Download Immune Support for Respiratory Disease Prevention I. Immune

Immune Support for Respiratory Disease Prevention
Managing a dairy herd for maximum immune system function consists of two related elements,
colostrum feeding and vaccination. The goal of both these management practices is to boost the
immune system’s ability to fight disease. The immune system is able to recognize and destroy
pathogens through the activity of proteins, called antibodies. Antibodies attach to invading pathogens
and alert white blood cells to engulf and digest the invaders. Acquired immunity occurs when the
immune system uses the “memory” of a past infection to generate antibodies precisely shaped to bind
pathogens and initiate a strong and rapid immune response.
I.
Immune Support with Colostrum
When an animal, such as a calf, is born it has little or no acquired immunity. Feeding colostrum from a
vaccinated dam is the best way to protect a calf from infection, because the dam's acquired immunity is
transferred to the calf in colostral antibodies1-3. High levels of maternal antibodies in a calf's blood
stream protect the calf against disease, including bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC)4,5.
Vaccines approved for use in pregnant heifers administered three to six weeks before calving have been
shown to boost antibodies in colostrum 6, and may increase the protective properties of colostrum for
calf health. It is critical that calves receive enough colostral antibodies, specifically immunoglobin G
(IgG), to protect them from pathogens.
When calves are first born antibodies from colostrum are easily absorbed into the blood stream from
the gut, but within hours the efficiency of antibody transfer decreases7. To ensure adequate IgG
absorption, it is important to feed colostrum within the first few hours of life. Four to six quarts of good
quality colostrum, with high IgG content, should be feed within the first 12 hours of life. Calves receive
the most benefit when they are fed at least 100g of IgG during their first feeding. Two quarts of good
quality colostrum (greater than 50g IgG/L) fulfills this requirement for the first feeding4. However,
colostrum varies widely in IgG content. Producers that do not measure colostrum quality, are suggested
to feed 90 lb calves at birth four quarts of colostrum by esophageal feeder or three quarts by nipple,
followed 8-12 hours later by two and three quarts respectively6,8.
Bacterial contamination is another element of colostrum quality. Although colostrum is vital to calf
health, colostrum can transmit bacterial and viral pathogens 9,10. It is important that colostrum be
collected from healthy mastitis-free dams4. Colostrum should also be handled and stored properly to
prevent bacterial overgrowth. Bacterial contamination of colostrum inhibits absorption of antibodies
into the blood stream and reduces the immune protection provided by colostrum11. Proper sanitation
of teat, milking equipment, and feed equipment is essential to prevent contamination, but since
colostrum is not sterile colostrum must be used quickly. Bacterial growth in colostrum is rapid12.
Colostrum that will not be fed immediately should be refrigerated or frozen. Colostrum can be
refrigerated (33-35⁰F) for up to seven days and frozen (-4⁰F) for up to a year. When thawing frozen
colostrum do not allow it to sit at room temperature, instead rapidly thaw frozen colostrum in 140⁰F
water to prevent bacterial growth. Be careful to avoid overheating the colostrum, because
temperatures higher than 140⁰F will damage antibodies13.
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Pasteurization is a potential way to decrease bacterial contamination in colostrum, but pasteurization is
not a commonly recommended practice for several reasons. Antibodies are heat sensitive and improper
pasteurization temperatures reduce the immune protection provided by colostrum. Additionally
pasteurization can thicken colostrum, making feeding more difficult. However, batch pasteurizers set to
lower temperatures (140⁰F ) and longer pasteurization times (60min) have been used successfully to
pasteurize colostrum without thickening and loss of antibody function14,15. A recent study found that
batch heat treatment of colostrum at 140°F for 60 minutes can be successfully conducted on
commercial dairy farms by farm staff to decrease colostrum microbial counts while maintaining colostral
IgG concentrations16.
Commercial colostrum supplements are an alternative if high quality colostrum is not available. A
recent review of colostrum supplements concludes that colostrum supplements can be an effective way
to boost immune function in calves17. However, high quality true colostrum remains the preferred initial
nutrition for newborn calves.
