Supporting the natural immune response to mastitis
By Dr Helen Warren, European Technical Manager (Ruminants & Equine), Alltech
Supporting the natural immune response to mastitis Costing a weighty 170 million pounds every year, mastitis is one of the priciest diseases impacting the UK dairy farms’ production profitability today.
Aside from the initial treatment costs, there are the longer-term
impacts on performance and longevity. Adding to the management complexity are the targets around the responsible use of antibiotics recently released by a task force of leading vets and farmers within RUMA (Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance). There is also the growing focus on reducing the overall environmental impact of dairy production, including methane and mineral footprint. This spinning web of complexity continues and extends the need to
address the risk factors associated with mastitis incidence and severity and help support your herd’s natural immune function.
The role of nutrition in mastitis management Well-managed environments, along with careful milking routines, can help prevent mastitis spread and severity, either through contagious or environmental transfer. However, there is growing evidence that nutrition can significantly support a cow’s natural immunity against the near-inevitable reality of bacterial pathogen exposure. Aside from this direct impact, nutrition also plays a role in alleviating metabolic diseases, such as milk fever, that can increase a cow’s susceptibility to mastitis.
How minerals help to reduce mastitis risk Trace minerals, when properly supplemented, are proven to support immune response to mastitis-causing pathogens. Selenium is a component of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase,
aiding mammary cell and tissue protection from oxidative damage by free radicals. More specifically, selenium aids the phagocytotic ability of certain leukocytes in the mammary gland, resulting in pathogenic ingestion, and helping to reduce mastitis incidence and severity. Selenium is incorporated into over 25 selenoproteins with numerous functions including cytokine production, inflammatory pathway signalling, neutrophil function and lymphocyte proliferation. Copper deficiencies are associated with retained placentas,
early embryonic deaths, decreased conception rates, infections at calving, increased infection severity and higher somatic cell counts (SCC). Copper is also a component of enzymes necessary for electron transport during aerobic respiration, lysyl oxidase for strong bone and connective tissues and superoxide dismutase, which protects cells from the toxic effects of oxygen metabolites.
PAGE 36 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 FEED COMPOUNDER Zinc, a key element of one of the superoxide dismutase enzymes
and other essential enzyme systems, is essential in wound healing, epithelial tissue repair and cellular integrity maintenance. Zinc is an essential ingredient in keratin production, a physical and chemical pathogenic barrier lining the inside of the teat duct. Zinc also helps maintain skin and, therefore, the structure of the mammary. Manganese is a co-factor for enzymes in the metabolism of
carbohydrates, fats, proteins and nucleic acids. It is essential for normal brain function and is important for proper immune function and wound healing. Manganese is involved in collagen formation, bone growth, urea formation, fatty acid synthesis, cholesterol synthesis and protein digestion. Mineral requirements are influenced by many factors, including
age/lactation, stage of pregnancy and minerals naturally present in forage. It is quite common that a cow has sufficient mineral intake for target growth and reproductive performance, but not enough for optimal immune performance. To ensure mineral inclusion levels that are both economically and environmentally sustainable, Alltech recommends first conducting a full assessment and evaluation of all mineral sources, including forage, compound feed, blend and boluses.
10 essential feeding strategies: 1. Avoid cows from becoming too fat in late lactation or during the dry period
2. Avoid changes in body condition score during the dry period 3. Avoid a large decrease in feed intake during the pre-fresh period 4. Promote a rapid increase in energy intake during the immediate post-fresh period 5. Keep supplemental fat in the diet low for the two weeks after calving 6. Give fresh cows lots of room and plenty of access to the feed face 7. Carefully manage potassium and sodium intake pre-calving to reduce udder oedema 8. Protect white blood cells by feeding good quality mould- and mycotoxin-free silage 9. Avoid hypocalcaemia development by ensuring adequate calcium/phosphorus ratio 10. Meet transition cow requirements for trace minerals and vitamins in the correct form
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