Project Number: 6208-32000-006-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Jan 02, 2008
End Date: Jan 01, 2013

Objective:
The long-term objective of this project is to enhance animal well-being and performance in swine and beef industry production environments. Over the next 5 years we will focus on the following objectives: Objective 1: Identify non-antibiotic nutritional supplements that support and/or enhance immune function in weaned pigs and incoming feedlot cattle. ¿ Sub-objective 1.A. Identify non-antibiotic nutritional supplements that support and/or enhance the immune response associated with a bacterial challenge in newly weaned pigs. ¿ Sub-objective 1.B. Identify non-antibiotic nutritional supplements that support and/or enhance the immune response associated with a viral challenge in incoming feedlot cattle. Objective 2: Develop an automated monitoring, tracking, and recording system to document behavioral responses to various disease challenges in the young pig. Objective 3: Assess the innate and adaptive immunity of cattle with various temperaments to determine whether temperament can be linked to productivity and well-being.

Approach:
Our research will focus on enhancing well-being and performance in beef and swine during periods of production known to be stressful. For Sub-objective 1A, several experiments will be conducted to evaluate various parameters associated with the well-being and productivity of swine challenged with Salmonella Typhimurium following dietary inclusion of either sub-therapeutic levels of antibiotics or various nutritional supplements. Blood samples will be collected for analysis of hormones associated with the stress response, as well as hormones associated with function of the somatotropic axis. Animals will be videotaped to evaluate various sickness behaviors. For Sub-objective 1B, cross-bred beef calves will be weaned at approximately 6 months of age and fed various non-antibiotic products as potential modulators of immunity. Calves will be provided either a medicated diet or a non-medicated concentrate ration containing a non-antibiotic supplement for 21 days. Calves will be inoculated with infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (IBRV) to determine if the non-antibiotic supplements provided any immunological protection. Feed intake and body weight will be determined weekly. Blood samples will be collected for analysis of hormones associated with the stress response, the growth response, as well as cytokines and acute phase proteins associated with the immune response. For Objective 2, we will focus initially on validation of an automated tracking system using the 'color' tracking method. Once this validation is complete, the `color¿ tracking will be used to document the behavior of individual pigs following a Salmonella Typhimurium challenge. Pigs will be video recorded over a 5-day period to determine if the infected pig¿s behavior can be distinguished from that of the non-infected pigs. Subsequent transmission and infection in other pigs will be monitored by testing for the presence of the bacteria in fecal samples. For Objective 3, the research will be divided into two separate studies. The first study will address the potential effect of temperament on the innate immune response, and the second study will address the potential effect of temperament on adaptive immunity. In both studies, weaning-age calves from a single breed type will be categorized as to their temperament (temperamental or calm) based upon an objective exit velocity (EV) scoring system. Exit velocities will be obtained by determining the rate at which calves exit the working chute and traverse a fixed distance (1.83 m). In Study 1, we will assess the innate immune response to an endotoxin challenge based upon temperament. Blood samples will be collected and serum analyzed for hormones associated with the stress response, as well as cytokines associated with the acute phase immune response following the LPS challenge. In Study 2, we will assess the adaptive immune response following inoculation with IBRV. Body weights, blood samples, and rectal temperatures will be collected post-challenge. Blood samples will be collected for analysis of hormones associated with the stress response, as well as cytokines associated with the adaptive immune response.