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Lynch C, Leishman EM, Miglior F, Kelton D, Schenkel FS, Baes CF. Review: Opportunities and challenges for the genetic selection of dairy calf disease traits. Animal 2024; 18 Suppl 2:101141. [PMID: 38641517 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2024.101141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Interest in dairy cow health continues to grow as we better understand health's relationship with production potential and animal welfare. Over the past decade, efforts have been made to incorporate health traits into national genetic evaluations. However, they have focused on the mature cow, with calf health largely being neglected. Diarrhoea and respiratory disease comprise the main illnesses with regard to calf health. Conventional methods to control calf disease involve early separation of calves from the dam and housing calves individually. However, public concern regarding these methods, and growing evidence that these methods may negatively impact calf development, mean the dairy industry may move away from these practices. Genetic selection may be a promising tool to address these major disease issues. In this review, we examined current literature for enhancing calf health through genetics and discussed alternative approaches to improve calf health via the use of epidemiological modelling approaches, and the potential of indirectly selecting for improved calf health through improving colostrum quality. Heritability estimates on the observed scale for diarrhoea ranged from 0.03 to 0.20, while for respiratory disease, estimates ranged from 0.02 to 0.24. The breadth in these ranges is due, at least in part, to differences in disease prevalence, population structure, data editing and models, as well as data collection practices, which should be all considered when comparing literature values. Incorporation of epidemiological theory into quantitative genetics provides an opportunity to better determine the level of genetic variation in disease traits, as it accounts for disease transmission among contemporaries. Colostrum intake is a major determinant of whether a calf develops either respiratory disease or diarrhoea. Colostrum traits have the advantage of being measured and reported on a continuous scale, which removes the issues classically associated with binary disease traits. Overall, genetic selection for improved calf health is feasible. However, to ensure the maximum response, first steps by any industry members should focus efforts on standardising recording practices and encouragement of uploading information to genetic evaluation centres through herd management software, as high-quality phenotypes are the backbone of any successful breeding programme.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Lynch
- Centre for the Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - E M Leishman
- Centre for the Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, Canada; Centre for Nutrition Modelling, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - F Miglior
- Centre for the Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, Canada; Lactanet Canada, Guelph, ON N1K-1E5, Canada
| | - D Kelton
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Ontario N1G-2W1, Canada
| | - F S Schenkel
- Centre for the Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - C F Baes
- Centre for the Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, Canada; Institute of Genetics, Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health, University of Bern, Bern 3001, Switzerland.
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Westhoff TA, Borchardt S, Mann S. Invited review: Nutritional and management factors that influence colostrum production and composition in dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 2024; 107:4109-4128. [PMID: 38246551 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-24349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Colostrum is a rich source of nutritional and non-nutritional components and is recognized as essential to transfer passive immunity to newborn calves. Because of the individual and seasonal variability in colostrum yield and composition, maintaining an adequate supply of high-quality colostrum year-round remains a challenge for commercial dairy producers. In this narrative review, we described the individual, seasonal, and herd-level variability of colostrum production and summarized the association between individual animal factors such as parity, sex of the calf, calf birth weight, as well as indicators of the cow's metabolic status and the yield and composition of colostrum. Further, we reviewed the current knowledge on the influence of prepartum nutrition and management strategies on colostrum production. Research on the metabolizable energy and protein supplied in the prepartum diet as well as on the inclusion and source of vitamins, minerals, and feed additives suggests prepartum nutrition influences the yield, quality, and composition of colostrum. Furthermore, the prepartum environment and dry period length remain influential factors in the production of colostrum. However, additional research is needed to understand the mechanisms by which prepartum nutrition and management affect colostrum production. Finally, time from calving to colostrum harvest and oxytocin administration as well as the current knowledge on the effect of heat treatment and colostrum storage strategies on colostral components were discussed. To conclude, we identify critical gaps in knowledge for future focus of investigation in colostrum research.
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Affiliation(s)
- T A Westhoff
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - S Borchardt
- Clinic for Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universitaet Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany
| | - S Mann
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853.
