Supplementation of antioxidant micronutrients reduces stress and improves immune function/response in periparturient dairy cows and their calves

doi:10.1016/j.jtemb.2021.126718

Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology

Volume 65, May 2021, 126718

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtemb.2021.126718 Get rights and content

Highlights

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Vitamin A, E and Zinc supplemented to prepartum cows.
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Supplementation decreased maternal and neonatal cortisol as compared to control.
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Somatic cells decreased and total immunoglobulins increased in colostrum.
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Phagocytic activity of neutrophils improved in both cows and calf after supplementation.

Abstract

Background

Periparturient period induces stress in cows which fluctuates hormonal and metabolic function and causes immune suppression. Apart from impairing the health, production, and reproduction of cows, it also influences the well-being of newborn calves by decreasing the colostrum quality. Micronutrients are known for optimal health and production and their effects on parturition stress, immune response in both cow and its calf need to be explored.

Aim

The aim of this study was to see the effect of oral supplementation of micronutrients during the prepartum period on the health status of crossbred dairy cows and subsequently on their newborn calves.

Methods

A total of 42 healthy multiparous cows were selected and randomly divided into five groups with seven cows in each group, i.e. control (Basal Diet, BD), VA group (BD + vitamin A, 10⁵ IU), Zn group (BD + zinc sulphate, 60 ppm), VE group (BD + vitamin E, 2500 IU), and combined supplementation (CS) group (BD + combination of VA, Zn, and VE). The supplements were offered in compounded concentrate DM (100 g) to individual cows once daily before the morning feeding and the remaining portion was incorporated in the TMR. Feeding was started one month before the expected days of calving till calving. Blood samples were collected from cows at days -15, -7, -3, 0, +3, +7, and +15 relative to the day of calving. Blood samples from newborn calves and milk samples of cows were collected at days 0, +3, +7, and +15. Milk somatic cell counts (SCC) were estimated using a cell counter. Cortisol was estimated by ELISA kit in blood and milk plasma of cows and in the blood plasma of their calves. Total immunoglobulins (Ig) were estimated in milk of cows and serum of calves using zinc sulphate turbidity method. Blood neutrophils from cows and calves were studied for phagocytic activity (PA) using nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) assay.Data were analysed by repeated-measures two-way ANOVA using the mixed procedure of SAS, and the pairwise comparison was performed using a multiple comparison test (Tukey).

Results

Combined supplementation of micronutrients decreased (P < 0.05) maternal blood plasma (control vs. CS group, 5.98 ± 0.20 vs. 3.86 ± 0.23 ng/mL) and milk plasma (3.96 ± 0.13 vs. 2.71 ± 0.10 ng/mL) cortisol, milk SCC (3.05 ± 0.11 vs. 2.12 ± 0.10 × 10⁵ cells/mL) and increased (P < 0.05) total milk Ig concentration (18.80 ± 0.11 vs. 23.04 ± 0.57 mg/mL) and the PA of blood neutrophils (0.84 ± 0.03 vs. 1.07 ± 0.03). Similarly, lower blood cortisol concentration (9.69 ± 0.35 vs. 6.02 ± 0.18 ng/mL) and higher (P < 0.05) total Ig (23.26 ± 0.11 vs. 30.34 ± 0.70 mg/mL) and PA of blood neutrophils (0.37 ± 0.02 vs. 0.52 ± 0.02) were observed in the calves born to CS group of cows as compared to the control. Highest (P < 0.05) positive effects (lower stress levels and higher immune response) of treatment were noticed in CS group followed by VE group and then Zn group. However, VA group didn’t differ from the control group.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that micronutrient interventions during the prepartum period can improve the health status of dairy calves and subsequently the well-being of their calves.

