Effects of vitamin E and selenium administration on transportation stress in pregnant dairy heifers

We investigated the effects of road transportation and administration of the vitamin E and selenium (ESe) on circulating cortisol, haptoglobin, blood metabolites, oxidative biomarkers, white blood cell profiles, and behaviors in pregnant dairy heifers. Forty pregnant Holstein heifers were randomly assigned to one of 4 treatments: no transportation and no ESe administration, no transportation and ESe administration, transportation and no administration, and transportation and ESe administration. The ESe (70 IU/kg dry matter feed of dl-α-tocopheryl acetate and 0.3 mg/kg dry matter feed of sodium selenite) was orally delivered once a day from 7 d before transportation to 3 d after transportation. The heifers were transported in trucks designed for cattle transportation. Blood was collected 1 h before transportation, immediately after transportation (IAT), and at 6, 24, and 48 h after transportation. Behaviors were recorded using a video camera for 2 consecutive days after transportation. Transported/non-ESe-administered heifers had greater cortisol at IAT, haptoglobin at 6 and 24 h after transportation, total oxidative status at 6 h after transportation, and nonesterified fatty acid levels, white blood cell numbers, and neutrophil percentages at IAT and 6 h after transportation in the blood than nontransported heifers. Transported/non-ESe-administered heifers had lower total antioxidative status levels at 48 h after transportation and lymphocyte percentages at IAT and 6 h after transportation than nontransported heifers. Lying time was shorter in transported heifers than nontransported/non-ESe-administered heifers. Transported/ESe-administered heifers had lower cortisol, total oxidative status, nonesterified fatty acid levels at IAT, and haptoglobin concentrations at 6 and 24 h after transportation than transported/non-ESe-administered heifers. Transported/ESe-administered heifers had greater total antioxidative status levels at 48 h after transportation than transported/non-ESe-administered heifers. No ESe administration effects were observed for white blood cell number and neutrophil and lymphocyte percentages and lying time. In conclusion, road transportation caused temporary oxidative stress. Administrating ESe partially alleviated the stress, suggesting that ESe administration could be a viable strategy to reduce stress in transported pregnant heifers, providing a novel role of vitamin E and selenium for improving animal welfare.

Graduate Student Literature Review: Reducing mortality and morbidity in transported preweaning dairy calves: Colostrum management and pretransport nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug administration

Currently, mortality and morbidity rates for preweaning calves in the US dairy industry are high, with the major cause being digestive disorders and respiratory diseases. One of the most important management practices that can reduce calf mortalities and morbidities is the feeding of colostrum, provided its quantity, quality, and cleanliness, and timing of feeding are according to recommendations. However, other management practices similar to transportation, can also compromise calf health and production performance. When preweaning calves are transported, stressors similar to physical restraint, commingling, dehydration, bruising, and pain may lead to an inflammatory response and immunosuppression, which has been seen in older cattle, and could increase susceptibility to digestive disorders and respiratory diseases. One strategy that could potentially reduce transport-related negative outcomes is the pretransport administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as meloxicam. This review provides a brief background on preweaning mortality and morbidity, colostrum management, transport-related stress, use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in transported calves, and highlights some of the current knowledge gaps.

Galyean Appreciation Club Review: Revisiting nutrition and health of newly received cattle - What have we learned in the last 15 years?

Our objective was to review the literature related to the health and management of newly received cattle published since a previous review by Duff and Galyean (2007). Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) continues to be a major challenge for the beef industry. Depending on disease severity, animals treated for BRD have decreased performance and lowered carcass value. Diagnosis of BRD is less effective than desired, and progress on developing real-time, chute-side methods to diagnose BRD has been limited. Systems that combine lung auscultation with temperature and BW data show promise. Assessment of blood metabolites and behavior monitoring offer potential for early identification of morbid animals. Vaccination and metaphylaxis continue to be important tools for prevention and control of BRD, but antimicrobial resistance is a concern with antibiotic use. Dietary energy concentration and roughage source/level continue to be important topics. Mineral supplementation has received considerable attention, particularly the use of organic vs. inorganic sources and injectable minerals or drenches given on arrival. Use of probiotics and prebiotics for newly received cattle has shown variable results, but further research is warranted. Health and nutrition of newly received cattle will continue to be an important research area in the years to come.