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3
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Duan H, Sun Q, Chen C, Wang R, Yan W. A Review: The Effect of Bovine Colostrum on Immunity in People of All Ages. Nutrients 2024; 16:2007. [PMID: 38999755 PMCID: PMC11242949 DOI: 10.3390/nu16132007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Bovine colostrum provides newborn calves with strong passive immunity, which will further affect the immunity of their offspring. Compared with other commercial dairy products, bovine colostrum emphasizes the limit of aflatoxin M1, pathogenic bacteria, microorganisms, antibiotics, stimulants, and other items, so it is safe to use. There are many reports that the use of bovine colostrum as a breast milk fortifier for preterm infants provides necessary immune support for premature infants, but the selection of bovine colostrum products chosen must be free of Bacillus cereus because they are very dangerous for premature infants. This also emphasizes that for the bovine colostrum that is used in preterm infants, more clinical research support is needed. At the same time, it should also be emphasized that the composition of BC is different from that of human colostrum, in particular, the main protein of BC is casein, while the main protein in breast milk is whey protein, especially α-lactalbumin, which together with ovalbumin is still the reference protein with the best biological value, especially for muscles. Therefore, bovine colostrum is currently not a complete substitute for breast milk. In recent years, in addition to reports of bovine colostrum use in preterm infants, studies have also found that bovine colostrum has immunomodulatory and promoting effects in adolescents, adults, and the elderly. This suggests that bovine colostrum has the potential to provide appropriate immune support for people of all ages. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the quality of nutritional characteristics of bovine colostrum on three dimensions. The effects of bovine colostrum on people of all ages is a narrative review of the effects of bovine colostrum on immunity in people of all ages. This review identified several classes of immunoactive substances in bovine colostrum, including immunoglobulins, cytokines, and enzymes, and compared the nutritional composition of bovine colostrum with mature milk, colostrum and mature milk in full-term breast milk, and colostrum and mature milk in preterm breast milk, to demonstrate that bovine colostrum provides a rich range of immunoactive components. In addition, the influencing factors affecting the quality of bovine colostrum (immunoglobulin) were reviewed, and it was found that individual differences, environmental factors, and processing methods had a great impact on the quality of BC. More importantly, the immunomodulatory effects of bovine colostrum in people of all ages were reviewed in detail (with an emphasis on preterm infants and immunocompromised children in neonates) as evidence to support the immunity effects of colostrum in people of all ages. This review hopes to use the above evidence to make people understand the health role of bovine colostrum as having a human immunomodulatory effect, and at the same time, when seeing the potential value of bovine colostrum in the future, the limitations of its application should also be deeply re-explored, such as lactose intolerance, allergies, etc., to provide effective solutions for the wide application of bovine colostrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Duan
- College of Biochemical Engineering, Beijing Union University, Beijing 100023, China;
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functional Food, Beijing Union University, Beijing 100023, China
| | - Qian Sun
- Native Nutrition and Medical Research Institute, Tianmeijian Biotechnology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Beijing 100101, China
- Research and Development Center, Jiangsu Tianmeijian Nature Bioengineering Co., Ltd., Nanjing 210038, China
| | - Chao Chen
- Native Nutrition and Medical Research Institute, Tianmeijian Biotechnology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Beijing 100101, China
| | - Rongchang Wang
- Research and Development Center, Jiangsu Tianmeijian Nature Bioengineering Co., Ltd., Nanjing 210038, China
- Research and Development Center, Nanjing Daily Nutrition Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Nanjing 211215, China
| | - Wenjie Yan
- College of Biochemical Engineering, Beijing Union University, Beijing 100023, China;
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functional Food, Beijing Union University, Beijing 100023, China
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Goi A, Costa A, Visentin G, De Marchi M. Mid-infrared spectroscopy for large-scale phenotyping of bovine colostrum gross composition and immunoglobulin concentration. J Dairy Sci 2023; 106:6388-6401. [PMID: 37479582 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-23059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
Immunoglobulin G is the fundamental antibody for acquisition of passive transfer of immunity in ruminant newborns. Colostrum, in fact, must be administered as soon as possible after birth to ensure a successful transfer of IgG from the dam to the calf. Assessment of colostrum Ig concentration and gross composition via gold standards is expensive, time consuming, and hardly implementable for large-scale investigations. Therefore, in the present study we evaluated the predictive ability of mid-infrared spectroscopy (MIRS) as an indirect determination method. A total of 714 colostrum samples collected within 6 h from parturition from Italian Holstein cows, 30% primiparous and 70% pluriparous, were scanned using a benchtop spectrometer after dilution in pure water. The prediction models were developed by correlating spectral information with the reference measurements: IgG concentration (93.54 ± 33.87 g/L), total Ig concentrations (102.82 ± 35.04 g/L), and content of protein (14.71 ± 3.51%), fat (4.61 ± 3.04%), and lactose (2.36 ± 0.51 mg/100 mg). We found a good to excellent performance in prediction of colostrum IgG concentration and traditional composition traits in cross-validation (R2CV ≥ 0.92) and a promising and good predictive ability in external validation with R2V equal to 0.84, 0.89, and 0.74 for IgG, protein, and fat, respectively. In the case of IgG and protein content, for example, the coefficient of determination in external validation was greater than 0.84. The other Ig fractions, A and M, presented insufficient prediction accuracy likely due to their extremely low concentration compared with IgG (4.56 and 5.06 g/L vs. 93.54 g/L). The discriminant ability of MIRS-predicted IgG and protein content was outstanding when trying to classify samples according to the quality level (i.e., low vs. high concentration of IgG). In particular, the cut-off that better discriminate low- from high-quality colostrum was 75.40 g/L in the case of the MIRS-predicted IgG and 13.32% for the MIRS-predicted protein content. Therefore, MIRS is proposed as a rapid and cheap tool for large-scale punctual IgG, protein, and lactose quantification and for the screening of low-quality samples. From a practical perspective, there is the possibility to install colostrum models in the MIRS benchtop machineries already present in laboratories in charge of official milk testing. Colostrum phenotypes collected on an individual basis will be useful to breeders for the definition of specific selection strategies and to farmers for management scopes. Finally, our findings may be relevant for other stakeholders, given the fact that colostrum is an emerging ingredient for the animal and human food and pharmaceutical industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Goi
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - A Costa
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia (BO), Italy.
