Associations between immune competence, stress responsiveness, and production in Holstein-Friesian and Holstein-Friesian × Jersey heifers reared in a pasture-based production system in Australia

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to assess antibody and cellular immune responses in first-lactation dairy heifers reared under a pasture-based production system and to investigate associations between immune competence and stress responsiveness, health, and productivity. A commercial vaccine was used to induce antibody and cellular immune responses and, based on measured responses, animals were classified as above average, average, and below average for each trait independently and in combination (overall immune competence). Overall immune competence phenotypic rankings were generated by combining standardized residual values for antibody and cellular responses measured in individual heifers. Cortisol responses to handling and yarding were used to assess stress responsiveness, worm egg counts were used to assess internal parasite burden, somatic cell counts to assess udder health and estimates of total daily milk volume, and milk fat and milk protein contents to assess productivity. A total of 393 Holstein-Friesian and Holstein-Friesian × Jersey crossbred heifers from 2 herds practicing seasonal calving in a pasture-fed production system were enrolled in the study. The immune competence phenotypes of individual heifers were assessed before their first mating and their subsequent performance during their first lactation was monitored. Animals with below-average antibody and cellular immune competence had higher serum cortisol concentrations compared with their counterparts following handling, suggesting they had a reduced ability to cope with management-induced stress. Furthermore, a significant negative (favorable) correlation was observed between antibody responses and stress responsiveness. Similarly, correlations between antibody responses and internal parasite burden were significant and negative (favorable). No correlations were observed between overall immune competence and milk yield, milk fat, and milk protein content.Animals used in the study were from 2 dairy herds and represented typical large-scale pasture-based dairy systems in Australia. Both herds practiced seasonal 3284 ALERI ET AL.

Competence to thrive: resilience as an indicator of positive health and positive welfare in animals

“…Secondly, an alternative approach to measuring resilience has been used by Hine and colleagues (Aleri et al 2019;Hine et al 2019;Hine et al 2021;Hine et al 2022). These authors have measured the strength of the immune response during the stress of routine husbandry practices such as weaning of beef calves and lambs bred and raised in a pasture-based production system.…”

“…This approach measures the absolute level of performance of the immune system, termed immune competence, under stress rather than characteristics of response kinetics (Hine et al 2019;Hine et al 2022) and complements a large body of work on associations between immune competence and disease outcomes in livestock (for reviews see Wilkie and Mallard 1999;Hine et al 2015;König and May 2019;Bai and Plastow 2022). Immune competence measured in dairy heifers during routine husbandry is negatively correlated with cortisol responses (Aleri et al 2019) and thus immune competence may be an indicator of resilience. In support of this conclusion is the observation that protective host responses to heat stress are stronger in cows with high immune competence (Cartwright et al 2021;Cartwright et al 2022).…”

The Impact of the Animal Housing System on Immune Cell Composition and Function in the Blood of Dromedary Camels

“…The phenotypes and functions of leukocytes are influenced by several physiological [14] and pathological factors [15]. Stress and excitement during animal housing represent major environmental factors with significant modulatory effects on the immune system [16]. Studies in several animal species have shown that measurements of many immunological parameters in samples taken from stressed animals can be highly variable, ranging from almost normal baseline to extremely high [16][17][18][19][20].…”

“…Stress and excitement during animal housing represent major environmental factors with significant modulatory effects on the immune system [16]. Studies in several animal species have shown that measurements of many immunological parameters in samples taken from stressed animals can be highly variable, ranging from almost normal baseline to extremely high [16][17][18][19][20]. Cattle and sheep under short-term stress have shown impaired immune responses [17,20].…”

“…Cattle and sheep under short-term stress have shown impaired immune responses [17,20]. Bovine heifers with higher handling-stress responsiveness showed reduced antibody and cellular immune responses [16].…”