II. Immune Support through Vaccination
Vaccines induce acquired immunity by tricking the immune system into generating antibodies against
real pathogens. Vaccines contain elements recognized by antibodies that are identical to the pathogen,
but do not cause disease. When a vaccinated animal encounters the actual pathogen, the acquired
immune response system rapidly acts to prevent infection.
Most veterinarians recommend vaccination to protect cattle against viruses and occasionally the
bacteria involved in BRD. Commercially available vaccines have been demonstrated to stimulate
disease-fighting immune responses, leading to the expectation that appropriately administered vaccines
limit the incidence and severity of BRD. However, because BRD is a difficult disease to study, in part due
to the involvement of numerous pathogens and environmental stressors, vaccination to reduce the
incidence of BRDC is not well-supported by scientific research18,19. Since vaccination has not proven to
be entirely preventative against BRD, vaccination should be considered one element in a total
management strategy to reduce BRD. Selection of vaccine type and timing of administration are
important to the success of a vaccination protocol. There is no single recommended vaccination
protocol for dairy herds. Vaccination protocols should be made with the advice of your veterinarian,
who will consider the needs of your herd and regional disease pressures in determining which vaccines
to administer and the timing.
Vaccines can be purchased from your veterinarian or over the counter. When over the counter vaccines
are used it is very important to trust that the vaccine has been handled and stored correctly. Some
vaccines need to be refrigerated, and if they have been allowed to warm they lose their effectiveness.
Always read and understand the enclosed information which provides information on dosage, mode of
administration, storage, and safety.
There are nasal and parenteral (injection) vaccines for BRD pathogens. Young calves may not produce
specific antibodies after parenteral vaccination in the presence of maternal antibodies (passive
immunity from colostrum)19. Maternal antibodies from colostrum may interfere with vaccines and
inhibit the calf's immune response20 (Figure 1). To overcome this problem, research has recently
focused on the use of intranasal vaccination to target the mucosal immune system. Nasal vaccines may
be more suitable for young calves that have received passive immunity through colostrum.
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Although intranasal vaccination has proven effective in some studies, they do not always prevent clinical
disease21-23. Follow all label directions, as some vaccinations must be repeated, while others are
single injections.It is particularly important to remember to give booster vaccinations to calves, given
their immature immune system and the possibly suppressive effects of maternal antibodies.
Window of susceptibility
to infection
Active immunity
from calf’s
immune system
Passive immunity
from colostrum
Figure 1. Development of the immune response in the calf: from conception to puberty24.
Most vaccines are one of two varieties: killed or modified-live. Vaccines that contain killed viruses are
often in liquid form. Vaccines that contain modified-live viruses often come in a powder that is
reconstituted before use. Once reconstituted, modified-live vaccines must be protected from sunlight
and extreme temperatures and used within a few hours. Modified-live vaccines usually stimulate a
broader immune response than killed vaccines. However, because modified-live vaccines actually cause
a mild infection, they can cause abortion in pregnant animals. For this reason modified-live vaccines are
not normally recommended for use in pregnant animals. Some modified-live vaccines can be used in
pregnant animals if certain conditions are met; if so, these conditions will be indicated on the label
included with the vaccine. Because of the risks of using modified-live vaccines in pregnant animals, use
these vaccines in pregnant animals only if your veterinarian agrees they are appropriate for your herd.
Further reading and internet resources:
 Health and Immune Function of Dairy Calves. http://www.wcds.ca/proc/2012/Manuscripts/Leslie.pdf
 Calf notes by Dr. Jim Quigley: English http://www.calfnotes.com
Spanish/Español http://www.calfnotes.com/CNnotasterneros.htm
 Calf facts by Dr. Sam Leadley: English and Spanish/Español http://atticacows.com
 University of Wisconsin Dairy Calf Clinical Information and Forms including respiratory scoring chart
http://www.vetmed.wisc.edu/dms/fapm/fapmtools/calves.htm
 Dairy Heifer Health, Disease Control, and Vaccinations
http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/404/404-284/404-284.htm
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The “Integrated Program for Reducing Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex (BRDC) in Beef and Dairy Cattle” Coordinated
Agricultural Project is supported by Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant no. 2011-68004-30367
from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture”
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