Interaction of cattle health/immunity and nutrition.

Abstract

The usual means of assessing the health of newly received beef cattle susceptible to bovine respiratory disease (BRD) are subjective, typically involving visual evaluation aided by minimal clinical measurements. Recent evidence based on the occurrence of pneumonic lung lesions at slaughter indicates a need for more accurate methods of diagnosing BRD. Inadequate passive immune transfer at birth may be an important risk factor in susceptibility to BRD, suggesting the need for management to improve passive transfer success rates. Preweaning management and vaccination practices offer opportunities for beef cattle producers to improve the immune status of newly weaned calves and decrease postweaning BRD. Feeding diets with higher levels of concentrate typically improves performance by newly weaned or received cattle, as does feeding diets supplemented with protein; however, limited data suggest that increasing concentrate and protein in receiving diets increases the rate and severity of subjectively determined BRD morbidity. Research with receiving diet concentrate/protein level relative to humoral and cell-mediated immune function coupled with indicators of health and performance is needed. Supplemental B vitamins are sometimes useful in receiving diets, but the effects have been variable, presumably reflecting differences in stress and associated feed intake responses. Vitamin E added to receiving diets to supply > or = 400 IU/animal daily seems beneficial for increasing gain and decreasing BRD morbidity; however, further dose titration experiments are needed. Supplemental Zn, Cu, Se, and Cr can alter immune function of newly received calves, and some field trials have shown decreases in BRD morbidity rate with supplementation; however, several experiments have shown no performance or health/immune benefits from supplementation of these trace minerals. Formulation of receiving diets should take into account decreased feed intake by highly stressed, newly received beef cattle and known nutrient deficiencies, but fortification of such diets with trace minerals beyond the levels needed to compensate for these effects is difficult to justify from present data.

Differences in the occurrence of selenium, copper and zinc deficiencies in dairy cows, calves, heifers and bulls

“…This may not only have a major effect on the health of heifers but also it may be negatively manifested in calves born to such severely Se deficient primiparous dams. Because Se deficiency may cause serious health problems including nutritional muscle dystrophy, reduced resistance to cold in the young, an increase in the counts of somatic cells in milk and higher incidence of mastitis, placenta retention, and reproduction cycle disorders (Smith, 1996;Smith et al, 1997;Galyean et al, 1999;Underwood and Suttle, 1999;Pavlata et al, 2001c), selenium deficiency in heifers must be interpreted as a very negative factor. And because many health disorders can be linked to the negative influence of deficiency of selenium (and also of other microelements) on the immune system, deficiencies may be expected to lead to higher prevalence of infectious diseases, particularly among calves.…”

The effect of humic acid on zinc accumulation in chicken broiler tissues

“…Antagonistic relations between zinc and copper lie in their competition during intestinal absorption (Van Campen and Scaife, 1967;Southern and Baker, 1983). As reported by Galyean et al (1999), Zn, Cu, Se and Cr supplements can play a positive role in the immune response of poultry.…”

Vitamin E supplementation of newly arrived feedlot calves1,2

“…Vitamin E is a potent lipid-soluble antioxidant that functions in the prevention of chronic diseases associated with oxidative stress (Cipriano et al, 1982;Eicher-Pruiett et al, 1992;Galyean et al, 1999). Vitamin E was shown to have positive effects on the immune system of young dairy calves (Cipriano et al, 1982;Eicher-Pruiett et al, 1992) and to decrease morbidity and increase performance in receiving cattle (Gill et al, 1986;Hays et al, 1987;Galyean et al, 1999). Although many studies have attempted to determine the optimal level of vitamin E required in the diet of ruminants, a definitive value remains unclear.…”