Graphical abstract

Introduction

Since decades, different attempts have been made by researchers to understand the transition physiologyof cows as well as to formulate various management tactics to reduce stress during calving [[1], [2], [3]].Stress experienced by the periparturient dairy cows is detrimental to health, and different stress hormones released during this period including glucocorticoids, act as immunosuppressive agents [[4], [5], [6]]. Also, changes in the concentrations of acute phase response and inflammatory mediators make the transition cows susceptible to a variety of diseases including mastitis [7]. Moreover, several host immune functions such as phagocytosis, antibody development, and cytokine production get suppressed during the transition period [8].The health status of newborn calves is one of the most important animal health issues facing the livestock industry and safeguarding its well-being is equally essential as today’s calves are known to be tomorrow’s herd [9,10]. The newborn calves cannot fight the infectious agents as their immune system is underdeveloped at birth. Therefore, they depend immunologically on the successful passive transfer of maternal Ig from colostrum after birth [11]. Besides Ig, colostrum is also the main source of many essential ingredients such as cytokines and growth factors and has a superior nutritional value compared to milk [12].

Supplementation of various trace elements and vitamins to periparturient cows is one of the promising management interventions to boost the immune response as it improves the quality of colostrum and milk, and also reduces the incidence of various diseases associated with parturition [[13], [14], [15]].Supplementation of trace elements and vitamins can be either oral or parenteral. Oral method is most commonly used way to supplement the transition cows and newborn calves with various micronutrients [13,15,16]. However, parenteral supplementation of micronutrients is also found to be efficient [17,18]. Mattioli et al. [18]reported that parenteral supplementation of copper, zinc, selenium, manganese and vitamins A and E prevented the decrease in TAS and GPx activity, improved antibody response and had positive effects on body weight. Vitamins A and E, and the trace elements such as zinc are critical for optimum health and production of dairy cows and calves [13,[15], [16], [17], [18]].These micronutrients act as antioxidants to prevent cellular oxidative damage in cell membranes (vitamins) as well as in the cytoplasm (trace elements). Moreover, these micronutrients strengthen the immune system and reduce the level of stress in animals around parturition [[19], [20], [21]].

We hypothesized that oral supplementation of antioxidant micronutrients to periparturient dairy cows may reduce parturition stress, boost immune response, and improve the quality of colostrum which ultimately impacts the health status of newborn calves. Therefore, the present study was carried out to explore the effects of supplementation of vitamin A, vitamin E, zinc sulphate, and their combination during the pre-calving stage on the stress levels and immune response in both cows and calves after parturition.

Section snippets

Ethical permission

The guidelines for animal experiments outlined by the Animal Ethics Committee of the ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal, India according to article 13 of the CPCSEA rules, laid down by the Government of India were followed during all the experiments.

Location and climatic conditions of the study area

The present study was carried out at the Livestock Research Centre of NDRI, Karnal, India. This institute is located at 290 43’ N latitude and 760 58’ E longitudes at an altitude of 245 m above the mean sea level in the bed of

Colostrum/milk total immunoglobulins in cows

Maximum total Ig concentration (mg/mL) was recorded in the CS group (23.04 ± 0.57) group of cows, followed by VE group (21.45 ± 0.29), Zn group (21.22 ± 0.19), VA group (18.89 ± 0.30), and finally control group (18.80 ± 0.09). The supplementation of vitamin A didn’t affect the concentration of total Ig in the colostrum in the VA group as compared to the control group. Moreover, no difference was observed in the concentrations of total Ig between Zn and VE groups during different days of the

Discussion

According to LeBlank et al. about 75 % of diseases in dairy cows occur during the first month of calving [28].Therefore, understanding of transition cow physiology and implementation of transition management in dairy cows has remained a focal point for so many years [[1], [2], [3]]. During the transition period, many endocrine changes occur which are accompanied by high nutrient demand both by the developing fetus and impending lactogenesis. This significantly influences the health status of

Conclusions

Our results reveal that dietary supplementation of antioxidant micronutrients (vitamin A, vitamin E, zinc) to the preparturient cows reduces the level of stress (low cortisol) and enhances their health status (low SCC, increased total Ig, and PA of neutrophils). In addition, lower cortisol concentration, and higher total Ig and PA of neutrophils in the blood of calves indicatethe improved quality of colostrum of their supplemented dams and thus may improve calf health and

CRediT authorship contribution statement

Mohanned Naif Alhussien: Conceptualization, Investigation, Formal analysis, Writing - original draft, Writing - review & editing. Sadhana Tiwari: . Bibhudatta Samanta Kumar Panda: Visualization, Formal analysis, Writing - review & editing. Yogesh Pandey: Methodology. Surender Singh Lathwal: Supervision, Project administration. Ajay Kumar Dang: Conceptualization, Supervision, Funding acquisition, Project administration, Writing - review & editing.