| | - G Visentin
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia (BO), Italy
| | - M De Marchi
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
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Costa A, Sneddon NW, Goi A, Visentin G, Mammi LME, Savarino EV, Zingone F, Formigoni A, Penasa M, De Marchi M. Invited review: Bovine colostrum, a promising ingredient for humans and animals-Properties, processing technologies, and uses. J Dairy Sci 2023; 106:5197-5217. [PMID: 37268582 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-23013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Mammalian colostrum, known as "liquid gold," is considered a valuable source of essential nutrients, growth factors, probiotics, prebiotics, antibodies, and other bioactive compounds. Precisely for this reason, bovine colostrum (BC) is an emerging ingredient for the feed, food, and pharmaceutical industries, being nowadays commercially available in a variety of forms in several countries. Moreover, quite a large number of functional foods and supplements for athletes, human medicines, pet nutrition plans, and complementary feed for some livestock categories, such as piglets and calves, contain BC. The amount of BC yielded by a cow after calving represents approximately 0.5% of the yearly output in dairy breeds. For its nutritional properties and low availability, BC is characterized by a greater market value and an increasing demand compared with other by-products of the dairy sector. However, information regarding the market size of BC for the food and pharmaceutical industries, as well as future developments and perspectives, is scarcely available in the scientific literature. This lack can be attributed to industrial secrecy as well as to the relatively small scale of the BC business when compared with other dairy products, which makes the BC market limited, specific, and intended for a restricted audience. From a legal perspective, regulations assign BC to the large family of milk-derived powders; thus, collecting specific production data, as well as import-export trend information, is not straightforward and can result in unprecise estimates. Given that the interest in BC is increasing in different fields, it is important to have an overview of the production steps and of pros and cons of this emerging ingredient. The present narrative review discloses why BC has started to be considered a product rather than a by-product of the dairy industry. Moreover, the present document aims to summarize the existing methodologies used to assess BC quality in terms of immunoglobulin concentration, the different applications of BC in the industry, and the BC processing technologies. Finally, a panoramic view of the current international market is provided for the first time for this dairy product.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Costa
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 43, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia (BO), Italy.
| | - N W Sneddon
- School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - A Goi
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - G Visentin
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 43, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia (BO), Italy
| | - L M E Mammi
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 43, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia (BO), Italy
| | - E V Savarino
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Via N. Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova (PD), Italy; Gastroenterology Unit, Azienda Ospedale Università di Padova, Via N. Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova (PD), Italy
| | - F Zingone
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Via N. Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova (PD), Italy; Gastroenterology Unit, Azienda Ospedale Università di Padova, Via N. Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova (PD), Italy
| | - A Formigoni
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 43, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia (BO), Italy
| | - M Penasa
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - M De Marchi
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
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Genetic Parameters of Serum Total Protein Concentration Measured with a Brix Refractometer in Holstein Newborn Calves and Fresh Cows. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13030366. [PMID: 36766255 PMCID: PMC9913346 DOI: 10.3390/ani13030366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The objective was to estimate the genetic parameters of serum total protein concentration in newborn calves (calfSTP) and post parturient dairy cows (cowSTP). The study included 1013 calves and 989 cows from 10 dairy farms. Calf blood samples were collected 24-48 h after parturition while cow blood and colostrum samples were collected in the first 24 h after calving. Blood serum total protein and colostrum total solids content were determined using a Brix refractometer. Chemical analysis of colostrum was performed with Milkoscan. Univariate mixed linear models were used to estimate the heritability of calfSTP and cowSTP and their genetic and phenotypic correlations with colostrum traits. The heritability estimates of calfSTP and cowSTP were 0.21 and 0.20 (p < 0.05), respectively. Strong genetic correlations (r > 0.90) were detected between calfSTP and colostrum total solids and protein content (p < 0.05). Corresponding phenotypic correlations were 0.31-0.33 (p < 0.05). No genetic or phenotypic correlations were detected with colostrum fat content while the respective correlations with lactose were negative (-0.82 and -0.19, p < 0.05). No genetic correlations were detected between cowSTP and colostrum traits and only a low negative phenotypic one with lactose was detected. The results confirm that genetic selection aiming to improve the passive transfer of immunity in newborn calves and general fresh cow health would be feasible.
