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Dietary ascorbic acid and immune response in dairy calves
1Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, College of Agriculture, Auburn University 36849.
Journal of Dairy Science
|January 1, 1989
Summary
Ascorbate supplementation in dairy calves did not enhance immunity and may inhibit antibody synthesis. However, it reduced diarrhea incidence and showed a potential benefit for colostrum-deprived calves at 14 days old.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Immunology
- Animal Nutrition
- Neonatal Calf Care
Background:
- Colostrum is crucial for passive immunity transfer in neonatal calves.
- Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is an antioxidant with potential immunomodulatory effects.
- Understanding factors influencing early calf immunity is vital for herd health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of dietary ascorbic acid supplementation on plasma immunoglobulin (Ig) concentrations, antibody response to immunization, and disease resistance in dairy calves.
- To determine if ascorbate supplementation influences immune parameters differently based on colostrum feeding status.
- To assess the impact of ascorbate on clinical signs of disease, specifically diarrhea.
Main Methods:
- Dairy calves were divided into groups based on colostrum feeding (fed or deprived) and ascorbic acid supplementation (supplemented or not).
- Ascorbic acid (1.75 g/d) was administered in whole, raw milk until 6 weeks of age.
- Plasma samples were collected from 0 to 8 weeks to measure IgG concentrations and antibody titers post-immunization (keyhole limpet hemocyanin).
- Clinical scores for diarrhea were recorded.
Main Results:
- Plasma IgG concentrations were lower in ascorbate-supplemented calves at 14 and 28 days of age, regardless of colostrum status.
- Ascorbate supplementation led to lower plasma antibody titers to keyhole limpet hemocyanin at 35 and 56 days of age.
- Calves fed ascorbic acid exhibited reduced clinical scores for diarrhea.
- An interaction was observed at 14 days: colostrum-deprived calves fed ascorbate had higher plasma IgG than those not supplemented.
Conclusions:
- Dietary ascorbic acid supplementation does not appear to be immunostimulatory in dairy calves up to 56 days of age.
- Ascorbate supplementation may potentially inhibit antibody synthesis in young dairy calves.
- Despite potential immune inhibition, ascorbate supplementation demonstrated a benefit in reducing the incidence of diarrhea.
- Further research is needed to clarify the complex interactions between ascorbate, colostrum, and calf immunity, particularly in colostrum-deprived scenarios.