CASE STUDY: Effects of a blend of prebiotics, probiotics, and hyperimmune dried egg protein on the performance, health, and innate immune responses of Holstein calves

Impacts of Various Nutraceutical Milk Replacer Supplements on the Health and Performance of High-Risk Holstein Calves

The objectives of this study were to determine the impacts of supplementing various nutraceuticals in milk replacers, including a blend of probiotics, β-glucan extract, mannanoligosaccharide extract, or a non-immunoglobulin rich extract, from colostrum on the performance and health of high-risk calves and to determine carry-over effects into the immediate post-weaned period. One hundred bull calves were acquired from a local calf ranch within 24 h of birth and randomly assigned to one of five dietary treatments added to milk replacer only: (1) Control (CON), no additive; (2) Immu-PRIME (ImmPr), 1.5 g/d ImmPr first 3 d only (Sterling Technology, Brookings, SD, USA); (3) Beta glucan (BG), 1 g/d BG extract (ImmuOligo, Irvine, CA, USA); (4) Mannanoligosaccharide + Bacillus subtilis (MOS+Bs), 3 g/d CEREVIDA EXCELL-M + 4 x 109 CFU/d Bacillus subtilis (MB Nutritional Sciences, Lubbock, TX, USA); and (5) PROVIDA CALF (PRO), proprietary blend of 2 x 109 CFU/d of a Lactobacillus casei and an Enterococcus faecium + 2 x 109 CFU/d Saccharomyces cerevisiae (MB Nutritional Sciences, Lubbock, TX, USA). Calves were weaned at d 56, comingled, and treatment carry-over effects evaluated through d 84. Starter intake was measured daily and BW weekly. Peripheral blood samples were collected and analyzed for hematology and serum was analyzed for haptoglobin concentrations. Polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) function was assessed through surface L-selectin expression, phagocytic, and oxidative burst activities against Escherichia coli. Data were analyzed using Proc Mixed in SAS (SAS 9.4, Cary, NC). The BG calves consumed the most starter from d 1 to 28 and pre-weaned average daily gain was greater for both the PRO and BG when compared to the CON group. There was a tendency for BG, MOS+Bs, and PRO to have reduced serum haptoglobin throughout the study. Total leukocyte, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts were reduced among MOS+Bs calves, whereas BG calves tended to have the greatest neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio. Oxidative burst function for PMNL was reduced among BG and PRO treatments, suggesting a decreased need for neutrophil function. Supplementing BG, MOS+Bs, and PRO all influenced the performance and health of high-risk calves, but mechanistically appear to be different.

Bovine Immunology: Implications for Dairy Cattle

The growing world population (7.8 billion) exerts an increased pressure on the cattle industry amongst others. Intensification and expansion of milk and beef production inevitably leads to increased risk of infectious disease spread and exacerbation. This indicates that improved understanding of cattle immune function is needed to provide optimal tools to combat the existing and future pathogens and improve food security. While dairy and beef cattle production is easily the world's most important agricultural industry, there are few current comprehensive reviews of bovine immunobiology. High-yielding dairy cattle and their calves are more vulnerable to various diseases leading to shorter life expectancy and reduced environmental fitness. In this manuscript, we seek to fill this paucity of knowledge and provide an up-to-date overview of immune function in cattle emphasizing the unresolved challenges and most urgent needs in rearing dairy calves. We will also discuss how the combination of available preventative and treatment strategies and herd management practices can maintain optimal health in dairy cows during the transition (periparturient) period and in neonatal calves.

Microbial colonization of the gastrointestinal tract of dairy calves - a review of its importance and relationship to health and performance

This review aims to explain how microbial colonization of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) in young dairy calves is related to health and, consequently, to the performance of these animals. The review addresses everything from the fundamental aspects of microbial colonization to the current understanding about the microbiota manipulation to improve performance in adult animals. The ruminal microbiota is the most studied, mainly due to the high interest in the fermentative aspects, the production of short-chain fatty acids, and microbial proteins, and its effects on animal production. However, in recent years, the intestinal microbiota has gained space between studies, mainly due to the relationship to the host health and how it affects performance. Understanding how the GIT's microbiota looks like and how it is colonized may allow future studies to predict the best timing for dietary interventions as a way to manipulate it and, consequently, improve the health and performance of young ruminants.

