Investigation of the effect of pegbovigrastim on some periparturient immune disorders and performance in Mexican dairy herds

Abstract

This study analyzed the efficacy of pegbovigrastim (Imrestor, Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN) on some health and production parameters in lactating dairy cows. Primiparous and multiparous Holsteins from 17 Mexican dairy herds (n = 10,238) were included in this study, which was conducted in 2015. Treated cows (n = 5,025) received Imrestor approximately 7 d before expected calving and again within 24 h after calving; control cows (n = 5,213) did not receive a placebo. Clinical mastitis (MAS; 0 to 30 DIM), retained placenta (RP), and clinical metritis (MET; 0 to 21 DIM) occurrences were recorded, as well as the number of medication days, medical treatments needed, and the number of days that milk was discarded due to medication administered for disease. Milk yield was measured from calving until 120 d in milk. Imrestor reduced the incidence of MAS by 25%, and the odds ratio of having mastitis in the first 30 d in milk was 35% greater for control cows than for Imrestor cows. Imrestor treatment reduced the number of medical treatments required for MAS by 6%, and less milk was discarded due to medication for MAS as a result of the Imrestor treatment. The incidence of RP was reduced by 4.15% with Imrestor and the odds of cows having RP were 4.6% greater for control than Imrestor treatments, but they did not differ. The MET incidence was increased by 17.1% with Imrestor. The use of Imrestor around parturition increased by 5.8% the odds of inseminating cows during the first 100 d after calving. Imrestor-treated multiparous cows with MAS produced 2.1 kg/d more milk than control cows with MAS during the first 30 d of their lactation. Imrestor-treated multiparous cows with MET produced 2.3 kg/d more milk than MET control cows during the first 120 d of their lactation. We conclude that Imrestor can help the dairy cow cope with immune periparturient disorders and can increase the milk yield of dairy cows due to a healthier transition, despite a reported increase in the incidence of MET.

Reducing the incidence of acute puerperal metritis in primiparous cows by application of pegbovigrastim in a Holstein dairy herd

“…Our results are in contrast to those of the study by Ruiz et al (2017) who investigated 10 238 cows from 17 Mexican Holstein dairy herds and observed an increase in the incidence of metritis by 17.1% in the pegbovigrastim group. A reason for this discrepancy might be the considerably lower basic metritis incidence (IMR: 9.79%, Co: 8.36%) in the Mexican herds under investigation (Ruiz et al 2017) in comparison to our study herd. Moreover, Ruiz et al (2017) diagnosed metritis only by visual observation of vaginal discharges and transrectal palpation of the uterus.…”

“…This is in accordance with the study by Hassfurther et al (2015). Ruiz et al (2017) reported that daily milk yield increased from 0 to 120 DIM in multiparous metritic cows previously treated with pegbovigrastim, but not in primiparous cows. Thus, this effect might be specific for parity.…”

“…A reason for this discrepancy might be the considerably lower basic metritis incidence (IMR: 9.79%, Co: 8.36%) in the Mexican herds under investigation (Ruiz et al 2017) in comparison to our study herd. Moreover, Ruiz et al (2017) diagnosed metritis only by visual observation of vaginal discharges and transrectal palpation of the uterus. The rise of the rectal temperature, which can help to identify uterine inflammation (Benzaquen et al 2007;Burfeind et al 2013), was not included in their diagnostic regimen in contrast to our report.…”

“…As neutrophils play a primary role in the defence of the uterus against infection (Singh et al 2008), the increased numbers of PMN ready to move early to a site of infection, along with the increased ability to release MPO, might have improved the ability of the cows to ward off clinical disease (Kimura et al 2014). Our results are in contrast to those of the study by Ruiz et al (2017) who investigated 10 238 cows from 17 Mexican Holstein dairy herds and observed an increase in the incidence of metritis by 17.1% in the pegbovigrastim group. A reason for this discrepancy might be the considerably lower basic metritis incidence (IMR: 9.79%, Co: 8.36%) in the Mexican herds under investigation (Ruiz et al 2017) in comparison to our study herd.…”

“…Similarly, Hassfurther et al (2015) found no effect of a pegbovigrastim treatment on the severity or duration of clinical mastitis cases, and Ruiz et al (2017) observed no differences in the number of medical treatments for metritis. Hassfurther et al (2015) hypothesised that neutrophils primed for improved microbicidal activity by exposure to PEG bG-CSF in the circulation might have an increased ability to eliminate infections before an inflammatory response is apparent, but, once the immune response is overwhelmed and an acute inflammatory response is triggered, the severity and amount of time required for resolution remain unchanged.…”