Effect of anti-inflammatory compounds or antibiotic administration on receiving performance and physiological responses of transported heifers

The objectives of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of products with anti-inflammatory properties (yeast product [YEA; 20 g/heifer daily] or astragalus polysaccharide [APS; 20 g/heifer daily]) or an antibiotic (TUL, tulathromycin; 0.025 mL/kg body weight [BW]) on receiving performance and stress responses of transported heifers. Angus heifers (n = 80) were ranked by BW (315 ± 6 kg) and assigned to one of four treatments (five pens per treatment, four heifers per pen) 7 d before shipping 1,400 km (day -7): 1) fed a basal diet of ad libitum hay and concentrate supplement (CON) from day -7 to day 29; 2) YEA in supplemental concentrate from day -7 to day 7 (YEA); 3) APS in supplemental concentrate from day -7 to day 7 (APS); 4) administration of TUL at loading for shipping (day 0; TUL). Upon arrival at the receiving facility (day 1), heifers within each treatment were ranked by BW and assigned to 20 feedlot pens in the same manner as pre-transport. Daily dry matter intake (DMI) was recorded from day 1 to day 28. Full BW was recorded on days -7, -1, 0, 1, 28, and 29. Blood samples were collected on days -7, -1, 1, 4, 7, 14, and 28. Over the receiving period, average daily gain (ADG) and gain: feed did not differ (P ≥ 0.19) for YEA, APS, and TUL, which were greater (P ≤ 0.01) than CON. Average daily gain was also lower (P < 0.01) for CON vs. YEA, APS, and TUL from day -7 to day 28. During the first week of receiving, hay, concentrate, and total DMI were lower (P < 0.01) in CON than the YEA, APS, and TUL, but did not differ (P ≥ 0.13) among these three groups. Hay and total DMI were still lower (P < 0.01) in CON vs. TUL in the second week. Total DMI was greater (P = 0.01) for TUL vs. YEA, and greater (P < 0.01) for YEA vs. CON. Serum nonesterified fatty acid concentrations were greater (P ≤ 0.05) for CON and TUL vs. YEA and APS on day 1. Plasma cortisol concentrations were greater (P ≤ 0.05) for YEA and CON vs. APS and TUL on day 1. Serum tumor necrosis factor-α concentrations were lower (P ≤ 0.05) for APS vs. CON, YEA, and TUL on days 1 and 4. Plasma haptoglobin concentrations were greater (P ≤ 0.05) for CON vs. YEA, APS, and TUL on days 1 and 4, greater (P ≤ 0.05) for YEA, APS vs. TUL on day 1, and greater (P = 0.03) for YEA vs. TUL on day 4. Plasma ceruloplasmin concentrations were greater (P ≤ 0.05) for CON vs. YEA, APS and TUL vs. APS on days 1, 4, and 7. In conclusion, YEA, APS, and TUL modulated the physiological stress responses and alleviated the performance losses caused by long-distance transportation.

