Liver Abscesses – The Unseen Profit Thief
By: Warren Rusche, SDSU Extension Beef Feedlot Management Associate, Courtesy of iGrow.org
Liver Abscesses
Category: Bovine Health
Bovine Health and Transfer Factor Technology
Medicine focuses on the science of disease, while nutrition is the science of health. Trust Transfer Factor Technology to optimize immune system function in your cattle. Unlike many products that rely on basic ingredients known to support immune health, Ramaekers Nutrition offers the only immune support products that utilize Transfer Factors. Our unique, field-tested, and patented blend of essential nutrients and potent nutraceuticals sets us apart in delivering effective immune support.
Introduction to Livestock Products
Ramaekers Nutrition
Written by: Dr. Bob McClung
Introduction to Livestock Products: Immunotherapy
Discover the groundbreaking advancements in cattle technology through Ramaekers Nutrition’s innovative livestock products. Explore the transformative potential of immunotherapy in enhancing cattle health and productivity.
From time to time, an advancement or technology emerges that alters our perspective on a problem. In the cattle industry, this technology is known as immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is a relatively new and rapidly developing field in both human and veterinary medicine. This science enables us to educate the host’s immune system, aiding in the fight against viral and bacterial pathogens. The new technology is both financially rewarding and reasonable to utilize.
Despite our considerable knowledge of antibiotic therapeutic agents and targeted vaccination programs, it is acknowledged that we still have “disease wrecks.” An internationally patented advancement developed by Dr. Joe Ramaekers, Immune Primer, is available in both non-ruminating and ruminating forms, as seen in bovine products and other livestock products. When used in conjunction with sound husbandry and vaccination protocols, it enhances health and profit margins in nearly all cattle operations. In the last eight years, studies that have been done in dairy cows, dairy heifers, bull calf rearing, veal operations, cow-calf, goat, sheep enterprises back-grounding operations, and feedlot businesses have shown Immune Primer markedly reduces morbidity (sickness), mortality (death loss), improves performance and profit margins.
Introduction to Livestock Products: Immune Primers
When added adjunctively to sound management practice, Adult Immune Primer or Newborn Immune Primer has increased margins because improved health results in better performance. Savings from decreased illness, reduced antibiotic use, lower labor costs to treat cattle, more effective antibiotic responses, increased gain rates, and shorter feed times make the Immune Primer formulas even more critical in times of high feed costs for producers. A tremendous reduction in illness and death loss also provides income that was previously unavailable to the producer. As a practicing veterinarian who has used these products on my own cattle and sheep, as well as in my clients’ agribusinesses, with excellent results for 10 years, I am very pleased with these products. “I strongly feel these products have the greatest potential for improved profit of any new product introduced into animal production in the last 40 years.”
Introduction to Livestock Products: Method of Action
Immune Primer’s patented technologies utilize the top chemical messengers of the immune system to convert slowly reactive immune systems into highly responsive systems. These messengers are highly specific to the variety of microbial agents they are coded for and produced to target. The Immune Primer molecules educate the “natural killer cells” to recognize these pathogens and initiate a wide variety of cytokines (chemical messengers) and cellular responses that control the activity of the immune system. It, in fact, increases the immune response by over 400% above baseline. When used appropriately, these responses help prevent damage from bacterial, viral, and fungal agents and enhance the response to antibiotics and vaccines. This is a valuable adjunct to the management protocols currently in place. These ingredients are derived from natural products, a plus in marketing “all-natural” animal products.
Introduction to Livestock Products
Each category of cattle enterprise has its own set of disease problems. For example:
DAIRY COWS– transition cow problems
- mastitis problems
- breeding problems, reproductive efficiency
- high somatic cell problems
- calf problems
CALF REARERS
- respiratory disease
- scour problems~ viral, bacterial, protozoan
STOCKER-FEEDER
COW-CALF
- breeding efficiency
- increased conception rate
- calf health problems
- ET production enhancement increased # of eggs
SMALL RUMINANTS
- newborn health, adjunctive treatment, CL prevention
- improved conception, egg, and semen quality
All of the above areas have been or are being investigated. In all cases, strengthening the immune system has shown significant benefits for the producer in terms of production.
Chuteside Manner
Ramaekers Nutrition Thoughts: Securing the health of Dairy Steers
BY PATTI WILSON
We’ve all seen them. Many of us have fed them, and a few of us have had one in the deep freeze. Dairy steers make up nearly 20% of all fed cattle.
The sale of newborn bull calves may make up only one to two percent of gross sales from dairies. Until recently, there has been little incentive to give them the same care as their heifer mates. High labor costs and time restrictions on large dairies generally have a negative impact on the initial care of dairy bull calves. This is directly translated into inadequate or untimely administration of colostrum after birth. It sets up the calves for a lifetime of greater disease risk, lower growth rates, and unthriftiness.
Given today’s price of cattle, the shortage of numbers, and increased feedlot space, dairy bull calves are gaining importance in the beef industry. This fact alone should prompt dairies to administer first-class care to their bull calves. Calves that, in the past, may have only brought $5 per head may now be worth up to $500 off the farm. Compared to beef calves, dairy bull calves are at higher risk of illness due to how they are managed and raised.
