Exploring Relationship Between Immunocompetence, HPA Axis Functioning and Performances of Preweaning Dairy Calves
Cortisol and DHEA(S) are markers of allostatic load and resilience; as such, they may be added to the definition of performance measures alongside immunocompetence. We aimed at studying the potential carryover effects of management practices on growth performances and the interrelationship between t...
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2024-12-01
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| author | Alessio Cotticelli Giovanna Bifulco Matilde Giombolini Isabella Pividori Alfio Calanni Macchio Gianluca Neglia Mirco Corazzin Alberto Prandi Tanja Peric |
| author_facet | Alessio Cotticelli Giovanna Bifulco Matilde Giombolini Isabella Pividori Alfio Calanni Macchio Gianluca Neglia Mirco Corazzin Alberto Prandi Tanja Peric |
| author_sort | Alessio Cotticelli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cortisol and DHEA(S) are markers of allostatic load and resilience; as such, they may be added to the definition of performance measures alongside immunocompetence. We aimed at studying the potential carryover effects of management practices on growth performances and the interrelationship between the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, immunocompetence and performances during the preweaning period in dairy calves. This study consisted of first a retrospective cohort study and second a prospective study. Calves had their growth performances and disease occurrence recorded, and their hair steroids (T1 at 20.03 ± 0.39 and T2 at 50.83 ± 0.41 days from birth) and plasmatic and colostral immunoglobulin G (IgG) was measured by immunoassays. The occurrence of preweaning diseases and the duration of individual housing negatively correlated to body weight (BW) at 60 days and the hair cortisol-to-DHEA(S) ratio (HC/HDHEA(S)) (T2) was negatively correlated to the daily weight gain (DWG) (−0.36; <i>p</i> < 0.05), plasmatic IgG (plaIgG) and the apparent efficiency of absorption (AEA) (−0.41; <i>p</i> < 0.01). Our results confirmed that the occurrence of diseases during the preweaning period and individual housing duration are pivotal for calves’ growth. This prospective study highlighted a detrimental effect of allostatic load on immunocompetence and described a link between resilience and growth performances. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b5be0404b5da4743a5df1485e6599a68 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj-art-b5be0404b5da4743a5df1485e6599a682025-08-20T02:00:50ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152024-12-011424370810.3390/ani14243708Exploring Relationship Between Immunocompetence, HPA Axis Functioning and Performances of Preweaning Dairy CalvesAlessio Cotticelli0Giovanna Bifulco1Matilde Giombolini2Isabella Pividori3Alfio Calanni Macchio4Gianluca Neglia5Mirco Corazzin6Alberto Prandi7Tanja Peric8Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University, 80137 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University, 80137 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Environmental and Animal Science, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Environmental and Animal Science, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University, 80137 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University, 80137 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Environmental and Animal Science, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Environmental and Animal Science, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural, Environmental and Animal Science, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, ItalyCortisol and DHEA(S) are markers of allostatic load and resilience; as such, they may be added to the definition of performance measures alongside immunocompetence. We aimed at studying the potential carryover effects of management practices on growth performances and the interrelationship between the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, immunocompetence and performances during the preweaning period in dairy calves. This study consisted of first a retrospective cohort study and second a prospective study. Calves had their growth performances and disease occurrence recorded, and their hair steroids (T1 at 20.03 ± 0.39 and T2 at 50.83 ± 0.41 days from birth) and plasmatic and colostral immunoglobulin G (IgG) was measured by immunoassays. The occurrence of preweaning diseases and the duration of individual housing negatively correlated to body weight (BW) at 60 days and the hair cortisol-to-DHEA(S) ratio (HC/HDHEA(S)) (T2) was negatively correlated to the daily weight gain (DWG) (−0.36; <i>p</i> < 0.05), plasmatic IgG (plaIgG) and the apparent efficiency of absorption (AEA) (−0.41; <i>p</i> < 0.01). Our results confirmed that the occurrence of diseases during the preweaning period and individual housing duration are pivotal for calves’ growth. This prospective study highlighted a detrimental effect of allostatic load on immunocompetence and described a link between resilience and growth performances.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/24/3708transfer of passive immunitymanagement practiceshairallostatic loadresiliencewelfare |
| spellingShingle | Alessio Cotticelli Giovanna Bifulco Matilde Giombolini Isabella Pividori Alfio Calanni Macchio Gianluca Neglia Mirco Corazzin Alberto Prandi Tanja Peric Exploring Relationship Between Immunocompetence, HPA Axis Functioning and Performances of Preweaning Dairy Calves Animals transfer of passive immunity management practices hair allostatic load resilience welfare |
| title | Exploring Relationship Between Immunocompetence, HPA Axis Functioning and Performances of Preweaning Dairy Calves |
| title_full | Exploring Relationship Between Immunocompetence, HPA Axis Functioning and Performances of Preweaning Dairy Calves |
| title_fullStr | Exploring Relationship Between Immunocompetence, HPA Axis Functioning and Performances of Preweaning Dairy Calves |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring Relationship Between Immunocompetence, HPA Axis Functioning and Performances of Preweaning Dairy Calves |
| title_short | Exploring Relationship Between Immunocompetence, HPA Axis Functioning and Performances of Preweaning Dairy Calves |
| title_sort | exploring relationship between immunocompetence hpa axis functioning and performances of preweaning dairy calves |
| topic | transfer of passive immunity management practices hair allostatic load resilience welfare |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/24/3708 |
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