A Relationship between Inflammation and Immune Health in Dairy Cows

BY NANO DISCOVERY TEAM

A paper was recently published in the Journal of Dairy Science Communications: "Assessments of the Effects of prepartum anti-inflammatory therapies on type 1/type 2 immunity ratio using a rapid blood test" (November 13, 2023), a study led by Dr. Adrian Barragan from Penn State University.

Highlights from the study:

• The objective of this study was to assess: 1) the effects of prepartum administration of anti-inflammatory therapies on type 1/type 2 immunity ratio using a rapid blood test (D2Dx immunity test), and 2) correlations between this rapid blood test scores and daily milk yield in Holstein dairy cows.
• Anti-inflammation therapies include aspirin (ASA) and meloxicam (MEL). A placebo treatment (PLC) was used as control
• Cows treated with ASA had (P = 0.005) higher type 1/type 2 ratio within 3 d after calving compared with MEL and PLC cows
• Parous cows had higher type 1/type 2 immunity ratios compared with nulliparous cows at 14 ± 3 d before calving and at 7 ± 3, 14 ± 3, and 21 ± 3 d after calving.
• There was a positive correlation between D2Dx scores at 14 ± 3 DIM and average daily milk yield in the first 60 d in milk.
• These results suggest that prepartum anti-inflammatory therapies may cause an increased shift in type 1 immunity around calving.
• Higher type 1/type 2 ratios may be associated with higher milk yields in the first 60 DIM.