Influência do desenvolvimento etário e da suplementa？？o com vitamina E (acetato de DL-alfa-tocoferol) no metabolismo oxidativo dos neutrófilos de bovinos da ra？a Holandesa (Bos taurus)

this study was carried out to evaluate the influence of age and supplementation with acetate of dl-alpha-tocopherol on the neutrophils oxidative metabolism of holstein calves from birth to 150 days of age. twenty calves were divided in two groups of ten animals. the animals of group treatment received 2000ui of dl-alpha-tocopherol acetate, im, at birth, and at 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 days of age. the other group (control), did not receive any supplementation. in both experimental groups the neutrophils oxidative metabolism showed little activity during the first 60 days of life, wich could indicate inefficiency of this important bactericidal mechanism. neutrophils oxidative metabolism was not significantly affected by treatment with acetate of dl-alpha-tocopherol.