Plane of nutrition during the preweaning period but not the grower phase influences the neutrophil activity of Holstein calves

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to determine the influence of plane of nutrition during (1) the pre- and immediate postweaning periods and (2) the grower phase on the performance and leukocyte responses of Holstein calves. In experiment 1, 39 (2 ± 1 d old) colostrum-fed heifer calves were randomly assigned to 2 planes of nutrition, a low (LPN; n = 19) and a high plane of nutrition (HPN; n = 20). Calves in the LPN treatment were offered 418 g/d of dry matter (DM) of a 20% crude protein (CP)/20% fat milk replacer, whereas calves in the HPN treatment were offered 747 and 1,010 g/d of DM of a 28% CP/20% fat milk replacer during wk 1 and wk 2 to 6, respectively. Calves were offered ad libitum access to a calf starter until the end of the study. Peripheral blood samples were collected on d 3, 10, 21, 45, 47, 53, and 91 for many ex vivo leukocyte responses and biochemical analyses. A nutrition × time interaction was present for average daily gain and feed efficiency (feed:gain ratio). A nutrition × time interaction existed for plasma glucose concentration. Neutrophil L-selectin expression was greater in calves fed the LPN than HPN on d 3 and 21. The percentage of neutrophils producing an oxidative burst (OB) when cocultured with Escherichia coli tended to be greater and was greater in calves fed the LPN than HPN on d 10 and 21, respectively. In addition, neutrophils from calves fed the LPN had greater OB intensity throughout the neonatal period (0 to 21 d). However, plasma haptoglobin was not different between the 2 planes of nutrition throughout the study. In experiment 2, 50 heifer calves that were all previously fed a HPN similar to that described for experiment 1 were randomly assigned to 2 planes of nutrition (HPN and LPN) during the grower phase (5 pens/treatment; 5 calves/pen). Calves fed the HPN during the grower phase were fed 4.1 kg of concentrate DM (pellets; 22.4% CP, DM basis) per head per day, whereas calves on the LPN during the grower phase were fed 1.6 kg of DM of the same concentrate per head per day. All calves were fed alfalfa hay (16.2% CP; DM basis) ad libitum. Overall, average daily gain was greater in HPN calves than LPN calves. No differences were noticed for concentrations of plasma urea nitrogen, glucose, neutrophil L-selectin expression, percentage of neutrophils producing OB, and plasma haptoglobin concentration between the 2 planes of nutrition. In summary, intake and performance were improved in calves fed the HPN than calves fed the LPN in both experiments. The neutrophil responses of calves fed an LPN were more active during the preweaning period than calves fed an HPN; however, this response was not observed during the immediate postweaning period or the grower phase.

Characterisation of haematological profiles and whole blood relative gene expression levels in Holstein-Friesian and Jersey bull calves undergoing gradual weaning

“…However, recently, variations in haptoglobin concentrations following weaning have been considered to be inconsistent and unreliable indicators of a stress response (O'Loughlin et al, 2014). Similar to that observed by Obeidat et al (2013), we observed a differential acute phase protein response between the two breeds employed and plane of nutrition had no effect on the acute phase response. This is in contrast to the findings of Ballou (2012) where calves fed a higher plane of MR nutrition had greater plasma haptoglobin concentrations following a lipopolysaccharide challenge than calves fed a lower plane of MR nutrition containing reduced DM and CP.…”

Plane of nutrition influences the performance, innate leukocyte responses, and resistance to an oral Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium challenge in Jersey calves

“…Ballou (2012) reported that neutrophil oxidative burst or whole-blood bactericidal capacity was not influenced by plane of MR nutrition during the preweaning period among either Jersey or Holstein calves. In contrast, Obeidat et al (2013) observed that Holstein calves fed a restricted quantity of MR had elevated neutrophil oxidative burst and surface expression of the adhesion molecule L-selectin compared with calves fed a greater amount of MR during the preweaning period (d 0-53). Those authors speculated that the greater neutrophil activity among the calves fed the reduced quantity of MR was a result of either less stress or increased microbial exposure due to more nonnutritive oral behaviors.…”

“…The data on fecal scores are equivocal; some studies showing that calves fed a greater quantity of milk had more loose feces (Nonnecke et al, 2003;Bartlett et al, 2006), whereas others report no differences in fecal scores (Ballou, 2012;Obeidat et al, 2013). Recently, Ollivett et al (2012) observed that feeding greater quantities of MR to calves reduced duration of scours and improved hydration and ADG following a Cryptosporidium parvum challenge at 3 d of age.…”

“…Others examined how plane of nutrition influences adaptive leukocyte responses; however, no clear consensus is evident (Pollock et al, 1994;Nonnecke et al, 2003;Foote et al, 2007). Our laboratory has focused on understanding how plane of nutrition affects innate leukocyte responses (Ballou, 2012;Obeidat et al, 2013). Ballou (2012) reported that neutrophil oxidative burst or whole-blood bactericidal capacity was not influenced by plane of MR nutrition during the preweaning period among either Jersey or Holstein calves.…”

Effects of lipopolysaccharide on the growth performance, nitrogenmetabolism and immunity in preruminant calves

“…Healthy growth is crucial for young dairy calves because it determines the future profitability and sustainability of a dairy enterprise (Soberon et al, 2012;Obeidat et al, 2013). Activation of immune system has been related to the decrease of growth performance (Steiger et al, 1999;Sartin et al, 2011) and to disturb metabolism (Kimball et al, 2003) in animals.…”