Declaration of Competing Interest

The authors report no declarations of interest.

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India for providing financial support to conduct the study (Grant number BT/PR29298/AAQ/1/735/2018; Dated: 01/03/2019).

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The aim of the study was to examine the effects of repeated administrations of antioxidant multiminerals and vitamins in transition buffaloes on udder defense mechanism, antioxidant activity and occurrence of intramammary infection (IMI) in early lactation period. Forty clinically healthy pregnant buffaloes were enrolled 45 days before expected date of calving and randomly allocated into five different supplementation groups (n = 8): only basal ration (control), vitamin E and selenium (VES), multiminerals (MM), ascorbic acid (AA) and chromium (Cr) picolinate in basal diet. The udder defense mechanism was monitored by measuring phagocytic activity (PA), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and nitric oxide (NO) productions in milk leukocytes, antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in plasma and occurrence of IMI was assessed by milk cytology, bacterial count in milk and visible clinical signs of udder until day 28 post-calving. The results showed that the VES and MM supplementations exhibited significantly higher PA, MPO and NO productions of milk leukocytes till first week of lactation whereas, elevated mean TAC in plasma was maintained from day −7 to 1 of calving in MM supplementation group as compared to control group. Statistically, no significant difference in occurrences of subclinical or clinical IMI was noted across the groups until four weeks of lactation. Taken together, it is concluded that repeated administrations of VES and MM to transition buffaloes could be an effective strategy to maintain good udder health by augmenting milk leukocyte functions and antioxidant status and preventing incidence of IMI in early lactation.
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Our objectives were to evaluate the impact of supplementary trace mineral (TM) form—inorganic salts (STM; Co, Cu, Mn, Zn sulfates, and Na selenite) or organic (OTM; Co, Cu, Mn, Zn proteinates, and selenized yeast)—in the prepartum diet on quantity and quality of colostrum, passive immunity, antioxidant biomarkers, cytokine responses to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), health, and growth of newborn calves. Pregnant heifers (n = 100) and cows (n = 173) were enrolled at 45 d before calving, blocked by parity and body condition score, and allocated randomly to STM (50 heifers; 86 cows) or OTM (50 heifers; 87 cows) supplementation. Cows in both treatments were fed the same diet, except for the source of supplementary TM. Within 2 h of calving, dams and calves were separated, colostrum was harvested, the yield was measured, and a sample was saved for posterior analyses of colostrum quality. A subgroup of calves (n = 68) had a blood sample collected before colostrum feeding. After colostrum feeding, all samples and data collection were limited to 163 calves (STM = 82; OTM = 81) fed 3 L of good quality (Brix% >22) maternal colostrum via nipple bottle minutes after harvesting. Concentration of IgG in colostrum and serum was determined 24 h after colostrum feeding using radial immunodiffusion. Concentration of TM in colostrum and serum were performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Activity of glutathione peroxidase, ferric reducing ability of plasma, and concentration of superoxide dismutase were evaluated in plasma by colorimetric assays. Ex vivo whole blood stimulation with LPS was performed on d 7 of life to evaluate cytokine responses in a subgroup of 66 calves. Health events were recorded from birth to weaning, and body weight was recorded at birth (all calves) and on d 30 and 60 (heifers only). Continuous variables were analyzed by ANOVA and binary responses were analyzed by logistic regression. Complete replacement of STM by OTM in prepartum diet resulted in greater concentration of Se (461 vs. 543 ± 7 μg/g; ± SEM) but did not alter the concentration or total mass of other TM and IgG in colostrum. Female calves of the OTM group had greater concentration of Se in serum at birth (0.23 vs. 0.37 ± 0.05 μg/mL), were lighter in weight at birth (40.9 vs. 38.8 ± 0.6 kg) and weaning (93.2 vs. 89.7 ± 1.6 kg) than those of the STM group. Maternal treatments did not affect passive immunity or antioxidant biomarkers. On d 7, basal concentrations (log₁₀ of concentration in pg/mL) of IFNγ (0.70 vs. 0.95 ± 0.083) and LPS-stimulated concentrations of CC chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2; 2.45 vs. 2.54 ± 0.026), CC chemokine ligand 3 (CCL3; 2.63 vs. 2.76 ± 0.038), IL-1α (2.32 vs. 2.49 ± 0.054), and IL-1β (3.62 vs. 3.86 ± 0.067) were greater in OTM than in STM. Supplementation with OTM in pregnant heifers, but not in pregnant cows, reduced the incidence of preweaning health problems in their calves (36.4 vs. 11.5%). Complete replacement of STM by OTM in the prepartum diet did not cause major changes in colostrum quality, passive immunity, and antioxidant capacity, but increased cytokine and chemokine responses to LPS on d 7 of life and benefited preweaning health of calves born to primiparous cows.
