The Blood Immune Cell Count, Immunoglobulin, Inflammatory Factor, and Milk Trace Element in Transition Cows and Calves Were Altered by Increasing the Dietary n-3 or n-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Levels

Abstract

Transition dairy cows experience sudden changes in both metabolic and immune functions, which lead to many diseases in postpartum cows. Therefore, it is crucial to monitor and guarantee the nutritional and healthy status of transition cows. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of diet enriched in n-3 or n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) on colostrum composition and blood immune index of multiparous Holstein cows and neonatal calves during the transition period. Forty-five multiparous Holstein dairy cows at 240 days of pregnancy were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 3 isoenergetic and isoprotein diets: 1) CON, hydrogenated fatty acid (control), 1% of hydrogenated fatty acid [diet dry matter (DM) basis] during prepartum and postpartum, respectively; 2) HN3, 3.5% of extruding flaxseed (diet DM basis, n-3 PUFA source); 3) HN6, 8% of extruding soybeans (diet DM basis, C18:2n-6 PUFA source). Diets containing n-3 and n-6 PUFA sources decreased colostrum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration but did not significantly change the colostrum IgG yield compared with those with CON. The commercial milk yield (from 14 to 28 days after calving) was higher in the HN3 and HN6 than that in the CON. Furthermore, the n-3 PUFA source increased neutrophil cell counts in blood during the prepartum period and increased neutrophil percentage during the postpartum period when compared with those with control treatment. Diets containing supplemental n-3 PUFA decreased the serum concentration of interleukin (IL)-1β in maternal cows compared with those in control and n-6 PUFA during prepartum and postpartum. In addition, the neonatal calf serum concentration of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) was decreased in HN3 compared with that in the HN6 treatment. The diet with the n-3 PUFA source could potentially increase the capacity of neutrophils to defend against pathogens in maternal cows by increasing the neutrophil numbers and percentage during the transition period. Meanwhile, the diet with n-3 PUFA source could decrease the pro-inflammatary cytokine IL-1β of maternal cows during the transition period and decline the content of pro-inflammatary cytokine TNF of neonatal calves. It suggested that the highest milk production in n-3 PUFA treatment may partially be due to these beneficial alterations.

Comparative evaluation of major milk quality parameters of Holstein and Simmental cows at different lactation stages under similar environmental conditions

“…The increase in the amount of n3 in milk shows a protective effect against diseases by increasing the ability of calves to respond to infection (45,62). Furthermore, n3 fatty acid, which has an antioxidant effect, plays an important role in the immunity of newborn calves (42,52). In parallel with the results of the present study, studies show that the survival rate of Holstein's calves is higher than that of Simmental calves (8,18).…”

Prepartum nutrient intake and colostrum yield and composition in ruminants

“…With respect to other bioactive components and micronutrients, Capper et al (2006) observed that colostrum vitamin E concentration was affected by the interaction of fat source with vitamin E supplementation, such that ewes consuming Ca-salts of palmitic acid supplemented with vitamin E had substantially larger concentrations (approximately 3- to 4-fold increase) and outputs (approximately 2.7- to 3.1-fold greater) of vitamin E in their colostrum. As reported by Sun et al (2022) , feeding dairy cattle iso-energetic and -nitrogenous diets containing extruded flaxseed, soybean, or lacking in both, had no effect on the concentrations of lactoferrin, lysozyme, peroxidase, Zn, or Ca in colostrum. As with prepartum protein intake, more research is required to understand shifts in the bioactive components available to neonatal ruminants when gross colostrum composition is unaltered.…”

“…Late-gestation fat inclusion rate and source have not been shown to affect first-milking colostrum production in dairy cattle, either when NE concentration was maintained ( Sun et al, 2022 ) or when it was not ( Daneshvar et al, 2020 ). To the authors’ knowledge, colostrum yield in beef cattle fed differing fat inclusion rates or sources has not been reported.…”

“…Interestingly, colostral IgG concentration, as measured by ELISA or estimated using Brix, appears to be responsive to dietary fat inclusion and source in both dairy ( Salehi et al, 2016 ) and beef cattle ( Brandão et al, 2020 ; Ricks et al, 2020 ). Most authors report elevated ( Salehi et al, 2016 ; Brandão et al, 2020 ; Ricks et al, 2020 ) rather than suppressed colostrum IgG concentrations (quantified with an ELISA; Sun et al, 2022 ). Elevated colostrum IgG concentration from prepartum fat intake is consistent among studies that feed supplements with elevated quantities of linoleic acid and uniformly increased plasma linoleic acid concentrations in supplemented cattle ( Brandão et al, 2020 ; Ricks et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Elevated colostrum IgG concentration from prepartum fat intake is consistent among studies that feed supplements with elevated quantities of linoleic acid and uniformly increased plasma linoleic acid concentrations in supplemented cattle ( Brandão et al, 2020 ; Ricks et al, 2020 ). Colostrum IgG yield is often not reported in dairy and beef cattle, although one study noted that there was no difference in colostrum IgG output between treatments, despite colostrum IgG concentration being decreased ( Sun et al, 2022 ).…”