Quercetin Feeding in Newborn Dairy Calves Cannot Compensate Colostrum Deprivation: Study on Metabolic, Antioxidative and Inflammatory Traits

Abstract

Immaturity of the neonatal immune system is causative for high morbidity in calves and colostrum intake is crucial for acquiring passive immunity. Pathogenesis is promoted by reactive oxygen species accumulating at birth if counter-regulation is inadequate. The flavonol quercetin exerts antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects that may enhance neonatal health. The aim of this work was to study effects of quercetin feeding on metabolic, antioxidative and inflammatory parameters in neonatal calves to investigate whether quercetin could compensate for insufficient colostrum supply. Twenty-eight newborn calves were assigned to two dietary groups fed colostrum or milk-based formula on day 1 and 2 and milk replacer thereafter. From day 2 onwards, 7 calves per diet group were additionally fed quercetin aglycone (50 mg/(kg body weight × day)). Blood samples were taken repeatedly to measure plasma concentrations of flavonols, glucose, lactate, total protein, albumin, urea, non-esterified fatty acids, triglycerides, cholesterol, insulin, glucagon, cortisol, immunoglobulins, fibrinogen, haptoglobin and serum amyloid A. Trolox equivalent antioxidative capacity, ferric reducing ability of plasma, thiobarbituric acid reactive species and F2-isoprostanes were analyzed to evaluate plasma antioxidative status. Expression of tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-1α, interleukin-1β, serum amyloid A, haptoglobin, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase mRNA were measured in liver tissue on day 8. Plasma flavonol concentrations were detectable only after quercetin-feeding without differences between colostrum and formula feeding. Plasma glucose, lactate, total protein, immunoglobulins, triglycerides, cholesterol, trolox equivalent antioxidative capacity and thiobarbituric acid reactive species were higher after colostrum feeding. Body temperature, fecal fluidity and plasma concentrations of cortisol and haptoglobin were higher in formula- than in colostrum-fed groups. Hepatic mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor was higher after quercetin feeding and expression of C-reactive protein was higher after formula feeding. Data confirm that colostrum improves neonatal health and indicate that quercetin feeding cannot compensate for insufficient colostrum supply.

Effects of colostrum instead of formula feeding for the first 2 days postnatum on whole-body energy metabolism and its endocrine control in neonatal calves

“…In contrast, immunoglobulin concentrations in formula-fed calves remained low until the end of the experiment. The immunoglobulin intake was also reflected by the total plasma protein concentration, as shown in previous studies (Rauprich et al, 2000;Gruse et al, 2016). The intention of the prophylactic treatments in formula-fed calves was to compensate for the lack of immunological protection by colostrum feeding.…”

“…Plasma concentrations of IgG1, IgG2, and IgM (all Ig were not measured postprandially on d 9) were determined via ELISA (no. E10-116, E10-101, E10-117, Bethyl Laboratories Inc., Montgomery, TX; Gruse et al, 2016). The intra-and interassay coefficients of variation were 3.1% and 2.7% for IgG1, 2.8% and 1.7% for IgG2, and 4.2% and 2.9% for IgM.…”

“…The intra-and interassay coefficients of variation were 3.7% and 5.5% for insulin and 3.4% and 20.0% for glucagon. The plasma cortisol concentration was analyzed in duplicate after extraction with diethylether, using a commercially available ELISA kit (#EIA1887; DRG Instruments; Gruse et al, 2016). Intra-and interassay coefficients of variation were 5.3% and 12.1%, respectively.…”

Effects of Feeding Milk Replacer Ad Libitum or in Restricted Amounts for the First Five Weeks of Life on the Growth, Metabolic Adaptation, and Immune Status of Newborn Calves

“…Interestingly, the plasma IgM concentration showed a second peak in plasma after the first weeks of age and this peak may reflect antigenic stimulation by environmental antigens. Recent findings in colostrum-deprived calves showed that calves exhibit indigenous IgM production during the first week of life [58]. Although statistically not significant, the lower plasma IgG1 concentration in ADLIB between days 36 and 57 indicates that antigenic stimulation in this group was on a lower level and the risk for infection or antigenic stimulation was obviously reduced in this group after first month of life.…”

“…In the present study one ADLIB calf with elevated plasma haptoglobin had loose feces during second week of life and possibly suffered from a bacterial infection [62]. An increased haptoglobin concentration was recently measured only in colostrum-deprived calves during first week of life [58]. …”