Comparison of the effect of tildipirosin administered alone or in combination with transdermal flunixin on the performance, health, activity, and well-being of transported feedlot calves on arrival at the feedlot

Long distance transportation can be a significant source of stress to cattle and is associated with increased risk of bovine respiratory disease (BRD). The administration of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) has been shown to reduce stress following long distance transport. The objective of this study was to compare performance, health, accelerometer activity, and well-being between calves receiving either tildipirosin (Zuprevo 18%; Merck Animal Health, Madison, NJ) alone or in combination with transdermal flunixin (BANAMINE Transdermal Pour-on Solution; Merck Animal Health, Madison, NJ) on arrival at the feedlot. Three hundred eighty-four polled, Continental × English, and English crossbred bulls (n = 199) and steers (n = 185) were enrolled into one of two treatments: 1) tildipirosin administered in the neck as a single dose of 4 mg/kg only (PLBO) 2) tildipirosin in combination with transdermal flunixin applied to the dorsal midline at a dose of 3.3 mg/kg (FTD). Outcomes measured were average daily gain (ADG), dry mater intake (DMI), gain to feed, morbidity, mortality, accelerometer activity data, and a daily visual analog scale (VAS) assessment of well-being. Body weight (BW) was determined by weighing individual animals; ADG was calculated as initial BW-final BW / total days on feed; DMI was calculated as daily pen feed allocation-feed remaining at next feeding / number of calves in the pen; and gain to feed was calculated as pen level ADG / pen level DMI. The VAS used was a 100 mm line anchored at each end by descriptors of "no pain" or "severe pain". Statistical analysis was performed using JMP 13 computer software using pen as the experimental unit, lot number as a random variable, and treatment as a fixed variable. There was no treatment effect on DMI (P = 0.51). During the first 14 d on feed, FTD calves had a lower ADG of 0.90 kg/d compared with 1.33 kg/d in the PLBO group (P = 0.05). There were no differences observed in morbidity and mortality between groups (P = 0.29). There were no treatment differences from activity data (P = 0.19). The VAS assessment showed a significant time × treatment interaction (P < 0.001). During the first 36 h after treatment administration, the FTD-treated calves had lower VAS scores [6.23 (95% CI: 5.27-7.20) compared with 7.28 (95% CI: 6.32-8.24)] than PLBO (P < 0.05). Results suggest that FTD-treated calves showed less signs of pain the first 36 h postdrug application relative to PLBO calves.

The effects of pretransportation or arrival meloxicam administration to calves entering the feedlot on morbidity, biomarkers, performance, and carcass characteristics

The objective of this trial was to investigate the effects of using meloxicam as a pretransport or on arrival therapeutic on disease outcomes of bovine respiratory disease (BRD), biomarker outcomes associated with BRD, performance characteristics over the first 42 d on feed, and carcass traits at harvest in cross bred beef cattle. Multisourced, crossbred steer calves (n = 168) consisting of mainly British and British-Continental breeds were purchased from an auction market in central Missouri. Calves were processed prior to transportation and again upon feedlot arrival. Animals were randomized to 3 separate treatments: pretransport meloxicam (PMEL), arrival meloxicam (AMEL), and a control group receiving inactive excipient (CONT). Dosing at 1 mg/kg on weighted averaged administered per os. Animals were weighed and blood was collected pre- and post-transport. Haptoglobin (Hp)-matrix metaloproteinase (MMP)-9 complex, cortisol, and substance P were quantified. Weights were taken again at 42 d and at harvest. Clinical signs of BRD were monitored using indicators of depression, appetite, respiration, and temperature that qualified the animals for treatment. Harvest parameters were collected using a standardized United States Department of Agriculture grading system for quality grade and yield grade. Meloxicam did not have a significant effect on BRD morbidity over the course of the study and there was no significant effect on performance characteristics at 42 d (P > 0.10). Of the calves that did succumb to BRD, no significant differences were found in severity of disease (P > 0.10). Concentrations of substance P and Hp- MMP-9, were increased on arrival (P ≤ 0.05) however no significant treatment effect or interaction were found between AMEL, PMEL, CONT, or across different levels of biomarkers (P > 0.10). Meloxicam use prior to or on arrival does not mitigate disease or improve performance during the feeding period.

