Effects of an immunomodulatory feed additive on body weight, production parameters, blood metabolites, and health in multiparous transition Holstein cows

Abstract

The study investigated the impact of feeding OmniGen-AF â (OG; Phibro Animal Health, Quincy, IL) from dry-off to week 4 of lactation at two doses on production performance and metabolic adaptation of multiparous Holstein cows. Forty-eight cows were blocked and assigned randomly to three treatments: OG was fed at 0 g/ head/day (CON), 60 g/head/day (OG60), or 90 g/head/day (OG90). No difference was observed in dry matter intake (DMI) throughout the experiment, whereas feeding OG tended to decrease the percentage body weight change (PWC) on week 2.Although colostrum yield was not affected by treatment, colostrum IgG production of OG90 tended to be higher than that of CON. OG supplementation did not affect overall milking performance but decreased milk SCC during the first 4 weeks of lactation. In prepartum, OG supplementation decreased the concentrations of serum albumin and calcium, and increased serum globulin. OG supplementation tended to increase serum total protein, globulin, and calcium contents postpartum. Furthermore, reduced incidence of mastitis and udder edema were observed. In conclusion, supplementing cows with OG from dry-off period reduces or modulates the inflammation responses associated with parturition, potentially resulting in improved postpartum health, while feeding OG more than 60 g/head/day did not warrant further benefits. K E Y W O R D S immunity, inflammation, OmniGen-AF, transition cow 1 | INTRODUCTION The transition period, 3 weeks before to 3 weeks after parturition, represents a window of the highest risk of metabolic disorders (fatty liver and ketosis) and infections (mastitis and metritis) throughout the entire lactation cycle (Drackley, 1999). Energy deficiency in early lactation, particularly in high-producing herd, is the biggest metabolic challenge (Ospina, Nydam, Stokol, & Overton, 2010) that drives lipolysis, which, if uncontrolled, leads to ketosis, fatty liver disease and increase the risk of other metabolic disorders and infections. Meanwhile incompetent immune function during transition period imposes further threats to the health and wellbeing of dairy herds. Dietary factors that function to modulate immunocompetence and metabolic adaptation during transition period have been of great interest in both academia and dairy industry in the last decade.Owing to rumen bacterial, synthesis vitamin B was not conventionally considered to be deficient in ruminants. However, dietary supplementation of vitamin B enhanced milk yield by 0.86 kg/day, milk fat yield by 0.07 kg/day, and milk protein yield by 0.06 kg/day, as

Effect of an Immunomodulatory Feed Additive in Mitigating the Stress Responses in Lactating Dairy Cows to a High Concentrate Diet Challenge

“…However, this reduction was more evident in OMN fed cows during the second half of the challenge, becoming significantly greater than in CON cows at d 21 and 28 ( Figure 5 c). This suggests a better energy balance of OMN fed cows, as previously suggested by Wu et al [ 15 , 78 ] and could be explained by the energetic cost of inflammation. Inflammation changes the prioritization of nutrients, affecting energy balance and performance [ 22 ].…”

Periparturient stocking density affects lying and ruminating behavior and one-week-calf performance of Holstein cows

“…We did not observe greater clinical signs in the cows included in this analysis, which may have contributed to the observed metabolic changes. The serum concentrations recorded in this study were lower compared to a previous study conducted in the same facility [25] as well as experiments with similar low protein diets prepartum [26,27]. Under non-inflammatory conditions Ca is under hormonal control [24].…”

The effects of NutraGen supplement on cattle growth performance, energetic efficiency, carcass characteristics, and characteristics of digestion in calf-fed Holstein steers

“…Previous research reported that most respiratory diseases in the feedlot occurred within the first 30 days after arrival (27). Therefore, the greater growth performance observed in calves supplemented with NTG during the first weeks of the experiment may be associated with a greater immune response to challenges being faced during the receiving period, as has been suggested in previous studies (1)(2)(3)(4)6). However, in agreement with the current study, Colombo et al (6) did not observe an overall effect on growth performance when crossbred yearling cattle were fed a similar immunomodulatory supplement in the feedlot.…”

“…NutraGen (NTG; Phibro Animal Health, Teaneck, NJ, USA) contains similar properties to OmniGen (OMG; Phibro Animal Health, Teaneck, NJ, USA), which is used in the dairy industry (2). Previous research has reported that the use of this blend in dairy cows' diets includes improved metabolic response to a glucose tolerance test (2), modulation of inflammatory responses (3), increased milk production (4), and enhanced immunomodulatory response to heat stress (5,6). The latter may be particularly relevant for enhancing growth performance responses in feedlot cattle during extreme ambient temperatures.…”