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This study aimed to investigate the immune-metabolic status and growth performance of Simmental calves born from cows subjected to pegbovigrastim administration 7 days before calving. Eight calves born from cows subjected to pegbovigrastim administration (PEG group) and 9 calves born from untreated cows (CTR group) were used. Growth measurements and blood samples were collected from birth to 60 d of age. The PEG group had lower body weight from 28 up to 60 d of age (P < 0.01), lower heart girth (P < 0.05), lower weekly and total average daily gain values (P < 0.05) than the CTR group throughout the monitoring period. A decrease in milk replacer (MR) intake was observed in the PEG group compared with the CTR group around 20–28 d of age (P < 0.01). The PEG group had lower values of γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) at d 1 of age (P < 0.05), Zn at 21 and 28 d of age (P < 0.05), hemoglobin, MCH and MCHC at 54 and 60 d of age (P < 0.01), and higher urea concentration at 21 and 28 d of age (P < 0.05) compared with the CTR group. Lower values of retinol (P < 0.05), tocopherol (P < 0.01), mean myeloperoxidase index (P < 0.05) and higher total reactive oxygen metabolites (P < 0.05) and myeloperoxidase (P < 0.05) were also detected in the PEG group. In light of the results gathered in the current study, it can be speculated that activation of the cow's immune system by pegbovigrastim could have influenced the immune competence, growth performance as well as the balance between oxidant and antioxidant indices of the newborn calf.
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Citation Excerpt :
As a matter of facts, parturition signaling such as the fetal stress to stimulate the mechanisms of parturition, activates the HPA axis and sympathetic nervous system, which stimulate the release of stress hormones including glucocorticoids and catecholamines. Therefore, the high concentration of cortisol around calving is expected in cows and it can be attributed to fetal cortisol secretion, parturition induced stress activation of the HPA axis as well as stress associated with the initiation of lactation [28]. Noteworthy, a strong positive correlation was found between the cortisol values measured in cows at calving day and those obtained in calves after birth but before colostrum intake.
Stress, inflammatory response, and their relationship were investigated in Simmental cows during the transition period (N = 8; 5 multiparous and 3 primiparous) and in their calves (N = 8; 5 heifers and 3 bulls). From cows, blood was collected at days −21 (±4), 0, +1, +7, and +21 days relative to calving. From calves, blood was collected after birth before colostrum intake (0) and then at 1, 7, and 15 days of age. Cortisol, Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and haptoglobin concentration was assessed by ELISA technique; white blood cells (WBC) were assessed using an ADVIA 2120 Hematology System machine. One-way ANOVA showed an effect of time for all the investigated parameters (P < 0.001) except for lymphocytes in peripartal cows. At calving and 1 d after, cortisol concentration was negatively correlated with levels of IL-6, WBC, and monocytes, whereas levels of IL-6 were positively correlated with WBC, neutrophils, and monocytes count. Cortisol, IL-6, haptoglobin, WBC and all leukocyte populations were affected by the age of neonatal calves (P < 0.001) except for neutrophils. A negative correlation between cortisol and IL-6, neutrophils, monocytes and haptoglobin was found at 15 days of age. A positive correlation between IL-6 and haptoglobin at day 15 of age, and with neutrophils and monocytes at days 7 and 15 of age was found. A positive correlation was obtained between cortisol levels measured in cows around calving and those obtained in calves after birth before colostrum intake (r = 0.83), and between IL-6 concentrations obtained from cows at calving and 1 d after and those obtained in calves at day 1 of age, after the colostrum intake (r = 0.93 and 0.79, respectively). The study suggests that immune function of peripartal cows is in an active state and that, in addition to other well-known factors driving the changes of parameters herein investigated, cortisol could have a role in the immune-modulatory adjustment during peripartum in cows. Furthermore, it can be hypothesized that cortisol is transferred from the cow to newborn calf through the placenta only and not through colostrum, whereas IL-6 levels in calves during the 24 h after birth seem to be influenced by IL-6 values measured in cows around calving due to its transfer through colostrum.
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Veterinary medicineSupplementation of antioxidant micronutrients reduces stress and improves immune function/response in periparturient dairy cows and their calves

