Mammary gland modulation on metabolic and immune status of dairy goats and their offspring

Abstract

Neonatal mortality has become an important challenge for the dairy goat industry. Newborn ruminants are highly dependent on good quality colostrum intake right after birth to obtain energy and an appropriate immunization. Colostrum quality is mainly determined by IgG concentration, however other less abundant molecules such as lactoferrin or oligosaccharides are crucial for the immunization of the newborn goat kid. Several factors, such as dam nutrition or udder health during late gestation play a relevant role on colostrogenesis and therefore on colostrum quality. Dam metabolism can be affected by high starch diets during prepartum which induce changes in blood metabolites (i.e., glucose, BHB and FFA) and colostrum bioactive compounds (i.e., insulin). In addition, several studies have assessed the effects of mastitis on physiological responses within the mammary gland. For instance, the intramammary administration (IA) of immunomodulatory molecules such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from Escherichia coli (O55:B5) at parturition has shown not only to increase colostrum quality (i.e., increased IgG and IgM concentrations) without having negative effects on dairy goats but has also enhanced the immunization of those newborns receiving colostrum from LPS challenged goats. These results suggest that dam metabolism and mammary gland physiology can be modulated by prepartum diets and the application of molecules such as LPS. However, further studies are necessary to determine the suitability of these strategies to improve colostrum quality in practical conditions.