Omnigen-AF® supplementation for dairy cows during transition period and early lactation: metabolic and immune impacts

• Grant number: 15/05536-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): August 01, 2015
• Effective date (End): July 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Production
• Principal Investigator: Reinaldo Fernandes Cooke
• Grantee: Alice Poggi Brandão
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The objective of this study is to evaluate if Omnigen-AF® supplementation can improve immune function and energy status of transiiton and early lactation dairy cows. Forty multiparous crossbred Holstein/Gir pregnant non-lactating cows will be classified according to body weight (BW) and body condiiton score (BCS)30 days previous to the expected calving date and assingned to one of two treatments: 1)diet formulated to meet maintenance and lactation requirements with Omnigen-AF® supplementation (56g/animal/day); or 2) diet formulated to meet maintenance and lactation requirements with caolin (ruminal inert product) supplementation (56g/animal/day). Animals will be kept in drylot pens with natural shade and ad libitum water and corn silage. Concentrate and supplementation (Omnigen-AF® or caolin) will be fed individually in headlock system during all the experimental period. BW will be recorded weekly and BCS every fifteen days. Blood samples will be collected every 5 days from d-30 to d-5 (relative to expected calving date) and from d22 to d46 (relative to actual calving date) and daily from d0 (calving date) to d21 for plasma concentrations of haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin, L-selectin, TNF-±, IL-6, cortisol, NEFA, BHBA, IGF-1, glucose and insulin. Milk production will be recorded daily for each animal and a milk sample will be collected for SCC and composition. Every fifteen days a individual milk sample will be collected for microbiologic culture. Metricheck® will be performed on d7, d30 and d46 and uterine cytology will be performed on d30 and d46 for uterine health evaluation. On d56±10 of experiment cows will be challenged with E. coli lipopolysaccharide for immune and inflamatory response evaluation. Data will be analyzed using SAS MIXED procedure. Haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin, L-selectin, TNF-±, IL-6, cortisol, NEFA, BHBA, IGF-1, glucose and insulin data wil be analyzed as repeated measures. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

BRANDAO, A. P.; COOKE, R. F.; CORRA, F. N.; PICCOLO, M. B.; GENNARI, R.; LEIVA, T.; VASCONCELOS, J. L. M.. Physiologic, health, and production responses of dairy cows supplemented with an immunomodulatory feed ingredient during the transition period. JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE, v. 99, n. 7, p. 5562-5572, JUL 2016. (15/05536-1, 14/14512-6)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

BRANDÃO, Alice Poggi. Physiologic, health, and production responses of dairy cows supplemented with an immunomodulatory feed ingredient during the transition period. 2016. Master's Dissertation - Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia. Botucatu Botucatu.