Vitamin D is commonly known as the “sunshine vitamin” because UVB exposure from sunlight is the main source of this essential micronutrient for most of the population. What is less known perhaps, is that cattle can also produce vitamin D following UVB exposure in the same manner to humans, as well as that obtained from dietary sources, such as silage/feed concentrates. Vitamin D is important in cattle for the regulation of calcium status to help prevent milk fever, and for bone health.
For consumers, in the face of limited dietary sources of vitamin D, dairy products remain a worthwhile contributor to dietary vitamin D intake, particularly in children. In fact, several countries currently implement a mandatory or voluntary fortification policy for fluid milk. The aims of the present review were to provide an overview of the genetic and environmental factors that influence the vitamin…
