Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-9pm4c Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T19:54:26.325Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Continuous milking of dairy cows disrupts timing of peak IgG concentration appearance in mammary secretions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 June 2014

Craig R Baumrucker ,
Rahel S Zbinden ,
H Anette van Dorland ,
Gerrit J Remmelink ,
Bas Kemp ,
Ariette T M van Knegsel  and
Rupert M Bruckmaier
Craig R Baumrucker
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
Rahel S Zbinden
Affiliation:
Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
H Anette van Dorland
Affiliation:
University of Applied Sciences, Zollikofen, Switzerland
Gerrit J Remmelink
Affiliation:
Livestock Research, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Lelystad, The Netherlands
Bas Kemp
Affiliation:
Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
Ariette T M van Knegsel
Affiliation:
Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
Rupert M Bruckmaier*
Affiliation:
Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
*
*For correspondence; e-mail: rupert.bruckmaier@vetsuisse.unibe.ch
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The length of the dry period in commercial dairy production is under close scrutiny. While the main concern is the composition and volume of milk produced, the evaluation of colostrum quality under these new paradigms has suggested a decline in IgG concentrations, while some reports indicate no change. Colostrum quality has been defined as an adequate concentration (>50 mg/ml) of immunoglobulin in the secretions to provide the newborn with maximal disease resistance. We investigated the appearance of IgG in mammary pre- and post partum secretions in cows without a dry period (continuously milked, Dry0) and compared the secretions with cows that experienced a dry period of 60 d (Dry60). Blood was collected during the experimental period and plasma analysed for progesterone (P4) and prolactin (Prl). Approximately −6 d relative to parturition, the Dry0 animals exhibited increased concentration of IgG in their secretions to an average of ∼35 mg/ml that remained rather constant through subsequent pregnancy and following parturition. Dry0 cows were producing an average IgG concentration in parturition colostrum of 44·2±17·6 mg/ml that was not different than that of controls (66·86±16·8 mg/ml). However, Dry0 cows exhibited high variation, different peak times (day) of IgG concentration including times that occurred both pre and post parturition. IgG mass of the Dry0 cows remained rather constant pre- and post partum and did not show the same declining mass following parturition that was shown for the Dry60 cows. The change in plasma P4 and Prl were shown to have no timing effect on colostrum IgG concentration.

