Impact of postpartum milking frequency on the immune system and the blood metabolite concentration of dairy cows

Abstract

The transition from pregnancy to lactation is marked by metabolic, hormonal, and immunological changes that have an impact on the incidence of infectious and metabolic diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect on immune function and blood metabolite concentration of limiting milk production in early lactation to reduce negative energy balance. Twenty-two multiparous Holstein cows were milked either once a day (1x) or twice a day (2x) for the first week postpartum. All cows were milked twice daily for the rest of lactation. Blood concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA), calcium, bilirubin, urea, phosphorus, glucose, leptin, stanniocalcin-1, and 17beta-estradiol were determined in samples collected from 5 wk before scheduled calving to 5 wk after calving. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) were isolated from blood to conduct assays for chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and respiratory burst. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated to evaluate lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IL-4, and interferon-gamma). Cows milked 1x produced 31% less milk than cows milked 2x during the first week of lactation. Over the following 13 wk of lactation, the milk production of cows milked 1x during the first week was 8.1% lower than for cows milked 2x. However, because the percentages of fat and protein were greater in the milk from 1x cows, the yields of milk components and energy-corrected milk were similar. Calving induced an increase in the concentrations of NEFA, BHBA, urea, and bilirubin. The increases in levels of NEFA and BHBA were greater in cows milked 2x than in cows milked 1x. During the same period, the serum glucose concentration decreased but remained greater in cows milked 1x. Serum calcium on d 4 and serum phosphorus on d 4 and 5 were greater in cows milked 1x. The differences between the 2 groups persisted beyond treatment until postpartum d 24 for NEFA and glucose and until postpartum d 14 for BHBA. After calving, the concentrations of leptin and stanniocalcin-1 decreased. During the first week postpartum, the decrease of leptin was less marked in cows milked 1x. The immune functions of PBMC and PMNL isolated from experimental cows and incubated using a standard medium did not show clear-cut peripartum immunosuppression. These variables were not significantly affected by the treatments, with the exception of interferon-gamma secretion, which was greater on d 5 and 14 in cows milked 1x. In conclusion, limiting milk production in early lactation had positive effects on metabolite concentration, but larger studies are necessary to establish if this could reduce disease incidence.

Impacts of CLA and dietary concentrate proportion on blood metabolite concentration and proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells of periparturient dairy cows

“…This is in accordance with other studies (Dänicke et al, 2012;Renner et al, 2012a and2012b), also observing that the SI changed in the course of lactation. Dairy cows are known to be immune compromised around parturition (Mallard et al, 1998), reflected in an impaired lymphocyte function (Franklin et al, 1991;Goff, 2006) and also in a reduced response of PBMC to mitogen-stimulation (Nonnecke et al, 2003;Loiselle et al, 2009). Consequently, findings indicate a depressed immune function of dairy cows around parturition.…”

“…In particular, little is known about CLA effects on the function of bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) during the transition period. Dairy cows are known to have a suppressed immune system in this time (Vangroenweghe et al, 2005), reflected in a reduced response of PBMCs to mitogen-stimulation (Nonnecke et al, 2003;Loiselle et al, 2009). The underlying reasons are not entirely clear, but Lacetera et al (2004) assumed that increased blood non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations, as occurring through increased body fat mobilization around parturition, have a negative influence on the function of PBMCs and thus may be responsible for the immunosuppression of transition cows.…”

Leptin in farm animals: where are we and where can we go?

“…The extent of the depression is important and the early PP fall in leptin might play a part (Ingvartsen and Boisclair, 2001). Loiselle et al (2009) milked Holstein cows once or twice daily in week 1 PP and assessed leucocytic cytokine ouput: as expected, leptin levels fell after calving, but less so in cows milked only once daily. Higher INF-g in unmilked cows was consistent with lower immunosuppression, but the study did not prove a causal link to leptin.…”

Effects of milking frequency on feed intake, body weight and haemato-biochemical changes in crossbred cows

“…The differences between groups at three stages were not significant, however, increasing rate of glucose level was found slower in T2 than in T1. The plasma glucose concentration was lower in more frequently milked cows (Mc Namara et al 2008;Loiselle et al 2009). High milk yield probably drained plasma glucose into mammary gland for lactose production whereas DMI was not increased to the same extent as milk yield to replace drained glucose during the first three months postpartum, resulting in more severe negative energy balance in more frequently milked cows.…”

“…The transition from pregnancy to lactation is marked by metabolic, hormonal and immunological changes that have an impact on the incidence of infectious and metabolic diseases (Loiselle et al 2009). Murphy et al (2005) found that cows milked once daily were in less (P B0.05) negative energy balance than cows milked thrice daily in the early lactation, while Barnes et al (1990) did not observe significant change in mean body weight upon alteration in milking frequency.…”