Differential Dynamics of the Ruminal Microbiome of Jersey Cows in a Heat Stress Environment

Self Cite

Owing to increasing global temperatures, heat stress is a major problem affecting dairy cows, and abnormal metabolic responses during heat stress likely influence dairy cow immunity. However, the mechanism of this crosstalk between metabolism and immunity during heat stress remains unclear. We used two representative dairy cow breeds, Holstein and Jersey, with distinct heat-resistance characteristics. To understand metabolic and immune responses to seasonal changes, normal environmental and high-heat environmental conditions, we assessed blood metabolites and immune cell populations. In biochemistry analysis from sera, we found that variety blood metabolites were decreased in both Holstein and Jersey cows by heat stress. We assessed changes in immune cell populations in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using flow cytometry. There were breed-specific differences in immune-cell population changes. Heat stress only increased the proportion of B cells (CD4–CD21+) and heat stress tended to decrease the proportion of monocytes (CD11b+CD172a+) in Holstein cows. Our findings expand the understanding of the common and specific changes in metabolism and immune response of two dairy cow breeds under heat stress conditions.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The dairy cows were exposed to different environmental conditions for at least 7 consecutive days based on THI. Respiration rates and rectal temperature were examined by following established protocols [ 21 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in Blood Metabolites and Immune Cells in Holstein and Jersey Dairy Cows by Heat Stress

Joo

Lee

Park

et al. 2021

Self Cite

“…In contrast, it is not uncommon for cattle to reduce dry matter intake (DMI) and rumen motility during heat stress [ 10 ]. Jersey cows had better adaptation capabilities to heat stress compared to Holstein cows [ 11 , 12 ]; however, Holstein cows are well adapted to lower temperatures (the lower and upper critical temperature varies from −15 °C to 22 °C) [ 13 ]. It is well known that Holstein and Jersey are two important dairy breeds, and the contribution steers of these breeds make to beef production is of considerable value [ 14 , 15 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal Influence on Rumen Microbiota, Rumen Fermentation, and Enteric Methane Emissions of Holstein and Jersey Steers under the Same Total Mixed Ration

Islam

Kim

Son

et al. 2021

Seasonal effects on rumen microbiome and enteric methane (CH4) emissions are poorly documented. In this study, 6 Holstein and 6 Jersey steers were fed the same total mixed ration diet during winter, spring, and summer seasons under a 2×3 factorial arrangement for 30 days per season. The dry matter intake (DMI), rumen fermentation characteristics, enteric CH4 emissions and rumen microbiota were analyzed. Holstein had higher total DMI than Jersey steers regardless of season. However, Holstein steers had the lowest metabolic DMI during summer, while Jersey steers had the lowest total DMI during winter. Jersey steers had higher CH4 yields and intensities than Holstein steers regardless of season. The pH was decreased, while ammonia nitrogen concentration was increased in summer regardless of breed. Total volatile fatty acids concentration and propionate proportions were the highest in winter, while acetate and butyrate proportion were the highest in spring and in summer, respectively, regardless of breed. Moreover, Holstein steers produced a higher proportion of propionate, while Jersey steers produced a higher proportion of butyrate regardless of season. Metataxonomic analysis of rumen microbiota showed that operational taxonomic units and Chao 1 estimates were lower and highly unstable during summer, while winter had the lowest Shannon diversity. Beta diversity analysis suggested that the overall rumen microbiota was shifted according to seasonal changes in both breeds. In winter, the rumen microbiota was dominated by Carnobacterium jeotgali and Ruminococcus bromii, while in summer, Paludibacter propionicigenes was predominant. In Jersey steers, Capnocytophaga cynodegmi, Barnesiella viscericola and Flintibacter butyricus were predominant, whereas in Holstein steers, Succinivibrio dextrinosolvens and Gilliamella bombicola were predominant. Overall results suggest that seasonal changes alter rumen microbiota and fermentation characteristics of both breeds; however, CH4 emissions from steers were significantly influenced by breeds, not by seasons.

“…However, we could not fully rule out the possibility that heat-stressed dairy cows had metabolic changes as a result of altered rumen fermentation even though feed intake was similar for the two breeds of dairy cow. Recently, our group reported that heat stress induced changes in the rumen microbiome in both Holstein and Jersey dairy cows [ 76 ]. Accumulating studies have reported that metabolites have a significant impact on immune responses in animals [ 77 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Common and Differential Dynamics of the Function of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells between Holstein and Jersey Cows in Heat-Stress Environment

Kim

Joo

Kim

et al. 2020

Self Cite

Heat stress has been reported to affect the immunity of dairy cows. However, the mechanisms through which this occurs are not fully understood. Two breeds of dairy cow, Holstein and Jersey, have distinct characteristics, including productivity, heat resistance, and disease in high-temperature environments. The objective of this study is to understand the dynamics of the immune response of two breeds of dairy cow to environmental change. Ribonucleic acid sequencing (RNA-seq) results were analyzed to characterize the gene expression change of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in Holstein and Jersey cows between moderate temperature-humidity index (THI) and high THI environmental conditions. Many of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified are associated with critical immunological functions, particularly phagocytosis, chemokines, and cytokine response. Among the DEGs, CXCL3 and IL1A were the top down-regulated genes in both breeds of dairy cow, and many DEGs were related to antimicrobial immunity. Functional analysis revealed that cytokine and chemokine response-associated pathways in both Holstein and Jersey PBMCs were the most important pathways affected by the THI environmental condition. However, there were also breed-specific genes and pathways that altered according to THI environmental condition. Collectively, there were both common and breed-specific altered genes and pathways in Holstein and Jersey cows. The findings of this study expand our understanding of the dynamics of immunity in different breeds of dairy cow between moderate THI and high THI environmental conditions.