, helping cows stay healthy while pregnant, and general cattle health. It is essential to monitor for signs of vitamin A deficiency as it can be a…