Far-off and close-up feeding levels affect immunological performance in grazing dairy cows during the transition period.

During the peripartum period, dairy cows often have signs of inflammation. Various stresses, including infectious and metabolic diseases, have been discussed as causative for this inflammation. In this study, expression profiles for 17 immune markers were measured in whole blood preparations from 78 dairy cows over a time frame starting 1 wk before calving to 4 wk after calving. Additionally, the effects of far-off and close-up feeding on immune function of dairy cows during the peripartum period were investigated. Cows were assigned to 1 of 2 feeding levels in late lactation to achieve a low and high BCS at the time of dry-off (approximately 4.25 and 5.0 on a 10-point scale). Following dry-off, both herds were managed to achieve a BCS of 5.0 one month before calving; this involved controlled feeding (i.e., maintenance) and over-feeding of ME during the far-off dry period. Within each far-off feeding-level treatment, cows were offered 65, 90, or 120% of their precalving ME requirements for 3 wk precalving in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement. Analysis of gene expression profiles from blood cells revealed effects of time indicating that the transition cow's immune system counteracts the peripartum inflammation, whereas later postcalving it becomes activated to provide protection against postpartum infections. Far-off feeding affected (P < 0.05) the expression of 2 of the investigated genes at calving. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) expression in unstimulated, peripheral leukocytes were lower (P < 0.05) in animals from the Far-Off_Over-fed group compared with the Far-Off_Control-fed group. Close-up feeding had several effects on gene expression, indicating that immune function in Feed120 animals was distinct from the Feed90 and Feed65. In conclusion, feeding management precalving becomes an important intervention to ensure immunocompetence at and after calving.

Prepartum feeding level and body condition score affect immunological performance in grazing dairy cows during the transition period.

Precalving feeding level affects dry matter intake, postcalving energy balance, the risk of hepatic lipidosis and metabolic disease, and gene expression in liver and adipose tissue. These coincide with a higher risk of disease postpartum and, very likely, a failure to reach optimum production as well as reproductive targets. Current interpretation of the available evidence suggest that metabolic stressors affect the immune system of transition dairy cows and lead to reduced immunocompetence. The objective of the current study was to investigate the effect of precalving body condition score (BCS) and level of feeding on immunocompetence during the peripartum period. Twenty-three weeks before calving, 78 cows were allocated randomly to 1 of 6 treatment groups (n=13) in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement: 2 precalving BCS categories (4.0 and 5.0, based on a 10-point scale) and 3 levels of energy intake during the 3 wk preceding calving (75, 100, and 125% of estimated requirements). Blood was sampled precalving and at 1, 2 and 4 wk after calving. Cells were analyzed by flow cytometry and quantitative real-time PCR. The numbers of T helper lymphocytes (CD4+), cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CD8+), natural killer cells (CD335+), and γδ T lymphocytes (WC1+) as well as their activation status [IL-2 receptor (CD25)+ cells] were highly variable between animals, but there was no evident effect of BCS, feeding level, or time. All groups presented with an increase in expression of cytokines in unstimulated blood cells in the week after calving, although this was significant only for IFNG in the BCS 4.0 group. Analysis of in vitro-stimulated cells allowed 2 general observations: (1) cows with high energy intake precalving (125%) had increased cytokine expression precalving, and (2) all cows had increased cytokine expression in the week after calving. The present study provides evidence that prepartum feed management can affect immunocompetence during the transition period. Considering the current results, optimally conditioned animals might benefit from a restricted precalving diet, whereas underconditioned cows can be fed to requirements.

Grazing dairy cows had decreased interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor, and interleukin-17, and increased expression of interleukin-10 during the first week after calving.

Peripartum, and especially during the transition period, dairy cows undergo dramatic physiological changes. These coincide with an increased risk of disease during the first 2 wk after calving and have been linked to dairy cows failing to achieve production as well as reproductive targets. Previous evidence suggests that these physiological changes affect the immune system and that transition dairy cows experience some form of reduced immunocompetence. However, almost all of these studies were undertaken in high-production, housed dairy cows. Grazing cows have much lower levels of production and this study aimed to provide clarity whether or not the dysfunctional attributes of the peripartum immune system reported in high production housed cows are evident in these animals. Therefore, cell culture techniques, flow cytometry, and quantitative PCR were applied to analyze the cellular composition of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from transition dairy cows as well as the performance of these cells in an in vitro assay. First, a combination of in vitro stimulation and quantitative PCR for cytokines was validated as a quantifiable immunocompetence assay in 29 cattle and a correlation of quantitative PCR and ELISA demonstrated. Second, the relative number of T helper cells, cytotoxic T cells, B cells, γδ T cells, natural killer cells, and monocytes in peripheral blood was measured, of which B cells and natural killer cells increased in number postcalving (n=29) compared with precalving. Third, following in vitro stimulation cytokine profiles indicated decreased expression of IFNγ, tumor necrosis factor, and IL-17 and increased expression of IL-10 wk 1 after calving, which later all returned to precalving values (n=39). Additionally, treatment of transition cows with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (i.e., carprofen) administered on d 1, 3, and 5 postcalving (n=19; untreated control n=20) did not affect the cytokine expression at any time point. In conclusion, an immunocompetence assay has been developed that highlights a characteristic expression pattern for IFNγ, tumor necrosis factor, IL-17, and IL-10 that reflects a state of reduced immunocompetence in moderate-yielding pasture-based transition cows after calving, which is similar to that described for higher-yielding housed cows.