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Costa A, Visentin G, Goi A, De Marchi M, Penasa M. Genetic characteristics of colostrum refractive index and its use as a proxy for the concentration of immunoglobulins in Holstein cattle. Genet Sel Evol 2022; 54:79. [PMID: 36460971 PMCID: PMC9717560 DOI: 10.1186/s12711-022-00768-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colostral concentration of immunoglobulins (Ig) is crucial for the passive transfer of antibodies from the cow to the new-born calf. Direct determination of Ig by the gold standard radial immunodiffusion method is demanding in terms of time and costs. For this reason, a refractometer is commonly used at the farm level for an indirect estimation of colostrum quality, which is given as the Ig concentration. In this study, colostrum samples were collected from 548 Italian Holstein cows within 6 h of calving. The refractive index (BRIX, %) of these samples was assessed using a portable optical refractometer, as well as the concentration of total protein, IgG, IgA, and IgM by radial immunodiffusion. A four-trait animal model was used to estimate genetic parameters for BRIX and the different immunoglobulin isotypes. A receiver operating characteristic analysis was carried out to evaluate the BRIX diagnostic accuracy. RESULTS Colostral BRIX was moderately heritable (0.26) and its genetic and phenotypic correlations with IgG (0.91, 0.78), IgA (0.57, 0.57), and IgM (0.71, 0.61) were all positive and of similar order, although the genetic correlations were generally higher than the phenotypic correlations. Low-quality colostrum samples, defined as those with an IgG concentration lower than 50 g/L, were accurately identified by the refractive index on the BRIX scale, with an area under the curve of 0.90. CONCLUSIONS The use of a refractometer is recommended on dairy farms to produce a proxy for colostral Ig concentration. BRIX is a useful phenotyping tool that can be used in cattle to improve the quality of colostrum for first feeding of calves through both traditional genetic and genomic strategies. Improving colostrum quality will reduce the incidence of failure of passive transfer of immunity in young stock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Costa
- grid.6292.f0000 0004 1757 1758Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano Dell’Emilia, BO Italy
| | - Giulio Visentin
- grid.6292.f0000 0004 1757 1758Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano Dell’Emilia, BO Italy
| | - Arianna Goi
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Legnaro, PD Italy
| | - Massimo De Marchi
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Legnaro, PD Italy
| | - Mauro Penasa
- grid.5608.b0000 0004 1757 3470Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Legnaro, PD Italy
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Cordero-Solorzano J, de Koning DJ, Tråvén M, de Haan T, Jouffroy M, Larsson A, Myrthe A, Arts JAJ, Parmentier HK, Bovenhuis H, Wensman JJ. Genetic parameters of colostrum and calf serum antibodies in Swedish dairy cattle. Genet Sel Evol 2022; 54:68. [PMID: 36273117 PMCID: PMC9588213 DOI: 10.1186/s12711-022-00758-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A sufficient IgG content in the colostrum is essential for the newborn calf, as it provides passive immunity which substantially affects the probability of survival during rearing. Failure of passive transfer (FPT) occurs when a calf does not absorb enough antibodies from the colostrum and is defined by an IgG concentration in calf serum lower than 10 g/L. Apart from delayed access to colostrum, FPT can be due to a low production of IgG in the mother or poor IgG absorption by the calf. The aim of this study was to estimate the genetic background of antibody levels and indicator traits for antibodies in the colostrum and calf serum, and their correlation with milk production. Results Colostrum data were available for 1340 dairy cows with at least one calving and calf serum data were available for 886 calves from these cows. Indicator traits for antibody concentrations were estimated using refractometry (a digital Brix refractometer for colostrum and an optical refractometer for serum), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were used to determine the levels of total IgG and natural antibodies (NAb) of various antibody isotypes in the colostrum and calf serum. Colostrum traits had heritabilities ranging from 0.16 to 0.31 with repeatabilities ranging from 0.21 to 0.55. Brix percentages had positive genetic correlations with all colostrum antibody traits including total IgG (0.68). Calf serum antibody concentrations had heritabilities ranging from 0.25 to 0.59, with a significant maternal effect accounting for 17 to 27% of the variance. When later in life calves produced their first lactation, the lactation average somatic cell score was found to be negatively correlated with NAb levels in calf serum. Conclusions Our results suggest that antibody levels in the colostrum and calf serum can be increased by means of selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Cordero-Solorzano
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7023, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.,Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Animal Health Service of Costa Rica (SENASA), P.O. Box 3-3006, 40104, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - Dirk-Jan de Koning
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7023, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Madeleine Tråvén
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7054, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Therese de Haan
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7054, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mathilde Jouffroy
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7054, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.,AgroSup Dijon - National Superior Institute of Agronomic Sciences Food and the Environment, 26 Boulevard Dr Petitjean, 21079, Dijon, France
| | - Andrea Larsson
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7054, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Aline Myrthe
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7054, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.,Superior School of Agricultures (ESA), 55 Rue Rabelais, 49007, Angers, France
| | - Joop A J Arts
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Henk K Parmentier
- Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Henk Bovenhuis
- Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jonas Johansson Wensman
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7054, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden. .,Department of Disease Control and Epidemiology, National Veterinary Institute, 751 89, Uppsala, Sweden.
