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The influence of alternative housing on dairy calf innate immune measures after weaning
Author(s) -
Hulbert Lindsey Eve,
Calvo Michelle S.,
Klasing Kirk C.,
Mitloehner Frank M.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.655.8
Subject(s) - weaning , innate immune system , zoology , immune system , biology , respiratory burst , immunology , medicine
Although bovine are considered a gregarious species, dairy calves are typically housed individually to reduce disease transmission, particularly when they experience stressors, such as weaning. Objective was to determine innate immune responses during weaning of individually (I; n = 18) vs. group (G; n = 51; pens of 3) housed calves. Weaning was initialized on d 53, (pm milk replacer bottle was removed) and was finalized on d 64 of age (am bottle was removed). Peripheral whole blood (WB) was sampled before the am feeding on 53, 57, 64, 67, and 71 d of age. In all calves, cortisol increased (P < 0.01) after weaning. I‐calf whole blood killing (WBK) of E. coli percent increased (P < 0.01) at 64 d, but G‐calf WBK percent did not change after weaning began. Although G‐calves had greater (P < 0.05) percent peripheral monocytes, they had less TNF‐á secretion from LPS‐simulated WB than I‐calves (P < 0.05) at age 53 d. The G calves’ peripheral neutrophils increased (P < 0.05) at age 57 and 67 d, while I‐calf neutrophils did not change after weaning began. G‐calf peripheral neutrophil phagocytosis and oxidative burst responses to a heat‐killed E. coli were suppressed compared to I‐calf neutrophil function (P < 0.05). Weaning was stressful for all calves; however, the G‐calf cellular innate immune function was dampened, suggesting that rearing calves in groups of 3 after 4 d of age may not be beneficial to their health.