Assessing and managing body condition score for the prevention of metabolic disease in dairy cows.

Body condition score (BCS) is an assessment of a cow's body fat (and muscle) reserves, with low values reflecting emaciation and high values equating to obesity. The intercalving profile of BCS is a mirror image of the milk lactation profile. The BCS at which a cow calves, her nadir BCS, and the amount of BCS lost after calving are associated with milk production, reproduction, and health. Genetics, peripartum nutrition, and management are factors that likely interact with BCS to determine the risk of health disorders.

Genetic ancestry modifies fatty acid concentrations in different adipose tissue depots and milk fat.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of cow genetic strain on fatty acid (FA) profiles in adipose tissue and milk. Adipose samples from two subcutaneous (shoulder and tail-head) and three visceral (kidney channel, mesenteric and omental) depots were obtained post mortem from New Zealand (NZ; n = 8) and North American (NA; n = 8) Holstein-Friesian cows. At the time of slaughter cows were in similar body condition (NZ: 4.0 ± 0.03, NA: 4.0 ± 0.02; ± SD) and stage of lactation (NZ: 90 ± 11.2 d; NA: 83 ± 4.3 d; ± SD). Milk was collected during the a.m. milking prior to slaughter and milk fat was extracted. Adipose and milk fat FA were quantified using gas chromatography. NZ cows had a lower proportion of saturated FA in shoulder, tail-head and omental adipose tissue and a greater proportion of mono-unsaturated FA and an elevated Δ9-desaturase index in shoulder and tail-head adipose tissue. The proportions of individual FA differed between adipose depots, with proportions of de-novo FA greater in subcutaneous compared with visceral adipose depots. Milk from NZ cows contained greater concentrations of short chain FA (C8 : 0-12 : 0) and CLA, and less cis-9 18 : 1 than milk from NA cows. Regression analysis identified moderate associations between milk FA and shoulder adipose tissue FA for 18 : 2 (R(2) = 0.24), 18 : 3 n - 3 (R(2) = 0.39), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (R(2) = 0.38). Results from this study support the hypothesis that genetic strain dictates FA profiles in adipose tissue and milk and may alter the metabolic status of the various adipose depots differently. The data further support the premise that genetic strain affects the metabolic status of the various adipose depots differently. Elucidating the mechanisms that regulate the different adipose depots in the NZ and NA strains will increase our understanding of tissue mobilization and replenishment.

Neuroendocrine and physiological regulation of intake with particular reference to domesticated ruminant animals.

The central nervous system undertakes the homeostatic role of sensing nutrient intake and body reserves, integrating the information, and regulating energy intake and/or energy expenditure. Few tasks regulated by the brain hold greater survival value, particularly important in farmed ruminant species, where the demands of pregnancy, lactation and/or growth are not easily met by often bulky plant-based and sometimes nutrient-sparse diets. Information regarding metabolic state can be transmitted to the appetite control centres of the brain by a diverse array of signals, such as stimulation of the vagus nerve, or metabolic 'feedback' factors derived from the pituitary gland, adipose tissue, stomach/abomasum, intestine, pancreas and/or muscle. These signals act directly on the neurons located in the arcuate nucleus of the medio-basal hypothalamus, a key integration, and hunger (orexigenic) and satiety (anorexigenic) control centre of the brain. Interest in human obesity and associated disorders has fuelled considerable research effort in this area, resulting in increased understanding of chronic and acute factors influencing feed intake. In recent years, research has demonstrated that these results have relevance to animal production, with genetic selection for production found to affect orexigenic hormones, feeding found to reduce the concentration of acute controllers of orexigenic signals, and exogenous administration of orexigenic hormones (i.e. growth hormone or ghrelin) reportedly increasing DM intake in ruminant animals as well as single-stomached species. The current state of knowledge on factors influencing the hypothalamic orexigenic and anorexigenic control centres is reviewed, particularly as it relates to domesticated ruminant animals, and potential avenues for future research are identified.

