Randomized controlled trial of pegbovigrastim as an adjunct therapy for naturally occurring severe clinical mastitis cases in dairy cows

Future of Immune Modulation in Animal Agriculture

Immune modulation in animal agriculture has been of research interest for several decades, yet only a few immunomodulators have received regulatory approval in the United States and around the world. In this review, we summarize market and regulatory environments impacting commercial development of immunomodulators for use in livestock and poultry. In the United States, very few immunomodulators have received regulatory approval for use in livestock by either the US Department of Agriculture Center for Veterinary Biologics or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To date, only one immunomodulator has received FDA approval, and an extensive body of peer-reviewed literature is available regarding the basis for its use and health benefits. We present a more thorough review of the history and impact of this immune restorative. Finally, we discuss the interaction of immunomodulators on health, metabolism, and other factors impacting the future of immune modulation in livestock.

Effect of recombinant bovine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor treatment during the peripartum period on postpartum diseases, reproductive performance, and milk production in Holstein cattle

To boost the immune function around parturition, recombinant bovine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rbG-CSF) has been used to increase the number of neutrophils. Therefore, the aim of this study was to quantify the effect of rbG-CSF administration on the incidence of postpartum pathologies, reproductive performance, and milk production during the first three months of lactation. A total of 199 Holstein cows from one herd were included and were randomly allocated into two groups: Control (n = 103) and rbG-CSF (n = 96). Cows in the rbG-CSF group received 2 doses of a rbG-CSF injectable formulation, one 7 days before the expected date of calving and the other within 24 h after calving. For 6 weeks following calving, animals were examined weekly to assess the presence of postpartum pathologies. Milk production, protein and fat content, and somatic cell count were determined monthly by the regional dairy herd improvement association. Data about the reproductive performance were collected from on-farm software. To analyse the effect of treatment on the incidence of postpartum pathologies, Pearson's χ2 test and multivariable logistic regressions were performed. The effect on reproductive performance was analysed using Cox proportional hazard regression analysis for days open, binary logistic regression for first service conception rate and Oneway ANOVA test for the number of artificial inseminations. The effects of treatment on milk yield and milk composition were checked using GLM repeated measures analysis. No statistically significant differences were observed between treatment groups for any of the parameters evaluated. Only parity had a significant effect on days open and milk production (p < 0.05). In conclusion, in the present study no evidence was found that rbG-CSF could have an effect on the reproductive and productive parameters evaluated.

The effect of pegbovigrastim administration on the nonspecific immunity of calves

BACKGROUND

Prevention of diseases in the early rearing of calves is important, particularly because disease occurrence most often requires antimicrobial administration but reduction of their use in animals is a priority. Pegbovigrastim is known for its use as an immunoregulator in cows and heifers, but the effect of its administration on calves has not been fully investigated.

OBJECTIVES

Investigate whether administration of pegbovigrastim effectively stimulates nonspecific immunity in healthy calves.

ANIMALS

Eleven clinically healthy 5-week-old calves.

METHODS

Prospective observational study. Calves were randomly allocated to an experimental or control groups to receive pegbovigrastim or the same volume of phosphate-buffered saline twice over a 7-day period. To evaluate nonspecific immunity, the numbers of total leukocytes and cells in the appropriate cell fractions were determined. Cytometric analyses were carried out to identify cells expressing CD11b and to evaluate the phagocytic and oxidative burst activities of granulocytes and monocytes. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) and selected cytokines were assayed using ELISA.

RESULTS

Pegbovigrastim significantly increased the number of total leukocytes and of cells in all of the examined subsets (P < .05). The phagocytic activity of leukocytes expressed as mean fluorescence intensity was significantly potentiated after pegbovigrastim administration (P < .05). The cytokine response was modulated by pegbovigrastim administration toward anti-inflammatory activity.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

Pegbovigrastim effectively stimulated nonspecific immunity in clinically healthy calves, which in the long term could make the prevention of diseases during early rearing possible by strengthening the immune defense mechanisms of the host.

Pegbovigrastim treatment resulted in an economic benefit in a large randomized clinical trial in grazing dairy cows

This randomized controlled trial on 4 commercial grazing dairy farms investigated whether pegbovigrastim (PEG) treatment affected partial net return as calculated from milk revenues and costs for feed, medical treatments [clinical mastitis, uterine disease, and other diseases (i.e., any medical treatment that was not intended for clinical mastitis or uterine disease)], inseminations, and culling during a full lactation in grazing dairy cows. We also explored the effect of potential interactions of PEG treatment with parity, prepartum body condition score, and prepartum nonesterified fatty acids concentration on partial net return, milk revenues, and the costs mentioned above. Holstein cows were randomly assigned to 1 of the 2 following trial arms: a first PEG dose 9.4 ± 0.3 (mean ± standard error) days before the calving date and a second dose within 24 hours after calving (PEG: primiparous = 342; multiparous = 697) compared with untreated controls (control: primiparous = 391; multiparous = 723). The effect of PEG treatment on the outcomes of interest expressed per year was tested using general linear mixed models. Results are presented as least squares means ± standard error. Overall, PEG treatment increased the partial net return, resulting in an economic benefit per cow per year of $210 ± 100. The cost of treatment of clinical mastitis was lower for PEG treated cows compared with control cows ($9 ± 3). The largest nonsignificant difference was seen for the cost of culling; additionally, PEG treatment numerically reduced the cost of culling by $145 ± 77.