Effects of transportation on cattle health and production: a review

The goal of this review is to present a concise and critical assessment of the literature related to physiologic responses in cattle that are subjected to transportation. Over two-thirds of US cattle are transported. Understanding trends in circulating physiologic parameters is an important part of mitigating the negative effects of transportation. For the producer, linking these effects after transportation to morbidity outcomes within the first 45 days on feed (i.e. especially development of bovine respiratory disease) is critical. Physiologic parameters in circulation are of primary importance and may have value for prediction of bovine respiratory disease on arrival and for the understanding of disease pathogenesis. The results of our literature survey indicated that post-transportation immune function, increased acute phase proteins, glucocorticoids, and inflammation are a pivotal starting point for understanding disease. These potential biomarkers may have utility in identifying disease for targeted therapeutics so that traditional protocols that rely heavily on metaphylaxis can be avoided. Additional research is needed to develop strategies for physiological marker identification, treatment methods, or predictive behaviors to prevent respiratory disease before and after transport. This review examines the significant deleterious effects of transportation handling and stress, and current immune system translation and non-antimicrobial mitigation strategies.

Short communication: Effects of meloxicam administration on protein metabolism and growth performance in transported Jersey calves

Our objective was to investigate the effects of administering the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug meloxicam (MEL) before transport on various indicators of protein metabolism and growth performance over the first 96 h after transport in Jersey calves. Calves (age ± SD; 2 ± 1 d) sourced from a commercial farm were randomly administered, at 1 mg/kg of body weight, either meloxicam (MEL; n = 11) or a whey protein placebo (CON; n = 10) orally before transport to a calf facility (669 km; 8.5-h road trip). Calves were weighed and rectal temperature was recorded before departure (0 h), on arrival (8.5 h), and 96 h after arrival. Blood was collected at the same time as calves were weighed, and samples were analyzed for total protein (0-h sample), cortisol (0- and 8.5-h samples), haptoglobin (0- and 96-h samples), and amino acids, 3-methylhistidine, and urea-N (96 h). Milk replacer (MR) intake was recorded on arrival and over the next 4 d. Serum total protein concentration did not differ for CON and MEL calves. Plasma cortisol concentration was similar across treatments at 0 h; however, it was lower for CON than for MEL calves at 8.5 h. Although serum haptoglobin concentration tended to be greater for CON than MEL calves 96 h after transport, 3-methylhistidine and plasma urea-N concentrations did not differ across treatments. Plasma Asp, Asn, Glu, Lys, Met, Ser, and Trp were greater and plasma Arg, Gly, Pro, and Thr concentrations tended to be greater at 96 h after arrival for MEL compared with CON calves. Intake of MR and average daily gain were higher in MEL than in CON calves. In summary, although it had no effect on 3-methylhistidine or urea-N concentrations, administration of MEL before transport tended to reduce haptoglobin concentration, altered the amino acid profile, and was beneficial in preventing a decrease in MR intake and average daily gain in Jersey calves.

Impact of oral meloxicam and long-distance transport on cell-mediated and humoral immune responses in feedlot steers receiving modified live BVDV booster vaccination on arrival