Effects of dietary conjugated linoleic acid on production and metabolic parameters in transition dairy cows grazing fresh pasture.

Supplementation with a high dose (600 g/d) of rumen inert conjugated linoleic acids (RI-CLA) inhibits milk fat synthesis in total mixed ration (TMR)-fed dairy cows immediately post partum. However, effects of RI-CLA on milk fat and bioenergetic parameters during the transition period in grazing cows have not been investigated. Multiparous Holstein cows (n=39) grazing pasture were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: (1) pasture (PAS), (2) PAS+540 g/d Hyprofat (palm oil; HYPRO) and (3) PAS+600 g/d RI-CLA. HYPRO and RI-CLA supplements were isoenergetic, fed twice daily at 7.00 and 16.00 and provided 0 and 125 g CLA/d, respectively. Treatments began 27+/-10 d prepartum and continued until 36+/-1 days in milk (DIM). There was little or no overall effect of RI-CLA on content or yield of milk protein and lactose. RI-CLA supplementation decreased overall milk fat content and yield with RI-CLA-induced milk fat depression (MFD) becoming significant by day 3 when compared with PAS and by day 6 when compared with HYPRO. MFD continued to increase in severity during the first 24 d post partum after which MFD reached a plateau (approximately 40%; RI-CLA v. HYPRO). Pasture-fed cows produced less milk (19.4 kg/d) than the lipid-supplemented groups and although there were no overall differences in milk yield between RI-CLA and HYPRO (22.3 kg/d) a curvilinear relationship (R2=0.57) existed between the RI-CLA-induced milk yield response and extent of MFD. RI-CLA tended to increase milk yield (1.8 kg/d) compared with HYPRO until MFD exceeded 35% (approximately day 21), after which point the positive milk yield response was eliminated. Milk fat trans-10, cis-12 CLA content averaged 0.25 g/100 g in the RI-CLA treatment, was temporally independent, and was undetectable in PAS and HYPRO treatments. Based on the milk fat 14ratio1/14ratio0 ratio, RI-CLA decreased the overall Delta9-desaturase system compared with PAS and HYPRO. Compared with HYPRO, RI-CLA had no effect on plasma glucose, insulin, leptin, or NEFA concentrations. Results indicate that a high RI-CLA dose decreases milk fat synthesis and tends to increase milk yield immediately post partum in pasture-fed cows; however, excessive MFD (>35%) appears to be associated with a diminished milk yield response.

A comparison between feeding systems (pasture and TMR) and the effect of vitamin E supplementation on plasma and milk fatty acid profiles in dairy cows.

Unidentified constituents in fresh pasture increase milk fat cis-9, trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) concentration, and prevent milk fat depression, even though ruminal conditions conducive to reducing milk fat synthesis exist. One possible explanation is vitamin E (kappa-tocopherol), a constituent high in fresh pasture, but naturally low in conserved/dried forages and cereal grains. Twenty late-lactating dairy cows previously consuming a total mixed ration (TMR) were randomly allocated to one of two dietary treatments for 21 d: TMR (control; n=10); and TMR plus an additional 10,000 i.u. alpha-tocopherol/d (VIT E; n = 10). These cows were simultaneously compared with 13 late-lactation dairy cows previously grazing fresh pasture (PAS) balanced for age, parity and genetic merit. Average daily alpha-tocopherol intakes were approximately 468, 10,520 and 1,590 i.u./cow for the control, VIT E and PAS treatments, respectively. Dietary alpha-tocopherol supplementation (VIT E v. control) slightly increased milk fat content by 0.23 percentage units, but did not significantly alter milk fatty acid composition. Plasma trans-11 18:1 (VA) content tended to increase and trans-10 18:1 levels numerically declined following alpha-tocopherol supplementation suggesting possible changes in rumen biohydrogenation products. In addition, increased alpha-tocopherol intake in TMR-fed cows decreased serum urea levels and tended to alter milk fat 15:0 suggesting changes in rumen microbial populations. However, when compared with cows grazing pasture, TMR-fed cows supplemented with alpha-tocopherol, still produced milk with lower cis-9, trans-11 CLA and VA, and higher trans-10 18:1 concentrations suggesting alpha-tocopherol is not a primary reason for milk fatty acid profile differences between pasture and TMR-fed cows. Therefore, additional unknown pasture constituents favour production of fatty acids originating from the cis-9, trans-11 instead of the trans-10, cis-12 CLA biohydrogenation pathways.