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Yang Y, Gong Z, Lu Y, Lu X, Zhang J, Meng Y, Peng Y, Chu S, Cao W, Hao X, Sun J, Wang H, Qin A, Wang C, Shang S, Yang Z. Dairy Cows Experimentally Infected With Bovine Leukemia Virus Showed an Increased Milk Production in Lactation Numbers 3–4: A 4-Year Longitudinal Study. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:946463. [PMID: 35898913 PMCID: PMC9309534 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.946463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is widespread in global cattle populations, but the effects of its infection on milk quantity and quality have not been clearly elucidated in animal models. In this study, 30 healthy first-lactation cows were selected from ≈2,988 cows in a BLV-free farm with the same criteria of parity, age, lactation number, as well as milk yield, SCS, and composition (fat, protein, and lactose). Subsequently, these cows were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 15) or control (n = 15) group, and reared in different cowsheds. Cows in the intervention group were inoculated with 1 × phosphate-buffered solution (PBS) resuspended in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from a BLV-positive cow, while the controls were inoculated with the inactivated PBMC from the same individual. From June 2016 to July 2021, milk weight (kg) was automatically recorded by milk sensors, and milk SCS and composition were originated from monthly performed dairy herd improvement (DHI) testing. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)–qPCR and ELISA showed that cows in the intervention group were successfully infected with BLV, while cows in the control group were free of BLV for the entire period. At 45 days post-inoculation (DPI), the numbers of whole blood cells (WBCs) (P = 0.010), lymphocytes (LYMs) (P = 0.002), and monocytes (MNCs) (P = 0.001) and the expression levels of IFN-γ (P = 0.013), IL-10 (P = 0.031), and IL-12p70 (P = 0.008) increased significantly in the BLV infected cows compared to the non-infected. In lactation numbers 2–4, the intervention group had significantly higher overall milk yield (P < 0.001), fat (P = 0.031), and protein (P = 0.050) than the control group, while milk SCS (P = 0.038) and lactose (P = 0.036) decreased significantly. Further analysis indicated that BLV infection was associated with increased milk yield at each lactation stage in lactation numbers 3–4 (P = 0.021 or P < 0.001), but not with SCS and milk composition. Together, this 4-year longitudinal study revealed that artificial inoculation of BLV increased the milk yield in cows in this BLV challenge model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Yang
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- International Corporation Laboratory of Agriculture and Agricultural Products Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Yi Yang
| | - Zaicheng Gong
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yi Lu
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Xubin Lu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Jilei Zhang
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Ye Meng
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yalan Peng
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Shuangfeng Chu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Wenqiang Cao
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoli Hao
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Jie Sun
- Shenzhen Academy of Inspection and Quarantine Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Heng Wang
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Aijian Qin
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- International Corporation Laboratory of Agriculture and Agricultural Products Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Chengming Wang
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - Shaobin Shang
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- International Corporation Laboratory of Agriculture and Agricultural Products Safety, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Shaobin Shang
| | - Zhangping Yang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Zhangping Yang
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10
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Borelli E, Jonsson NN, Denholm KS. Associations between putative risk factors and poor colostrum yield in Holstein Friesian cattle. Res Vet Sci 2022; 149:74-81. [PMID: 35777282 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2022.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
When dairy cows produce little or no colostrum, calves are likely to suffer from failure of passive transfer (FPT). Volume of colostrum produced by the dam may be affected by: nutrition; environmental conditions; time from calving to milking; parity; dry period length; calving difficulty; calf weight; calf sex; calf viability; cow BCS / body weight; milk production in previous lactation and dam health. While risk factors for poor IgG concentration in colostrum have been extensively studied, there is little published literature on low colostrum yields and associated risk factors. The aim of this observational study was to identify risk factors for poor colostrum yield in dairy cows and to quantify the effect of variation in those variables that the farmer can directly control (length of dry period, and close-up transition period nutrition) using inverse probability modelling. 439 animals from a single Scottish dairy farm were used as a convenience sample. First milking colostrum yield was measured by farmers using a graduated bucket. For each animal, risk factor data and meteorological data from the nearest weather were obtained. Decreased colostrum yield was associated with increasing daily temperature range, while increasing UV index, lactation number and number of days dry increased colostrum yield. Marginal effect models revealed that for each additional day of dry period, colostrum yield increased. Higher UV indices the month before calving were positively associated with colostrum yield, particularly in primiparous cows, and higher temperatures in the months before calving were positively associated with colostrum yield in all cows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Borelli
- Scottish Centre for Production Animal Health and Food Safety, University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine, 464 Bearsden Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1QH, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas N Jonsson
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Katharine S Denholm
- Scottish Centre for Production Animal Health and Food Safety, University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine, 464 Bearsden Road, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1QH, Scotland, United Kingdom.
