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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Livestock Issues Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #288018
Title: Prenatal transportation and immune indices in neonatal and growing Brahman calves

Author
item PRINCE, DEBBI - Texas A&M Agrilife
item LITTLEJOHN, BRITTINI - Texas A&M Agrilife
item NEUENDORFF, DON - Texas A&M Agrilife
item LEWIS, ANDY - Texas A&M Agrilife
item Sanchez, Nicole
item Carroll, Jeffery - Jeff Carroll
item VANN, RHONDA - Mississippi State University
item LAWHON, SARA - Texas A&M Agrilife
item WELSH JR, THOMAS - Texas A&M Agrilife
item RANDEL, RONALD - Texas A&M Agrilife

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science Supplement
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/27/2012
Publication Date: 7/1/2014
Citation: Prince, D.M., Littlejohn, B.P., Neuendorff, D.A., Lewis, A.W., Sanchez, N.C., Carroll, J.A., Vann, R.C., Lawhon, S.D., Welsh Jr, T.H., Randel, R.D. 2014. Prenatal transportation and immune indices in neonatal and growing Brahman calves. Journal of Animal Science Supplement. 91(E-Suppl. 1):21. (Abstract #46).

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate effects of prenatal transportation on immune indices in neonatal calves. Ninety-six pregnant Brahman cows matched by age and parity were separated into a transported group (TRANS, n=48; transported for 2 hours on gestational day 60, 80, 100, 120, and 140) and an untouched control group (CONT, n= 48). Blood samples were collected from the calves via jugular venipuncture within 24h after birth and at 14 and 28d of age for complete blood count (CBC). Samples were collected in EDTA vacutainers and processed within 10 minutes of collection using the IDEXX Procyte Dx Hematolyzer. Data were analyzed with GLM procedures specific for repeated measures in SAS. Prenatal TRANS did not affect whitle blood cell (WBC), basophil, eosinophil, monocyte, lymphocyte, or neutrophil cell count, (P > 0.05). Age of calf was significant for all cell types except eosinophils, (P < 0.10). Neutrophil cell counts differed by sex, (P < 0.02). CONT females had neutrophil counts of 12.1 ± 0.9, 5.7 ± 0.4, and 7.5± 0.8 K/microliter while TRANS females had 10.1 ± 0.8, 5.8 ± 0.3, and 5.3 ± 0.7 K/microliter, at 24 hours, 14, and 28 days respectively. CONT males had neutrophil counts of 8.0 ± 0.7, 5.4 ± 0.3, 5.6 ± 0.7 K/microliter, and TRANS males had counts of 10.2 ± 0.9, 5.3 ± 0.4, 5.2 ± 0.8 K/microliter at 24 hours, 14, and 28 days respectively. Basophil cell count differed by sex (P < 0.01). CONT female basophil counts were 0.02 ± 0.004, 0.01 ± 0.003, and 0.02 ± 0.004 K/microliter, and TRANS female counts were 0.02 ± 0.004, 0.01 ± 0.003, and 0.01 ± 0.003 K/microliter at 24 hours, 14, and 28 days, respectively. CONT male basophil counts were 0.01 ± 0.003, 0.01 ± 0.003, and 0.01 ± 0.003 K/microliter with TRANS male counts of 0.02 ± 0.004, 0.01 ± 0.003, 0.01 ± 0.003 K/microliter at 24 hours, 14, and 28 days, respectively. Trends for a treatment by sex interactions for neutrophil (P < 0.10), and basophil (P < 0.10) cell count were observed. Neutrophil and basophil cell counts were consistently numerically greater in CONT females than CONT males indicative of sexual dimorphism in immune indices as early as 24 hours of age in Brahman cattle. Sexual dimorphism in immune function likely also exists in these calves and should be investigated.