Effects of treatment of preweaning dairy calves with recombinant bovine somatotropin on immune responses and somatotropic axis

Abstract

Weaning may be associated with negative energy balance and body weight loss when calves are still immunologically immature, predisposing them to infectious diseases. The aim of the present experiment was to investigate the effects of treatment of preweaning dairy calves with recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) on the somatotropic axis, selected immune parameters, and hematology of calves around weaning. Thirty-six Holstein female calves were randomly assigned to receive 1.5 to 1.8 mg of rbST (Posilac, Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN) per kilogram of body weight or to receive injections of saline (saline solution 0.9%, Valley Vet Supply, Marysville, KS) every 7 d from 21 to 63 d of life. Calves were fed milk replacer ad libitum from birth to 38 d of age (d -11), when progressive weaning started, and calves were weaned at 49 d of age (d 0). Calves were weighed at birth and weekly from 21 to 63 d of age, when wither height also was measured. Calves were vaccinated with 0.5 mg of ovalbumin on study d -28 and -7. Blood samples were collected on d -28, -25, -21, -11, 0, 3, 7, and 14. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes were isolated and challenged ex vivo with Escherichia coli to determine phagocytosis and oxidative burst capacity. Additionally, expression of cluster of differentiation (CD)62L and CD18 by granulocyte, lymphocyte, and CD14+ monocyte were determined. Blood samples were also used to determine hematological parameters and concentrations of growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1, insulin, glucose, fatty acids, β-hydroxybutyrate, haptoglobin, and anti-ovalbumin IgG. Calves treated with rbST had greater concentrations of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 from d -25 to 14 than control calves, whereas insulin, fatty acid, and β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations did not differ. On d -11, glucose concentration was greater for rbST-treated calves. Treatment did not affect polymorphonuclear lymphocyte phagocytosis and oxidative burst, but intensity of expression of CD62L and CD18 by granulocytes tended to be increased by rbST treatment. Treatment did not affect the concentration of anti-ovalbumin IgG in serum. Haptoglobin concentration was reduced in rbST treated calves on d 3 and we noted a tendency for hematocrit to be lower in rbST-treated calves. Treatment did not affect body weight, wither height, and average daily gain, despite the fact that rbST-treated calves had lower daily milk replacer intake. The relatively minor improvements in immune responses resulting from rbST treatment of weaning calves may not be sufficient to reduce the incidence of infectious diseases.

Impact of Parenteral Maternal Supplementation with Trace Minerals and Vitamins on Neonatal Calf Antioxidant System and Growth in a Dairy Herd

“…Other authors reported a reduction in the haptoglobin concentration, with the lowest values towards weaning, relating this lesser concentration with lower stress levels [65,66,67]. We probably did not observe this reduction in haptoglobin concentration in our experiment since the last sampling was made a week after the calves were weaned, and the change in feeding, added to the greater consumption of concentrate in that week, could have been responsible for the elevation in the haptoglobin concentration [68].…”

Characteristics of the Oxidative Status in Dairy Calves Fed at Different Milk Replacer Levels and Weaned at 14 Weeks of Age

“…Weaning may result in increased Hp concentrations as reported by Belli et al (2018) [41] for calves fed ad libitum and weaned at 7 weeks of age. Hulbert et al (2011) [40] showed that early-weaned calves (45 d) compared with later weaned calves (66 d) had increased plasma concentrations of cortisol and Hp, suggesting that weaning is less stressful when calves are older.…”

Effect of exogenous melatonin on the cellular response of Holstein heifer calves during vaccination

“…Ovalbumin-specific antibodies were analyzed using an indirect ELISA ( Ballou and DePeters, 2008 ; Silva et al., 2015 ; Belli et al., 2018 ). A 96-well plate was coated with 100 μL of a 44.04-mM carbonate and 6.04-mM bicarbonate buffer containing 1.4 g/L of ovalbumin and incubated for 24 h at 4 °C.…”

“…The working concentration range was 0.1 to 10 ng/mL and coefficient of variation was 5.4% and 8.7% for intra- and inter-assay, respectively. Since there is no clinical significance for determining protective titers of anti-ovalbumin, data were reported as the average optical density ( OD ) as proof of concept for augmented humoral response (Ballou et al., 2008; Silva et al., 2015 ; Belli et al., 2018 ). Average of the duplicates is reported with the OD of the corresponding blank subtracted.…”