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11
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Ahmann J, Steinhoff-Wagner J, Büscher W. Determining Immunoglobulin Content of Bovine Colostrum and Factors Affecting the Outcome: A Review. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:3587. [PMID: 34944362 PMCID: PMC8697873 DOI: 10.3390/ani11123587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The immunoglobulin concentration in bovine colostrum should be measured to ensure feeding with sufficient immunoglobulins (≥50 mg immunoglobulin G mL-1). Adequate feeding prevents diseases, promotes development, and has a positive influence on the adult animal. Indirect and direct measurement methods are available for this purpose. Direct measurement methods cannot be easily used in practice; therefore, farmers use indirect methods such as a colostrometer and a refractometer. Many factors influence the immunoglobulin concentration of colostrum; some of them have already been intensively researched. In particular, lactation and temporal aspects play an essential role. Newer aspects such as dry period, seasonal influences, and genetics are gaining importance, but their impact on immunoglobulin content has not been sufficiently investigated. Developments are still needed, especially in data management. This review analyzes the outcome of different studies on the indirect and direct measurement methods and discusses different factors influencing the immunoglobulin concentration of bovine colostrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Ahmann
- Institute of Agricultural Engineering, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany;
| | | | - Wolfgang Büscher
- Institute of Agricultural Engineering, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany;
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12
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Application of Optical Quality Control Technologies in the Dairy Industry: An Overview. PHOTONICS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/photonics8120551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Sustainable development of the agricultural industry, in particular, the production of milk and feed for farm animals, requires accurate, fast, and non-invasive diagnostic tools. Currently, there is a rapid development of a number of analytical methods and approaches that meet these requirements. Infrared spectrometry in the near and mid-IR range is especially widespread. Progress has been made not only in the physical methods of carrying out measurements, but significant advances have also been achieved in the development of mathematical processing of the received signals. This review is devoted to the comparison of modern methods and devices used to control the quality of milk and feed for farm animals.
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13
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Borchardt S, Sutter F, Heuwieser W, Venjakob P. Management-related factors in dry cows and their associations with colostrum quantity and quality on a large commercial dairy farm. J Dairy Sci 2021; 105:1589-1602. [PMID: 34799117 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2021-20671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this observational study was to evaluate the association of management-related factors in dry cows and colostrum quantity and quality in Holstein cows on a large commercial dairy farm. This study was conducted from January 2018 to December 2020 on a commercial dairy farm in Germany, milking approximately 2,500 Holstein cows. Dairy personnel recorded colostrum quantity (n = 7,562) and evaluated colostrum quality in a subsample of animals (n = 2,600) using a digital Brix refractometer. Generalized linear mixed models were constructed to evaluate the association of management-related factors and colostrum quantity and quality. Models were run separately for primiparous or multiparous cows. The outcome variable was either colostrum quantity (kg) or quality (% Brix). Average colostrum quantity was 4.0 ± 2.5 kg, 5.1 ± 3.4 kg, and 5.5 ± 3.5 kg for cows in lactation 1, 2, and ≥3, respectively. In primiparous cows (n = 2,351), colostrum quantity was affected by month of calving (greatest in April = 4.1 kg, and lowest in November = 3.2 kg), sex of the calf (female singleton = 3.50 ± 0.26 kg; male singleton = 3.76 ± 0.27 kg; twins = 2.97 ± 0.66 kg), stillbirth (stillbirth = 3.14 ± 0.39 kg; no stillbirth = 3.68 ± 0.31 kg). In multiparous cows (n = 5,216), colostrum quantity was affected by month of calving (greatest in May = 5.5 kg, and lowest in October = 3.8 kg), calving ease (calving ease 0 = 4.23 ± 0.26 kg; score 1 = 4.77 ± 0.21 kg; score 2 = 4.98 ± 0.22 kg; score 3 = 5.30 ± 0.22 kg), sex of the calf (female singleton = 4.42 ± 0.21 kg; male singleton = 5.00 ± 0.21 kg; twins = 5.03 ± 0.30 kg), stillbirth (stillbirth = 4.24 ± 0.38 kg; no stillbirth = 5.39 ± 0.11 kg), milk yield in previous lactation (+0.1 kg increase for 1,000 kg more milk yield in previous lactation), days spent in the far-off group (0.05 ± 0.003 kg for every day), and days in the close-up pen (0.06 ± 0.010 kg for every day). Average colostrum quality was 25.1 ± 3.4% Brix, 24.7 ± 3.3% Brix, and 27.6 ± 4.4% Brix for cows in lactation 1, 2, and ≥3, respectively. In primiparous cows (n = 817), colostrum quality was affected only by month of calving. Colostrum quality in primiparous cows was greatest in December (26.8% Brix) and lowest in August (23.9% Brix). In multiparous cows (n = 1,783), colostrum quality was affected by parity (lactation 2 = 25.2 ± 2.7% Brix; lactation 3+ = 27.9 ± 2.7% Brix), month of calving (greatest in February = 27.5% Brix, and lowest in August = 25.7% Brix), milk yield in previous lactation, and colostrum quantity. We observed a seasonal pattern for colostrum quantity and quality. Future intervention studies using multiple farms need to elucidate whether management of the photoperiod or length of exposure to close-up diets, or both, can help to optimize colostrum production.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Borchardt
- Clinic for Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universitaet Berlin, Koenigsweg 65, 14163 Berlin, Germany.