Keywords

Continuous milkingcolostrumIgGprogesteroneprolactin
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Dairy Research , Volume 81 , Issue 4 , November 2014 , pp. 403 - 409
Copyright
Copyright © Proprietors of Journal of Dairy Research 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Annen, EL, Collier, RJ, McGuire, MA, Vicini, JL, Ballam, JM & Lormore, MJ 2004 Effect of modified dry period lengths and bovine somatotropin on yield and composition of milk from dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 87 3746–3761 Google Scholar
Annen, EL, Fitzgerald, AC, Gentry, PC, McGuire, MA, Capuco, AV, Baumgard, LH & Collier, RH 2007 Effect of continuous milking and bovine somatotropin supplementation on mammary epithelial cell turnover. Journal of Dairy Science 90 165–183 Google Scholar
Barrington, GM, Besser, TE, Gay, CC, Davis, WC, Reeves, JJ, McFadden, TB & Akers, RM 1999 Regulation of the immunoglobulin G1 receptor: effect of prolactin on in vivo expression of the bovine mammary immunoglobulin G1 receptor. Journal of Endocrinology 163 25–31 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Barrington, GM, McEwen, BS, Huyler, M & Besser, TE 2000 Regulation of colostrogenesis in cattle. Livestock Production Science 70 95–104 Google Scholar
Baumrucker, CR & Bruckmaier, RM 2014 Colostrogenesis: IgG1 transcytosis mechanisms. Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia 19 103–117 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Baumrucker, CR, Burkett, AM, Magliaro-Macrina, AL & Dechow, CD 2010 Colostrogenesis: mass transfer of immunoglobulin G1 into colostrum. Journal of Dairy Science 93 3031–3038 Google Scholar
Baumrucker, CR, Stark, A, Wellnitz, O, Dechow, CD & Bruckmaier, RM 2014 Short communication: immunoglobulin variation in quarter-milked colostrum. Journal of Dairy Science 97 3700–3706 Google Scholar
Bruckmaier, RM, Schams, D & Blum, JW 1992 Aetiology of disturbed milk ejection in parturient primiparous cows. Journal of Dairy Research 59 479–489 Google Scholar
Capuco, AV, Akers, RM & Smith, JJ 1997 Mammary growth in Holstein cows during the dry period: quantification of nucleic acids and histology. Journal of Dairy Science 80 137–144 Google Scholar
Collier, RJ, Annen-Dawson, EL & Pezeshki, A 2012 Effects of continuous lactation and short dry periods on mammary function and animal health. Animal 6 403–414. doi: 10.1017/S1751731111002461. RevieCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Donovan, GA, Dohoo, IR, Montgomery, DM & Bennett, FL 1998 Associations between passive immunity and morbidity and mortality in dairy heifers in Florida, USA. Preventative Veterinary Medicine 34 31–46 Google Scholar
Fitzgerald, AC, Annen-Dawson, EL, Baumgard, LH & Collier, RJ 2007 Evaluation of continuous lactation and increased milking frequency on milk production and mammary cell turnover in primiparous Holstein cows. Journal of Dairy Science 90 5483–5489 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gross, JJ, Kessler, EC, Bjerre-Harpoth, V, Dechow, C, Baumrucker, CR & Bruckmaier, RM 2014 Peripartal progesterone and prolactin have little effect on the rapid transport of immunoglobulin G into colostrum of dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science, (in press)Google Scholar
Guy, MA, McFadden, TB, Cockrell, DC & Besser, T 1994 Regulation of colostrum formation in beef and dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 77 3002–3007 Google Scholar
Kehoe, SI, Jayarao, BM & Heinrichs, AJ 2007 A survey of bovine colostrum composition and colostrum management practices on Pennsylvania dairy farms. Journal of Dairy Science 90 4108–4116 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Keller, HF, Chew, BP, Erb, RE & Malven, PV 1976 Mammary transfer of hormones and constituents into secretions when cows were milked or secretions were sampled prepartum. Journal of Dairy Science 60 546–556 Google Scholar
Klusmeyer, TH, Fitzgerald, AC, Fabellar, AC, Ballem, JM, Cady, RA & Vincini, JL 2009 Effect of recombinant bovine somatotropin and a shortened or no dry period on the performance of lactating dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 92 5503–5511 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kuhn, MT, Hutchison, JL & Norman, HD 2006 Dry period length in US Jerseys: characterization and effects on performance. Journal of Dairy Science 90 2069–2081 Google Scholar
Madsen, TG, Nielsen, MO, Andersen, JB & Ingvartsen, KL 2008 Continuous lactation in dairy cows: effect on milk production and mammary nutrient supply and extraction. Journal of Dairy Science 91 1791–1801 Google Scholar
Mansfeld, R, Sauter-Louis, C & Martin, R 2012 Effects of dry period length on milk production, health, fertility, and quality of colostrum in dairy cows. Invited review. Tierärztliche Praxis. Ausgabe G, Grosstiere/Nutztiere 40 39–50 Google Scholar
McGuire, TC, Pfeiffer, NE, Weikel, JM & Bartsch, RC 1976 Failure of colostral immunoglobulin transfer in calves dying from infectious disease. Journal of American Veterinary Medicine Association 169 713–718 Google Scholar
O`Connor, JJ & Oltenacu, PA 1988 Determination of optimum drying off time for dairy cows using decision analysis and computer simulation. Journal of Dairy Science 71 3080–3091 Google Scholar
Quigley, JD III & Drewry, JJ 1998 Nutrient and immunity transfer from cow to calf pre- and postcalving. Journal of Dairy Science 81 2779–2790 Google Scholar
SAS 2007. SAS/STAT Software. Version 9 ed. SAS Inst Inc, Cary, NCGoogle Scholar
Rastani, RR, Grummer, RR, Bertics, SJ, Gumen, A, Wiltbank, MC, Mashek, DG & Schwab, MC 2005 Reducing dry period length to simplify feeding transition cows: milk production, energy balance, and metabolic profiles. Journal of Dairy Science 88 1004–1014 Google Scholar
Schlamberger, G, Wiedenmann, S, Viturro, E, Meyer, HHD & Kaske, M 2010 Effects of continuous milking during the dry period or once daily milking in the first 4 weeks of lactation on metabolism and productivity of dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 93 2471–2485 Google Scholar
Swanson, EW 1965 Comparing continuous milking with sixty-day dry periods in successive lactations. Journal of Dairy Science 48 1205–1209 Google Scholar
Tyler, JW, Hancock, DD, Parish, SM, Rea, DE, Besser, TE, Sanders, SG & Wilson, LK 1996 Evaluation of 3 assays for failure of passive transfer in calves. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 10 304–307 Google Scholar
Tyler, JW, Steevens, BJ, Hostetler, DE, Holle, JM & Denbigh, JL Jr 1999 Colostral immunoglobulin concentrations in Holstein and Guernsey cows. American Journal of Veterinary Research 60 1136–1139 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
van Knegsel, AT, Remmelink, GJ, Jorjong, S, Fievez, FV & Kemp, B 2013 Effect of dry period length and dietary energy source on energy balance, milk yield, and milk composition of dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 97 1499–1512 Google Scholar
Watters, RD, Guenther, JN, Brickner, AE, Rastani, RR, Crump, PM, Clark, PW & Grummer, RR 2008 Effects of dry period length on milk production and health of dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 91 2595–2603 Google Scholar
Weaver, DM, Tyler, JW, VanMetre, DC, Hostetler, DE & Barrington, GM 2000 Passive transfer of colostral immunoglobulins in calves. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 14 569–577 Google Scholar
Wiggans, GR, VanRaden, PM, Bormann, J, Philpot, JC, Druet, T & Gengler, N 2002. Deriving lactation yields from test-day yields adjusted for lactation stage, age, pregnancy, and herd test-day class. Journal of Dairy Science 85 264e1–264e11 Google Scholar