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of oral meloxicam (MEL) and long-distance transportation on cell-mediated immunity (CMI) in preconditioned steers receiving a booster vaccination on arrival. We hypothesized that steers treated with MEL at 1mg/kg body weight, 6h before night-time transport, would be less immunocompromised on arrival (day 0) and after 7days, and that CMI following vaccination with a modified live bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) recall antigen would be increased. Brahman crossbreed steers, 13-17 months of age (n=87), were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: MEL, transported (MTR) (n=22), MEL, non-transported (MNT) (n=22), lactose placebo, transported (CTR) (n=21), and lactose placebo, non-transported (CNT) (n=22). MTR and CTR steers were transported for approximately 16h non-stop on a truck from Mississippi to Iowa (approximately 1300km), whereas steers in the MNT and CNT groups remained in Mississippi as non-transported controls. Body weight was measured and jugular blood was collected at -1, 0, and 7days from all steers at the same time, regardless of location. Multi-parameter flow cytometry (MP-FCM) was used to identify T-cell subsets and detect the expression of three activation markers (CD25 [interleukin (IL)-2 receptor], intracellular interferon-gamma [IFNγ], and IL-4) after in vitro stimulation with BVDV recall antigen. Plasma cortisol concentration was measured on day -1, 0, and 7 as a marker of transport-associated stress. Serum antibody titer to BVDV was assessed on day -1 and day 7 post-booster vaccination. Whole-blood samples were analyzed using MP-FCM on days 0 and 7. Results were log transformed and analyzed using repeated measures of analysis of variance. Compared with non-transported controls, transport led to an increase in BVDV-induced expression of CD25, IFNγ, and IL-4 in CD4(+), CD8(+), and γδ(+) T-cell subsets (P<0.05). MEL treatment mitigated the transportation-associated increase in CD25 expression by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), CD4(+), and γδ(+) T cells. CMI outputs for the MTR group were less than those of the CTR group (P<0.05); however, the MTR and NT groups did not differ (P>0.10). A treatment*transport interaction was noted for the increase in IL-4 expression by CD8(+) T cells after transport, with a significant difference between the CTR and MTR groups at day 7. In conclusion, the use of oral MEL prior to transport appears to have inhibitory or homeostatic effects, but further research is needed to validate the effect of MEL treatment on specific T-cell subsets in transported cattle.

Effect of a multielement trace mineral injection before transit stress on inflammatory response, growth performance, and carcass characteristics of beef steers

Weaned calves (n = 98; 256 ± 11.5 kg) were used to evaluate the impact of improving trace mineral (TM) status using a multielement TM injection 28 d before transit on markers of inflammatory and stress responses in response to transit and postshipping growth performance. On d 0 of a 28-d preconditioning program, calves received subcutaneous TM injection (MM; n = 48) containing 15, 10, 5, and 60 mg/mL of Cu, Mn, Se, and Zn, respectively, or physiological saline injection (SAL; n = 48). On d 28, steers were weighed, half of the steers from each treatment were transported for a 20-h transit stress period (SHIP; n = 24 per injection treatment), and half of the steers were returned to their pens for 20 h of feed and water restriction without transit (NOSHIP; n = 24 per injection treatment). The SHIP steers were unloaded on d 29 and all steers (SHIP and NOSHIP) were immediately weighed and sorted into new pens (n = 4 steers per pen) for the growing period. At the start of finishing (d 113), steers received a second MM or SAL, resulting in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial (n = 12 steers per treatment combination). Samples of blood were collected on d 28, 29, and 34 and liver on d 22 and 40. The initial MM increased liver Cu, Se, and Zn concentrations of cattle (P ≤ 0.02) but did not affect ADG during preconditioning (P = 0.89) or BW shrink as a result of transit (P ≥ 0.52). Plasma Fe concentrations were decreased after the transit stress period in SHIP calves (P ≤ 0.05) relative to NOSHIP calves but recovered 5 d after transit, and serum IL-8 concentrations were greater in SAL-SHIP steers than MM-SHIP steers (P = 0.04). Altering TM status through MM caused steers to have lesser ADG (P = 0.03) during the 14-d period after transit (d 29 through 43) but did not affect growth during the growing period (d 5 through 112; P ≥ 0.40). Minimal effects on finishing performance and carcass characteristics were noted, but there was a 3-way interaction (P ≤ 0.02) in which SAL-NOSHIP-MM steers had the greatest yield grade (YG) and smallest ribeye area (REA) and SAL-SHIP-MM steers had the least YG and largest REA. Overall, a MM 28 d before transit or before feed and water restriction did not affect the inflammatory response or plasma TM concentrations but decreased ADG in the 14-d period after transit. Trace mineral injection had limited effects on overall growth performance and carcass characteristics, likely because steer initial TM status was well within the adequate range.