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Comparison of Natural Antibodies measured in Milk and Blood Samples of Dutch Dairy Cattle

Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Posters (The Westin Bayshore)
Britt de Klerk , Animal Breeding and Genomics Centre, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
Bart J. Ducro , Animal Breeding and Genomics Centre, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
Henri CM Heuven , University of Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
Ingrid den Uyl , Animal health Services, Deventer, Netherlands
Johan A.M. van Arendonk , Animal Breeding and Genomics Centre, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
Henk K Parmentier , Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
Jan J van der Poel , Animal Breeding and Genomics Centre, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
Abstract Text: To improve resilience of dairy cows, parameters like levels of natural antibodies (NAbs) can be used. The present study aimed to identify differences between levels of NAbs in milk- and blood from dairy cows, and subsequently estimate genetic parameters for NAb immunoglobulin isotypes IgM and IgG. Titres of NAb binding Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin (KLH), simultaneously measured in blood plasma and milk, were obtained using ELISA. Results revealed that factors like herd, parity and lactation stage influence NAb levels. Moderate positive phenotypic correlations (0.34-0.38) between milk- and blood NAbs were observed, indicating that NAbs from plasma and milk might reflect different aspects of a cow’s immune status. Genetic correlations ranged from 0.80 to 0.89 between NAbs in milk and plasma. NAbs in plasma showed slightly higher heritabilities (0.18-0.28) compared to NAbs in milk (0.09-0.24), suggesting both might have potential for genetic selection.

Keywords:

Dairy cattle

Natural Antibodies

Genetic parameters

See more of: Posters: Dairy Cattle Breeding (Group 2)
See more of: Species Breeding: Dairy cattle
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