Supplementing neonatal Jersey calves with a blend of probiotic bacteria improves the pathophysiological response to an oral Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium challenge

The objectives of the current study were to determine the effects of supplementing a blend of probiotic bacteria (Provida Calf, MB Nutritional Sciences, Lubbock, TX) on the pathophysiological response to an oral Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium challenge in neonatal Jersey calves. Twenty-four Jersey bull calves within 24 h of birth were acquired from a local calf ranch, blocked by total serum protein and initial body weight, and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments (n = 8). Calves were assigned to either (1) Control (CON); base milk replacer, (2) Control + Salmonella Typhimurium (CON+ST); base milk replacer and challenged with Salmonella Typhimurium on d 7; or (3) Provida Calf probiotics + Salmonella Typhimurium (PRO+ST); same milk replacer supplemented with a proprietary blend of Lactobacillus casei and Enterococcus faecium strains and challenged with Salmonella Typhimurium on d 7. The PRO+ST calves were supplemented for the first 3 d with 2 × 10¹⁰ cfu/d and then with 2 × 10⁹ cfu/d for the remainder of the study. The CON+ST and PRO+ST calves were each challenged with approximately 5 × 10⁶ cfu of Salmonella Typhimurium (ATCC# 14028), which was a mild challenge that did not cause scours in the calves. Peripheral blood samples were collected on d 0, 7, 10, 14, and 21 and analyzed for hematology; serum was collected and analyzed for haptoglobin, glucose, and urea N. Rectal temperatures were collected daily from d 6 to 21, when all calves were killed, so that persistent colonization of Salmonella Typhimurium and histomorphology of both the duodenum and ileum could be determined. Serum haptoglobin and urea N concentrations were increased among CON+ST on d 10. In contrast, the peak rectal temperature on d 10 in PRO+ST calves was 40.4°C, which was greater than that for CON and CON-ST (38.9°C and 39.7°C, respectively). The neutrophil percentage in peripheral circulation in PRO+ST calves was 55.4%, which was greater than that for CON and CON+ST (34.8 and 41.8%, respectively). Seven of the 8 PRO+ST calves had elevated neutrophil percentages on d 10 compared with d 7, whereas 4 of the 8 CON+ST calves had reduced neutrophil percentages on d 10 compared with d 7. Villus height-to-crypt depth ratios in the duodenum were greater among CON and PRO+ST calves, being 1.38, 0.84, and 1.43 for CON, CON+ST, and PRO+ST, respectively. In the ileum, the PRO+ST calves had greater villus height-to-crypt depth ratios than both the CON and CON+ST calves (1.64, 1.53, and 2.43 for CON, CON+ST, and PRO+ST, respectively). These data indicate that supplementing neonatal calves with the blend of probiotic bacteria used in the current study can influence the pathophysiological response to a mild enteric Salmonella Typhimurium challenge.

Desempenho e parâmetros sanguíneos de bezerros em sistema de desaleitamento precoce suplementados com probiótico de bactérias ruminais

RESUMO Vinte bezerros mestiços da raça Holandês x Jersey, distribuídos em blocos completos casualizados, foram utilizados para determinar o efeito do fornecimento de probiótico de bactérias ruminais sobre o desempenho e os parâmetros sanguíneos de bezerros leiteiros em sistema de desaleitamento precoce. Os animais foram submetidos ao tratamento controle ou ao fornecimento via oral de 2g de probiótico/dia durante o aleitamento. Os bezerros receberam 6 litros de sucedâneo lácteo por dia divididos em duas refeições diárias e foram desaleitados de forma gradual na 6ª semana de vida, entretanto, as variáveis foram coletadas até a 10ª semana. O consumo de concentrado inicial e o escore fecal foram registrados diariamente. Semanalmente foram realizadas pesagens e medidas corporais como, altura de cernelha, largura de garupa e perímetro torácico. Foram realizadas colheitas de sangue nas semanas, 2, 4, 6, 8 e 10, 2h após o primeiro aleitamento, para determinação de concentrações plasmáticas de glicose, proteína total, albumina, β-hidroxibutirato e cortisol. A suplementação de probiótico não afetou o consumo de concentrado, o peso, o ganho de peso, e as medidas corporais dos animais. Não houve efeito sobre o escore fecal entre os tratamentos. Os parâmetros sanguíneos não foram alterados em resposta ao fornecimento do probiótico, apenas a concentração de cortisol, que foi maior nos animais suplementados. O fornecimento de probiótico de bactérias ruminais não favorece o desempenho e o metabolismo de bezerros leiteiros em sistema de desaleitamento precoce.