The effect of vitamin and mineral injection at the start of transition period of Holstein dairy cows on changes in the hematology of cows and the hematology and immune transmission to newborn calves

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Dept. of Animal Sciences Research, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center of Gorgan, Gorgan, Iran.

2 animal and Poultry Management Research Department, National Institute of Animal Sciences Research, Karaj, Iran.

Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of mineral and vitamin injection in late pregnancy on hematological changes in cows and hematology and immune transfer to their calves using 32 transition cows in a completely randomized contrasted design with 4 treatments and 8 replications.Experimental treatments included: 1) control (no vitamin and mineral supplement injection), 2) treatment receiving injectable vitamin supplement, 3) treatment receiving injectable mineral supplement and 4) treatment receiving vitamin and mineral supplement injection together. The supplements were injected 28 days before calving. Vitamin supplements included vitamins A, D3, E, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, C, and mineral supplements included calcium, copper, magnesium, and phosphorus. The injection dose of mineral supplement was 100 ml and the injection dose of vitamin supplement was 20 ml. To examine hematological parameters, blood samples were taken from cows 21 days before calving, on the day of calving, and 21 days after calving. Also, the immunoglobulin status of the calves was measured on birthday, 24 hours after birth, and 30 days after birth, and samples were taken on the 30th day to examine their hematological parameters. The results showed that the injection of minerals, vitamins, and minerals and vitamins increased the concentration of hemoglobin and monocytes in cows before calving and on the day of calving (P<0.05). On the other hand, IgG and IgM were associated with an increase in calves born to mothers receiving supplements (P<0.05). As a result, simultaneous injection of minerals and vitamins can improve the function of the immune system of cows and the immune status and health of calves.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Extended Abstract

Introduction

The various challenges that cows face in late pregnancy have lasting effects on their health and affect the calf's immune system at birth and throughout life. On the other hand, increased oxidative stress and excessive production of free radicals during the transition period affect the developing fetus. This effect can alter the ability of the livestock to cope with metabolic diseases and also the calves to defend themselves against pathogens and cope with stressors. Identifying and optimizing the effect of specific nutrients in the animal health program can be an effective management strategy to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation associated with the transition period and the subsequent immune disorders and impaired health of cows and their calves. In this regard, vitamins and minerals are known for their anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties. Providing essential micronutrients to the mother during pregnancy is an effective way to meet the needs of the baby.

 

 

Material and Methods

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of mineral and vitamin injection in late pregnancy on hematological changes in cows and hematology and immune transfer to their calves using 32 transition cows in a completely randomized contrasted design with 4 treatments and 8 replications.Experimental treatments included: 1) control (no vitamin and mineral supplement injection), 2) treatment receiving injectable vitamin supplement, 3) treatment receiving injectable mineral supplement and 4) treatment receiving vitamin and mineral supplement injection together. The supplements were injected 28 days before calving. Vitamin supplements included vitamins A, D3, E, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, C, and mineral supplements included calcium, copper, magnesium, and phosphorus. The injection dose of mineral supplement was 100 ml and the injection dose of vitamin supplement was 20 ml. To examine hematological parameters, blood samples were taken from cows 21 days before calving, on the day of calving, and 21 days after calving. Also, the immunoglobulin status of the calves was measured on birthday, 24 hours after birth, and 30 days after birth, and samples were taken on the 30th day to examine their hematological parameters.

 

Results

    The results showed that simultaneous Injection of minerals, vitamins, and simultaneous mineral and vitamin injections increased hemoglobin and monocyte concentrations in cows before calving (P<0.05). No differences were observed between the concentration of red blood cells, hematocrit, platelets, mean red blood cell volume, mean cellular hemoglobin, mean red blood cell hemoglobin concentration, white blood cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, eosinophils, and basophils of the experimental treatments. Injection of minerals and vitamins in late pregnancy of cows had no effect on red blood cell concentration, hematocrit, platelets, mean red blood cell volume, mean cellular hemoglobin, mean red blood cell hemoglobin concentration, white blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, eosinophil and basophil of experimental treatments. In the treatments receiving minerals and vitamins in late pregnancy, an increase in hemoglobin concentration was observed compared to the control group in the postpartum period of cows (P<0.05). Injection of minerals and vitamins before parturition had no effect on red blood cell concentration, hematocrit, platelets, mean red blood cell volume, mean cellular hemoglobin, mean red blood cell hemoglobin concentration, white blood cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils of the experimental treatments. Injection of minerals and vitamins to late-pregnant cows had no effect on the concentration of red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelets, mean red blood cell volume, mean cellular hemoglobin, mean red blood cell hemoglobin concentration, white blood cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils of calves born to the experimental treatments. IgG and IgM in calves born from mothers receiving vitamins, minerals, and vitamins and minerals simultaneously were associated with an increase on the day of birth, 24 hours after birth, and 30 days after birth (P<0.05), and none of the treatments caused a significant change in IgA of calves at any time.

 

Conclusion

     Injection of minerals and vitamins to pregnant cows during the transition period increased hemoglobin and monocytes in cows before and after calving. Also, maternal injection of minerals and vitamins increased immunoglobulin G and M in calves born from these groups. Therefore, according to the results obtained, simultaneous injection of minerals and vitamins to cows during the transition period leads to better functioning of blood cells and coping with stress and inflammation in cows and improves the immune system in cows and their calves.

Author Contributions

Mahdi Zhandi: Conceptualization, Validation, Supervision, Writing - Review & Editing, Project administration,

Omid Bouzari: Methodology, Software, Formal analysis, Investigation, Writing - Original Draft

All authors contributed equally to the conceptualization of the article and writing of the original and subsequent drafts.

Data Availability Statement

The data supporting reported results are collected and used from published articles, to them we have referred in the manuscript.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all participants of the present study.

Ethical considerations

The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of ABCD (Ethical code: IR.UT.RES.2024.500). The authors avoided data fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, and misconduct.

Conflict of interest

The author declares no conflict of interest.

 

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Iranian Journal of animal Science
Volume 56, Issue 3
September 2025
Pages 597-615

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History

  • Receive Date: 30 November 2024
  • Revise Date: 24 December 2024
  • Accept Date: 25 December 2024

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