The effect of floor surface on dairy cow immune function and locomotion score

Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of 2 dairy cow housing systems on cow locomotion, immune status, and expression of genes associated with lameness during the dry and periparturient periods. Cows were assigned to freestall housing with either rubber (RUB; n = 13) or concrete (CON; n = 14) at the feed-bunk and alley immediately after their first calving, and managed on this system during all subsequent lactations. At dry off, cows were moved to a straw bedded-pack dry cow pen, and remained there until about 2 d before subsequent calving. To investigate whether greater exposure to RUB or CON increased the differences between cows on each treatment, cows at the end of either their first (n = 16) or second (n = 11) lactations were included in the experiment. Locomotion scores and blood samples were obtained at -60 (beginning of the dry period), -30, 0 (after calving), +10 and +18 d relative to calving. Leukocyte counts were obtained by using an automated cell counter. Phagocytic activity, and cells positive for CD14 and CD18 expression were measured by flow cytometry using labeled microbeads and antibodies. Expression of tachikinin 1(TAC1), histamine receptor 1 (H1), and metalloproteinase (MMP)13 in blood leukocytes was estimated using quantitative real-time PCR. Treatment effects were determined using a repeated measures model. Provision of rubber flooring did not improve dairy cow locomotion during the subsequent study period. However, time relative to calving had an effect on locomotion score and speed, which were worst on d 0, probably because of the discomfort associated with calving. An interaction occurred between treatment and time for neutrophil and lymphocyte counts. The RUB cows had greater neutrophil and lesser lymphocyte numbers postpartum than CON. These cows also had more cells positive for CD14 postpartum compared with prepartum. Moreover, RUB cows showed upregulation of MMP13 and TAC1 compared with CON. These genes are associated with lameness and pain detection respectively. Greater neutrophil to lymphocyte ratios and CD14 expression are associated with physiological stress or with activated immunity. Rubber flooring is associated with an increase in activity and standing. This may have resulted in indications of physiological stress and upregulation of genes associated with lameness and pain for RUB cows. However, this study did not take into account the long-term effects of concrete or rubber flooring; for instance, occurrence of lameness or survivability within the herd.

Characterization of the Th Profile of the Bovine Endometrium during the Oestrous Cycle and Early Pregnancy

“…Although the reason behind such high variability is not clear, there is evidence that the stress and/or health status of each animal impacts on their immune cell profile [32]. In contrast to the findings of Cobb and Watson [9], our results did not show any evidence of estrous cycle regulation of total endometrial CD4 + or CD8 + cell numbers, nor a preponderance of CD8 + cells in the luminal epithelium.…”

Differences in leukocyte profile, gene expression, and metabolite status of dairy cows with or without sole ulcers

“…This type of leukogram is seen in all vertebrate taxa in response to either natural stressors, or administration of stress hormones (Davis et al, 2008). A high N:L ratio has also been described in animals in stressful circumstances (Fell et al, 1999), in cows that are genetically more susceptible to disease (Kulberg et al, 2002), and in cows with poor locomotion (O'Driscoll et al, 2009). Thus this leukocyte profile is in concordance with the elevated cortisol levels we detected in cows with ulcers.…”

“…Not only has MMP-13 mRNA been observed to be up-regulated in the leukocytes of clinically lame cows, when using both a micro-array and targeted gene expression approach (Almeida et al, 2007), but O'Driscoll et al (2009) found that even in cows that weren't clinically lame, but with impaired locomotion, leukocytes MMP-13 mRNA was up-regulated. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in extracellular protein degradation, with MMP-13 also known as collagenase 3, due to its role in collagen degradation (Entrezgene, 2013).…”

“…We hypothesised that the pain and stress associated with lameness (Whay et al, 2003) has a negative effect on the systemic immune and inflammatory status of the cow, and thus selected genes for comparison that are differentially expressed in cows that undergo a stressful event, such as parturition or transport (Buckham-Sporer et al, 2008), as well as lame and sound cows (Almeida et al, 2007;O'Driscoll et al, 2009). Thus this study provides novel information about the physiological reaction of the cow to a noninfectious inflammatory health disorder.…”

Effects of rubber flooring during the first 2 lactations on production, locomotion, hoof health, immune functions, and stress

“…Some peripheral immune cell responses seem to have indicators of both pain and the repair process (Almeida et al, 2007). Recent data from our laboratory shows that a painrelated gene (tachykinin 1, TAC1) as well as a gene involved in cartilage tissue repair (metalloproteinase-13) changed around parturition for cows that had been housed on rubber rather than concrete (O'Driscoll et al, 2009). Therefore, our objectives for this study were to determine the health, cow comfort, hoof health, and leukocyte gene expression of cows housed on rubber flooring compared with those on only concrete.…”