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Calvo-Lorenzo MS, Hulbert LE, Fowler AL, Louie A, Gershwin LJ, Pinkerton KE, Ballou MA, Klasing KC, Mitloehner FM. Wooden hutch space allowance influences male Holstein calf health, performance, daily lying time, and respiratory immunity. J Dairy Sci 2016; 99:4678-4692. [PMID: 27016829 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2016-10888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2016] [Accepted: 02/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Dairy calves in the western United States are commonly raised individually in wooden hutches with a space allowance of 1.23m(2)/calf. Recent legislative initiatives in California and across the United States were passed regarding concern over space allowance for farm animals. The objective of this study was to determine if rearing male Holstein calves in wooden hutches modified to increase space allowance would influence measures of performance, lying time per day, health, and respiratory immunocompetence. At 4d of age, 60 calves were randomly assigned to 1 of 3housing treatments: (1) conventional housing (CONV; 1.23m(2)/calf), (2) 1.5 × CONV (MOD; 1.85m(2)/calf), or (3) 3 × CONV (MAX; 3.71m(2)/calf). Intakes of milk and solid feed were recorded daily and body weight was measured at 0, 3, 6, 10, and 12 wk of age. For the first 3 wk of the trial, calves were scored daily for fecal consistency, hydration, and hide cleanliness. In addition, calves were scored for respiratory health (i.e., nasal and eye discharge, ear position) until 7 wk of age. The total lying duration per day was recorded using data loggers at 3, 6, and 10 wk of age. Eight clinically healthy calves from each treatment were sensitized with subcutaneous ovalbumin (OVA) and then challenged with aerosolized OVA to assess calf respiratory immunity at 11 wk of age. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected 4d after the OVA challenge and analyzed for leukocyte differentials and OVA-specific IgG, IgG1, IgA, and IgE. Calf average daily gain and body weight were positively associated with space allowance at approximately 3 wk before weaning and throughout postweaning, respectively. A greater space allowance decreased lying time after 46d. Space allowance did not influence fecal consistency, but there was a tendency for MAX calves to take 1d longer to recover from loose feces than MOD calves. The MAX calves had the fewest (%) observations with feces on their body compared with CONV or MOD. At 3 wk of age, peripheral eosinophil concentrations decreased with increased space allowance. However, observations (%) of eye discharge increased with greater space allowance. Among calves challenged with OVA, MOD calves had the least BALF OVA-IgE, and the percent of BALF eosinophils decreased with increased space allowance. Increased space allowance for calves raised in wooden hutches may improve some measures of calf performance, health, and respiratory immunocompetence.
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Affiliation(s)
- M S Calvo-Lorenzo
- Department of Animal Science, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Center for Health and the Environment, University of California, Davis 95616
| | - L E Hulbert
- Department of Animal Science, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Center for Health and the Environment, University of California, Davis 95616
| | - A L Fowler
- Department of Animal Science, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Center for Health and the Environment, University of California, Davis 95616
| | - A Louie
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Center for Health and the Environment, University of California, Davis 95616
| | - L J Gershwin
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Center for Health and the Environment, University of California, Davis 95616
| | - K E Pinkerton
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Cell Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Center for Health and the Environment, University of California, Davis 95616
| | - M A Ballou
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock 79409
| | - K C Klasing
- Department of Animal Science, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Center for Health and the Environment, University of California, Davis 95616
| | - F M Mitloehner
- Department of Animal Science, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Center for Health and the Environment, University of California, Davis 95616.
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Gokce E, Atakisi O, Kirmizigul AH, Unver A, Erdogan HM. Passive immunity in lambs: Serum lactoferrin concentrations as a predictor of IgG concentration and its relation to health status from birth to 12 weeks of life. Small Rumin Res 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2013.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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Yun CH, Wynn P, Ha JK. Stress, acute phase proteins and immune modulation in calves. ANIMAL PRODUCTION SCIENCE 2014. [DOI: 10.1071/an14441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Acute phase and inflammatory responses are triggered by a variety of intrinsic and extrinsic stressors that come at a cost through suppressing the normal function of tissues and organs of domestic animals. Recently, with growing attention placed on global warming and animal welfare, there has been an increased interest in improving our understanding of the relationships between different classes of stress, the expression of acute phase proteins (APPs), the stress-related endocrine system and immunomodulation. Immune function is compromised by all forms of stress including poor nutrition, weaning, extreme thermal conditions, injury and infection in calves. Proinflammatory cytokines, APPs and hormones of the hypothalamic–pituitary adrenal axis as well as the composition of immune cells can all be characterised in culture supernatants and peripheral blood. APPs have been used as biomarkers for the stress status of ruminants both experimentally and in field studies. Therefore detailed studies of the mechanisms of action of these APPs and their interactions in ameliorating different stress responses are warranted. The focus of this review is on the aetiology of the responses in calves under severe stress and its impact on growth and immune status. Possible strategies to alleviate this condition including the role of specific feed additives are presented.
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