Highlights

Abstract

Background

Aim

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Graphical abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Ethical permission

Location and climatic conditions of the study area

Colostrum/milk total immunoglobulins in cows

Discussion

Conclusions

CRediT authorship contribution statement

Declaration of Competing Interest

Acknowledgements

Res. Vet. Sci.

J. Dairy Sci.

Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol.

Theriogenology

J. Trace Elem. Med. Biol.

Clin. Chim. Acta

J. Therm. Biol.

J. Dairy Sci.

J. Dairy Sci.

J. Dairy Sci.

Anim. Nutr.

Livest. Prod. Sci.

Anim. Feed Sci. Technol.

J. Sens

Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol.

Animal

Theriogenology

Influence of body condition on serum metabolic indicators of lipid mobilization and oxidative stress in dairy cows during the transition period

Reprod. Domest. Anim.

Importance of monitoring the peripartal period to increase reproductive performance in dairy cattle

Vet. Stanica

Neuro-hormonal regulation of stress response and its impact on immunity of domestic animals

Vet. Stanica

The involvement of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis in stress physiology and its significance in the assessment of animal welfare in cattle

Onderstepoort J. Vet. Res.

Interaction between stress hormones and phagocytic cells and its effect on the health status of dairy cows: a review

Vet. World

Association between acute phase response, oxidative status and mastitis in cows

Vet. Stanica

Effects of copper and zinc supplementation on weight gain and hematological parameters in pre-weaning calves

Biol. Trace Elem. Res.

Calf health from birth to weaning. I. General aspects of disease prevention

Ir. Vet. J.

Composition and properties of bovine colostrum: a review

Dairy Sci. Technol.

Effect of micronutrient supplementation around calving on the plasma cortisol levels of Murrah buffaloes and Sahiwal and Karan Fries cows

Trop. Anim. Health Prod.

Effect of prepartum vitamin E and selenium on antibody transfer in colostrum and cattle calves

Pak. J. Zool.

Strategic supplementation of antioxidant micronutrients in peri-parturient Murrah buffaloes helps augment the udder health and milk production

Biol. Trace Elem. Res.

Effect of in vitro copper and zinc supplementation on neutrophil phagocytic activity and lymphocyte proliferation response of transition dairy cows

Agric. Res

Veterinary medicine
Supplementation of antioxidant micronutrients reduces stress and improves immune function/response in periparturient dairy cows and their calves