Supplementation of β-mannanese (CTCZYME) tends to improve immune traits in early lactating dairy cows

• Published in: Journal of animal science 2016-10, Vol.94, p.677-677
• Main Authors: Azevedo, M L C B, Tewoldebrhan, T, Appuhamy, R, Reyes, G C, Bolek, K J, Seo, S, Lee, J J, Kebreab, E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute phase proteins; Animal lactation; Blood; Blood levels; Carbohydrates; Cattle; CD4 antigen; CD8 antigen; Conversion; Dairy cattle; Diet; Enzymes; Eosinophils; Feed additives; Feed conversion; Flow cytometry; Haptoglobin; Immune response; Immune status; Immunity; Immunoglobulin G; Leukocytes (basophilic); Leukocytes (eosinophilic); Leukocytes (neutrophilic); Lymphocytes; Mannan; Mathematical models; Milk; Milk production; Monocytes; Nutrient status; Parity; Poultry production; Proteins
• ISSN: 0021-8812; 1525-3163
• DOI: 10.2527/jam2016-1398

Early lactating dairy cows typically face metabolic and immune challenges. Therefore, improving health status, besides feed conversion efficiency, can affect their productivity and welfare positively. ...-mannanase is a fibrolytic enzyme that breaks down the non-structural carbohydrate mannan. It is currently used in pig and poultry production to increase nutrient digestion and may also improve their immune status. However, information about the effects of ...-mannanase on ruminants is scarce. In a previous experiment, ...-mannanese supplementation improved feed conversion efficiency and reduced somatic cell count of mid-lactating dairy cows. The objective of this study was to examine immune responses to ...-mannanese supplementation in early-lactating cows. Fourteen early-lactating Holstein cows, paired by parity and milk production, were allocated to 2 treatments; control (50:50 forage:concentrate) and ...-mannanese supplemented (0.1% of concentrate DM) diet. Acute phase protein, haptoglobin, and Immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels in blood were measured weekly from 14 to 50 d in milk. The CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes percentages in blood drawn at one time point were also evaluated by flow cytometry. Absolute numbers of CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes, total white blood count and the differential count of the 5 major white blood counts (neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils) were measured. Significance of ...-mannanese supplementation on the blood immune traits were analyzed using linear mixed effects model including fixed effects of treatment, parity and days in milk, and random effect of cow. Blood haptoglobin concentration tended to decrease (P = 0.088) in cows fed ...-mannanese supplemented diet (0.373 ± 0.042 mg/ml) compared to those receiving control diet (0.498 ± 0.048 mg/ml). Higher concentrations of plasma haptoglobin may indicate a response to inflammation. Blood IgG concentrations and CD4:CD8 ratio were numerically higher in cows fed ...-mannanese, but not significantly different (P = 0.376 and P = 0.181, respectively). Results for total white blood count and the five major white blood counts were also not significantly different. Dietary supplementation of ...-mannanase has a potential to improve immunity of early-lactating cows.