Building a strong immune system begins before birth, and has become an emphasis during the first weeks of life—and throughout the animal’s entire life cycle.
As antibiotics come under increased scrutiny with regard to bacterial resistance and its implications for human health, livestock producers are looking to alternative solutions for health challenges and to boost immune performance. The gut is one of the animal’s largest immune organs and a first line of defense against common toxins and harmful pathogens. When gut immunity falters, animals become more susceptible to a wide range of diseases.
Role of RFCs
Refined functional carbohydrates™ (RFCs™) are one nutritional solution that can help provide a healthy immune foundation, since the interaction of nutrition and immune status can have a significant impact on animal performance. Animals function best when gut immunity is constantly in place. Therefore, the first step to optimal immunity is through every bite of feed instead of relying on periodic boosters to the immune system.
RFCs can help maintain gut health and overall animal health. RFCs bind (agglutinate) pathogens, rendering them harmless to the animal. In addition, RFCs exhibit prebiotic properties by supporting the beneficial bacteria of the intestine while blocking sites for attachment by pathogens.
Begin with Calves
For example, RFCs have been shown1 to be efficacious when fed to young calves to help reduce scouring caused by Cryptosporidium parvum. RFCs have also been shown2 to have activity against Eimeria, another scours-causing organism, as well as various types (serovars) of E. coli and Salmonella enterica. These pathogens are those most likely to causes scouring problems on a dairy.
The RFCs can either bind to or block the receptors of certain pathogens and prevent them from attaching to the intestinal wall and causing disease. The organisms then pass harmlessly through the digestive system and are excreted. The pathogens remain deactivated, helping to break their life cycle and reduce the odds of reinfection.
The importance of supporting immunity with RFCs continues throughout the animal’s life, and is especially needed during critical phases, such as the transition period.
For instance Salmonella may be lurking in the herd, posing a threat to vulnerable cows. In 2007, USDA Research3 showed that 13.7 percent of healthy dairy cows tested positive for Salmonella, even though they didn’t appear to be sick. And Salmonella was found on 39.7 percent of dairies.
A poorly functioning immune system is of concern because it means that periparturient (transition) cows are more likely to become infected with a new organism, have a chronic subclinical infection escalate to become clinical, or have an infection that would otherwise be fairly minor, become more severe.4
Including RFCs in rations helps to support and enhance the cow’s immune system during transition and beyond.
Mycotoxins and Immunity
Furthermore, more is being discovered about the negative influence of mycotoxins on animal immunity—and the role of RFCs in diminishing these undesirable effects.
Intestinal cells are the first cells to be exposed to mycotoxins, and at higher concentrations than other tissues. Maintenance of a healthy gastrointestinal tract is crucial as it ensures that nutrients are absorbed at an optimum rate and provides efficient protection against pathogens through its own immune system.5
Mycotoxin exposure affects the animal on two levels—locally (at the point of attack) and systemically if the release of inflammatory compounds reduces immunity in other parts of the body. That ripple effect begins when gut health is compromised and tissues are irritated. This often opens the door for opportunistic diseases that also reduce immune function, negatively impacting reproductive performance and productivity.
RFCs can counteract mycotoxins and prevent them from being absorbed through the gut and into the blood circulation. The toxins then pass harmlessly through the digestive system and are excreted without negatively affecting animal performance.
In addition, immune suppression caused by mycotoxins can be reversed by beta 1,3/1,6 glucans and mannans present in RFCs, allowing the cow to further protect itself against pathogens. In addition, nutrient uptake is maintained, leading to better feed efficiency and animal performance.
This level of protection enables animals to devote energy to all functions, instead of staving off infections or struggling to maintain nutrient uptake. A steady, well-functioning immune system makes everything work better—from vaccines and rations to total animal productivity.
Ultimately, RFCs act as an insurance policy and help manage unseen threats, protecting animals from the ill effects of mycotoxins and pathogens that can occur any time conditions become favorable.
1 Jalukar S, Nocek JE. Evaluation of enzymatically hydrolyzed yeast in vitro and in vivo for control of Cryptosporidium parvum infections in dairy calves. J Anim Sci 2009;87, E-Suppl. 2/J Dairy Sci 2009;92, E-Suppl. 1. Research Bulletin D-38 and Research Bulletin D-61.
2 Jalukar S, Oppy J, Holt MG. In-vitro assay to evaluate ability of enzymatically hydrolyzed yeast containing MOS to bind enteropathogenic bacteria. Presented at the ASAS/ADSA Midwestern Section Annual Meeting, 2009. Research Bulletin 31 and Research Bulletin 39.
3 USDA-APHIS. Salmonella and Campylobacter on U.S. Dairy Operations, 1996–2007. Available at: https://live-ccms.pantheonsite.io/sites/default/files/Dairy07_is_SalCampy.pdf. Accessed September 7, 2017.
4 Waldron MR. Enhancing Immunity and Disease Resistance of Dairy Cows through Nutrition. In Proceedings: 2013 University of Florida Ruminant Nutrition Conference. Pages 64-73.
5 Grenier B, Applegate TJ. Modulation of Intestinal Functions Following Mycotoxin Ingestion: Meta-Analysis of Published Experiments in Animals. Toxins 2013;5(2):396-430.
