Effect of an immunomodulatory feed additive on markers of immunity in pasture‐fed dairy cows

BACKGROUND: Infectious diseases in dairy cows often follow a time of nutritional or physiological stress and the subsequent altered immune system function. This study aimed to determine if the immunomodulatory effects of a feed additive previously observed in experimental animals and housed cattle f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Australian veterinary journal Vol. 92; no. 12; pp. 479 - 481
Main Authors:	Playford, MC, Dawson, K, Playford, SE, Smith, AN, Page, SW, Collins, K, Forsberg, N
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	England Australian Veterinary Association 01-12-2014 Blackwell Publishing Ltd Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
Subjects:	acclimation additive effect Aluminum Silicates - administration & dosage Animal Feed Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena Animals bentonite Bentonite - administration & dosage blood Cattle Cattle - blood Cattle - immunology Cattle Diseases - prevention & control dairy cows Dairying - methods Dietary Supplements feed additives hematologic tests immune markers immune system immunity Immunomodulation Infectious diseases Interleukin-8 - blood L-Selectin - blood laboratory animals mastitis nutritional stress Physiology Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction RNA Silicon Dioxide - administration & dosage total mixed rations feed additives immune markers dairy cows mastitis nutritional stress infectious diseases
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Summary:	BACKGROUND: Infectious diseases in dairy cows often follow a time of nutritional or physiological stress and the subsequent altered immune system function. This study aimed to determine if the immunomodulatory effects of a feed additive previously observed in experimental animals and housed cattle fed total mixed rations could be reproduced in pasture‐fed dairy cattle under Australian conditions. METHODS: The study included 34 pasture‐fed dairy cattle given the treatment (n = 17) or placebo (bentonite, n = 17) for an acclimation period of 15 days followed by 60 days of supplementation. Blood tests were taken pre‐trial and then 30, 60 and 90 days after acclimation. Blood samples were extracted and preserved in Trizol and analysed for immune markers. RESULTS: Pasture‐fed dairy cows in the treatment group had significantly higher levels of the immune markers interleukin‐8R and L‐selectin in comparison with placebo‐fed cows at 60 days after the start of supplementation. CONCLUSION: The immunomodulatory effects of the additive observed in the current study and the associated enhanced neutrophil function demonstrated by other studies suggest a role in decreasing the rates of mastitis and other infectious diseases of dairy cattle, particularly during times of nutritional or physiological stress.
Bibliography:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/avj.12269 istex:F2466B83DA25872D2EC1B38E6010F083696D3396 ark:/67375/WNG-RTL3MTDR-Q Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute Phibro Animal Health ArticleID:AVJ12269 ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	0005-0423 1751-0813
DOI:	10.1111/avj.12269