| | - F Sutter
- Clinic for Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universitaet Berlin, Koenigsweg 65, 14163 Berlin, Germany
| | - W Heuwieser
- Clinic for Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universitaet Berlin, Koenigsweg 65, 14163 Berlin, Germany
| | - P Venjakob
- Clinic for Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universitaet Berlin, Koenigsweg 65, 14163 Berlin, Germany
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14
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The concentrations of immunoglobulins in bovine colostrum determined by the gold standard method are genetically correlated with their near-infrared prediction. Genet Sel Evol 2021; 53:87. [PMID: 34758741 PMCID: PMC8579186 DOI: 10.1186/s12711-021-00681-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The quality of colostrum administered to calves is based on its concentration in immunoglobulins G (IgG, g/L). Immunoglobulins A (IgA) and M (IgM) are also present but at a lower level. The gold standard reference analysis for these traits, radial immunodiffusion, is time-consuming and expensive. In order to define breeding strategies that are aimed at improving colostrum quality in dairy cattle, a large amount of data is needed, and the use of indicator traits would be beneficial. In the study presented here, we explored the heritabilities of reference (radial immunodiffusion) and near infrared-predicted IgG, IgA, and IgM concentrations and estimated their genetic correlations. First, the colostrum of 765 Holstein cows from nine herds was sampled to perform a reference analysis and the near-infrared spectra (400–2500 nm) were stored. We used a calibration set (28% of the initial samples) that was representative of the herds and cow parity orders to develop prediction equations for IgG, IgA, and IgM concentrations. Finally, these traits were predicted in the validation set (72% of the initial samples) to estimate genetic parameters for the predictions. Genetic correlations between reference and predicted values of each trait were estimated through bivariate linear animal models. Results The three near-infrared-predicted immunoglobulin fractions were genetically correlated with their reference value. In particular, the reference and predicted IgG concentrations were strongly correlated at both the genetic (0.854 ± 0.314) and phenotypic level (0.767 ± 0.019). Weaker associations were observed for IgA and IgM concentrations, which were predicted with lower accuracy compared to IgG. Simulation analyses suggested that improving colostrum quality by selective breeding in Holstein cattle based on near-infrared predicted colostrum immunoglobulins concentrations is feasible. In addition, less than 10 mL of colostrum are needed for spectra acquisition and thus implementation of such analyses is possible in the near future. Conclusions The concentrations of colostrum immunoglobulins can be predicted from near-infrared spectra and the genetic correlation between the reference and the predicted traits is positive and favourable, in spite of the large standard errors of the estimates. Near-infrared spectroscopy can be exploited in selective breeding of dairy cattle to improve colostral immunoglobulins concentration.
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15
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Soufleri A, Banos G, Panousis N, Fletouris D, Arsenos G, Kougioumtzis A, Valergakis GE. Evaluation of Factors Affecting Colostrum Quality and Quantity in Holstein Dairy Cattle. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11072005. [PMID: 34359133 PMCID: PMC8300143 DOI: 10.3390/ani11072005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to conduct a large-scale investigation of colostrum composition and yield and an evaluation of factors affecting them. In this study, 1017 clinically healthy Holstein cows from 10 farms were used. The colostrum TS were measured using a digital Brix refractometer. Fat, protein and lactose content were determined using an infrared Milk Analyzer. Statistical analysis was conducted using a series of univariate general linear models. The mean (±SD) percentage of colostrum fat, protein, lactose and TS content were 6.37 (3.33), 17.83 (3.97), 2.15 (0.73) and 25.80 (4.68), respectively. Parity had a significant positive effect on the protein and TS content and a negative one on fat content. The time interval between calving and colostrum collection had a significant negative effect on the fat, protein and TS contents and a positive one on lactose. Colostrum yield had a significant negative effect on the protein and TS content, and it was affected by all factors considered. In addition to TS, the evaluation of the colostrum fat content appears essential when neonates' energy needs are considered. The Brix refractometer, an inexpensive and easy to use devise, can be used effectively in colostrum quality monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aikaterini Soufleri
- Laboratory of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Box 393, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (G.B.); (G.A.); (A.K.); (G.E.V.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-2310999850
| | - Georgios Banos
- Laboratory of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Box 393, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (G.B.); (G.A.); (A.K.); (G.E.V.)
- Scotland’s Rural College, Roslin Institute, Building, Easter Bush, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Nikolaos Panousis
- Clinic of Farm Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Dimitrios Fletouris
- Laboratory of Safety and Quality of Dairy Foods, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Georgios Arsenos
- Laboratory of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Box 393, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (G.B.); (G.A.); (A.K.); (G.E.V.)
| | - Alexandros Kougioumtzis
- Laboratory of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Box 393, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (G.B.); (G.A.); (A.K.); (G.E.V.)
| | - Georgios E. Valergakis
- Laboratory of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Box 393, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (G.B.); (G.A.); (A.K.); (G.E.V.)
