Short- and long-term association between individual levels of milk antibody against Ostertagia ostertagi and first-lactation heifer’s production performances

Abstract

It is agreed that exposure of adult dairy cattle to helminths on pasture can negatively affect production performances as milking herd. Young animals, especially replacement heifers, represent the future of a dairy farm and are among the most vulnerable to helminth infections in a dairy herd. For this reason, dairy farmers tend to frequently treat heifers against helminths, although the impact of helminths on heifers' production performances is still poorly understood. Using different epidemiological and serological tools, this study examines the relationship between heifer exposure to helminths on pasture and production performances over time. During a one-year period, 1,454 individual milk samples were collected from first-lactation heifers in England and tested for Ostertagia ostertagi (O. ostertagi) antibodies. After controlling for other confounders, increasing milk antibody levels against O. ostertagi were significantly associated with decreased milk yield at sampling but not at day 305 of heifer lactation. We did not observe any relationship between milk antibody levels against O. ostertagi in heifers and yields in fat and protein. However, heifers with a high level of milk antibodies against O. ostertagi were more likely to produce dead calf at first calving and present a delay in second calving. Moreover, these heifers had significantly higher levels of milk antibodies against Mycobacterium paratuberculosis (M. paratuberculosis) during their first lactation and were more likely to die before the end of the study. We argue that epidemiological approaches can be useful but must be complemented by other methodologies to better understand the impact of helminth infections in dairy heifers. In order to address the complex dynamics of helminth infections in dairy cattle production we require more comprehensive approaches that include triangulation between data sources and interdisciplinary studies.

Prevalence, fecal egg counts, and species identification of gastrointestinal nematodes in replacement dairy heifers in Canada

“…However, the magnitude of FEC variations between the statistically significantly different values was small. It is unknown whether these would be sufficient to result in a significantly different production or economic effect, especially because comprehensive and integrated approaches to whole-farm economics are needed to accurately determine the ultimate (subclinical) effect of GIN infection in cattle (Charlier et al, 2014(Charlier et al, , 2016Bellet et al, 2018;Rushton and Bruce, 2019). Furthermore, the effect of GIN also depends on the predominant species, with O. ostertagi generally considered most pathogenic (Shaw et al, 1998a).…”

“…Young, growing animals, such as dairy replacement heifers, are at an increased risk of GIN infections mainly from a lack of previous exposure to parasites and a naïve immune system (Fox, 1997;Yazwinski et al, 2013). Dairy replacement heifers represent the future of a dairy farm; they account for a substantial amount of the enterprise costs but are also more susceptible to GIN infection compared with adult cows (Zwald et al, 2007;Lang, 2012;Bellet et al, 2018). Although some studies report earlier onset of puberty, a reduced culling rate during first lactation and increased mammary tissue development in heifers treated with anthelmintic products, suggesting that overall lifetime productivity may be reduced in untreated heifers, ambiguity remains whether these effects are because of reduced GIN levels or from other pharmacological drug effects on the metabolism or immune system of the treated animal (Purvis and Whittier, 1996;Mejía et al, 1999Mejía et al, , 2009Perri et al, 2013).…”

“…Although some studies report earlier onset of puberty, a reduced culling rate during first lactation and increased mammary tissue development in heifers treated with anthelmintic products, suggesting that overall lifetime productivity may be reduced in untreated heifers, ambiguity remains whether these effects are because of reduced GIN levels or from other pharmacological drug effects on the metabolism or immune system of the treated animal (Purvis and Whittier, 1996;Mejía et al, 1999Mejía et al, , 2009Perri et al, 2013). Furthermore, the long-term effects of GIN infection as a heifer on productivity as an adult cow have not been assessed well and the actual economic effects of GIN infection on cattle farms are more challenging to establish because multiple management factors, sociopsychological values, and local input and output costs affect farm-level economics and cattle health (Corwin, 1997;Charlier et al, 2014Charlier et al, , 2016Bellet et al, 2018;Rushton and Bruce, 2019). Nonetheless, it is important to have an understanding of the GIN prevalence Prevalence, fecal egg counts, and species identification of gastrointestinal nematodes in replacement dairy heifers in Canada H. Scott, 1 J. S. Gilleard, 2 M. Jelinski, 1 H. W. Barkema, 2 E. M. Redman, 2 R. W. Avramenko, 2 C. Luby, 1 D. F. Kelton, 3 C. A. Bauman, 3 G. Keefe, 4 J. Dubuc, 5 and F. D. Uehlinger 1 * and infection intensity in cattle production systems to further direct research and extension interventions in a region or country to better mitigate potential effects on health and production.…”

World food security, globalisation and animal farming: unlocking dominant paradigms of animal health science

“…Under this model, the multiple reasons for animal health science, i.e. that it not only protects animal health and well-being but is also vital for human health and wellbeing, have been reduced to a single technical and economic purpose (65): to increase food production and keep pace with the growth of the world' s human population, while ensuring market stability and industrial monetary income. In this context, animal health science has focused on the technical exploration of the biology of animal diseases through the development and use of new technologies, such as diagnostic tests, drugs, vaccines, robotics and improved infrastructure, without grasping the complexity of social, political, cultural and economic determinants of animal health (33).…”

Effect of Mixed Invasions of Hypoderma bovis and Ostertagia ostertagi in Cattle on Milk Yield and Contents in Polish Dairy Farms

“…Sick animals are characterized by pale mucous membranes due to anemia. Some signs of infection by cattle parasites can be a reduction in milk production and changes in the nutritional value of milk [3,4], and/or reproductive problems, including the death of embryos and miscarriages. The severity of signs is related to the type of parasite, size of infection, food ration, environmental conditions, and the overall health of the animal.…”