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16
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Costa A, Goi A, Penasa M, Nardino G, Posenato L, De Marchi M. Variation of immunoglobulins G, A, and M and bovine serum albumin concentration in Holstein cow colostrum. Animal 2021; 15:100299. [PMID: 34167023 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2021.100299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunoglobulins G (IgG), A (IgA), and M (IgM) represent 70-80% of total proteins in cattle colostrum and are essential for the passive transfer of antibodies from the dam to the calf. Considering the practical difficulties of colostrum sample collection and the high cost of analysis, non-genetic sources of variation of the three immunoglobulins fractions have been scarcely studied together on a large scale in dairy cows. In the present study, IgG, IgA, IgM, and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were determined in colostrum samples of Holstein cows through bovine-specific radial immunodiffusion kits; such phenotypes allowed to investigate the effects of parity, herd, and calving season, and interactions. Only the first colostrum was considered in the present study, as the calf was separated from the dam immediately after birth and was not allowed to suckle. The average of IgG (n = 676), IgA (n = 573), IgM (n = 658), total immunoglobulins (n = 525), and BSA (n = 614) was 91.31, 4.20, 105.99, 5.05, and 2.47 g/L, respectively, and all traits positively correlated to each other. Overall, the immunoglobulins were less concentrated in colostrum of first- and second-parity cows than later-parity cows. These findings suggest that colostrum quality, based on Ig, is overall greater in cows that experienced more than two lactations, likely due to a greater experience of the immune system and to a wider immune heritage compared to younger cows. As regards the effect of calving season, the concentration of all Ig tended to be generally greater in colostrum sampled from August to November. Moreover, there were differences in IgG, IgA, and IgM concentration among the nine herds involved. Future studies will investigate the relationships of these traits with yield, and gross and detailed composition of bovine colostrum and will consider their genetic background to evaluate potential selection strategies to improve colostrum quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Costa
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy
| | - A Goi
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy
| | - M Penasa
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy.
| | - G Nardino
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy
| | - L Posenato
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy
| | - M De Marchi
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy
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17
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Martin P, Vinet A, Denis C, Grohs C, Chanteloup L, Dozias D, Maupetit D, Sapa J, Renand G, Blanc F. Determination of immunoglobulin concentrations and genetic parameters for colostrum and calf serum in Charolais animals. J Dairy Sci 2021; 104:3240-3249. [PMID: 33455791 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-19423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Colostrum samples from 366 Charolais primiparous cows, as well as serum from their calves at 24 to 48 h of age, were collected to gain an overview of the situation regarding passive immune transfer in beef cattle, from both the phenotypic and genetic points of view. All samples were analyzed to quantify their G1 immunoglobulins by radial immunodiffusion (RID) and their IgG, IgA, and IgM using ELISA. The average concentrations obtained in colostrum were 84 mg/mL for RID-IgG1, and 158 mg/mL, 4.5 mg/mL and 10.8 mg/mL for ELISA-IgG, -IgA, and -IgM, respectively. The corresponding values in calf serum were 19.9, 30.6, 1.0, and 1.9 mg/mL. Apart from the general environmental effect (farm-year combination and laboratory conditions), the characteristics of the dams tested did not reveal any influence on colostrum immunoglobulin concentrations. Calving difficulty, as well as the birth weight and sex of calves, were found to be associated with serum concentrations in some cases. Heritability estimates were low to moderate, with the highest being for RID-IgG1 in colostrum (h2 = 0.28, standard error = 0.14) and serum (h2 = 0.36, standard error = 0.18). Phenotypic correlations among the different immunoglobulins were generally positive or null, and none of the genetic correlations were significant due to large standard errors. The phenotypic correlation between dam colostrum and calf serum values was 0.2 for RID-IgG1 and null for the 3 ELISA measurements. The correlation between RID-IgG1 and ELISA-IgG was, unexpectedly, null for colostrum and 0.4 for serum. Increased RID-IgG1 levels in calf serum were associated with improved survival, as well as better early growth and fewer health problems. These results thus showed that despite generally higher concentrations in beef than in dairy cattle, passive transfer was unsuccessful in a considerable number of calves. This should be brought to the attention of breeders to avoid negative effects on survival and subsequent performance. The heritability estimates were encouraging; however, obtaining phenotypes on a large scale constitutes a real limitation regarding these traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Martin
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France.
| | - A Vinet
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - C Denis
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - C Grohs
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - L Chanteloup
- INRAE UE326 Domaine Expérimental du Pin, 61310 Exmes, France
| | - D Dozias
- INRAE UE326 Domaine Expérimental du Pin, 61310 Exmes, France
| | - D Maupetit
- INRAE UE0332 Domaine Expérimental Bourges-La Sapinière, 18390 Osmoy, France
| | - J Sapa
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - G Renand
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - F Blanc
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
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