Where does it start: Chuteside Manner
A dairy heifer calf is the princess of the barn. She is administered measured amounts of high-quality colostrum (tested with a colostrometer). She receives these two to three times prior to being moved out of the calving area. A general recommendation for administering colostrum is four quarts of high-quality product at birth. Followed by two quarts at 10 to 12 hours. Some dairies may even feed three times. Bull calves, however, are treated a bit differently. Being a by-product, many may get only one feeding, and some may get none. Many large dairies have calves picked up by “calf jockeys” on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. And they often spend a week on the road. They are trailered to calf ranches where they are raised in large groups until they weigh 300 to 350 pounds. At that point, backgrounding lots purchase the calves, and they are moved out.
On a seasonal basis, morbidity on these young calves can reach 15 to 30 percent, and mortality 5 to 15 percent without our health program. Early pulls and death loss due to compromised immune systems are more measurable than events happening later in the lives of calves. A common problem, susceptibility to Mycoplasma pneumonia, can lead to other diseases. Eventually, the value of the drop at harvest from Holsteins is reduced by abscesses on the liver, lungs, and kidneys. Mycoplasma almost guarantees an abscessed liver, resulting in lowered grade percentages. Inadequate immunity affects every factor determining profitability.
What to do: Chuteside Manner
For folks feeding Holsteins, good intervention lies in using transfer factors and probiotics found in the Ramaekers Immune Primer Formulas. Joe Ramaekers, DVM, is a veterinarian from Santa Cruz, California. He is a lifelong student of immunology and is frequently called to consult with livestock producers of all species regarding communicable diseases. Ramaekers is conducting real-world tests and has developed Immune Primer Formulas which can be administered to large groups of cattle, fed to just a few, or even drenched in young stock. It is used to boost the immune system’s performance in healthy and compromised animals. He has long believed in effective preventative medicine using his patented Immune Primer for at-risk or stressed patients.
Cull Rates Cut to less than 1%
Stressed calves arriving from lengthy trips to calf ranches may be dosed with the Immune Primer Formulas on days one, two, and twelve, and spot treated with penicillin G as needed. Cheaper antibiotics appear to have enhanced effectiveness when used in combination with his Immune Primer Formulas. At one ranch, cull rates on calves under Dr. Ramaekers’ care have been cut to less than 1%, and groups of calves “even up” as they stay on the ranch.
For older preconditioned dairy calves, there is the Adult Stress Premix. This formula is indicated for use during stress windows such as transition, weaning, and transport.
Finished dairy steers when managed with Dr. Ramaekers’ immune conditioning program consistently attain improved carcass quality and reduced carcass discounts, resulting in higher profitability for the producer.
Average Return of $10 for Every Dollar Invested
Ramaekers’ hope is that the Adult Immune Primer Formula and Adult Stress Premix can be used in all-natural pens of cattle, replacing implants, hormone therapy, or other regulatory feed additives that may cause side effects such as lowering grade or potential toxicity. His goal is to return at least ten dollars for every dollar invested in his product. His historical data collected on almost 1 million head of cattle over 13 years shows an average return of $10 for every dollar invested.
With new antibiotic regulations coming down the pike, Ramaekers sees an increasing need to turn to a “prophylactic program”. A program that affords 24-hour protection and Primes the animal’s immune system for life. The current political climate is demanding the minimization of antibiotics. It is inconvenient and, to many of us in the livestock industry, unnecessary because we use our medications judiciously according to the label guidelines. The future may demand that we rely more heavily on the use of immune science to raise our production levels. Immune system priming will also help raise the effectiveness of all health products, including vaccines and wormers, and extend the life of Western medicine therapeutics. The use of non-prescription feed additives will end in 2016. Ramaekers Nutrition is being proactive in a market that is demanding an antibiotic and hormone-free product.
RESEARCH: CHUTESIDE MANNER
BOVINE VACCINE TITER ENHANCEMENT OCTOBER 2009
WILLOW CREEK FARMS, TIFFIN, OHIO
KEY POINTS: CHUTESIDE MANNER
- COMPARISON BETWEEN IMMUNE PRIMER & PHASED RELEASE IMMUNE PRIMER
- 320% TO 500% INCREASED VACCINE TITERS
In October of 2009, 45 steers from Zanesville, Ohio, were delivered to Willow Creek Farms in Tiffin, Ohio, owned by Dr. Robert McClung.
The steers were gate-cut into three groups:
Twenty heads were tagged with ODD numbers to receive the Adult Immune Primer, twenty heads were tagged with EVEN numbers to receive the Adult Immune Primer Sustained Release with Minerals, and five tagged controls received placebos.
The Adult Immune Primer group got the product on days 1, 2 & 12. The Adult Immune Primer Sustained Release with Minerals group got the product on days 1 &12. The controls were given placebos on days 1, 2 & 12.
On day 1, all cattle received the same worming and vaccine protocols. In addition, all cattle received a porcine, slow-release parvovirus and 5-way leptospirosis vaccine by Solid Tech Bacterin.
All cattle were bled on day 0 for baseline titers for porcine parvovirus and leptospirosis.
On day 12, all cattle received standard vaccine boosters, and the study groups received their second dose of Adult Immune Primer.
On days 21 and 42, all cattle were bled and weighed.
Observations on Chuteside Manner by Dr. McClung:
By the second day, ALL of the Treated calves suddenly stopped bawling and were feeding. On Days 3 & 4, compared to the controls, all the treated cattle had full bellies and appeared much more active.
On day 10, it was observed that some of the groups were visibly depressed and starting to show some respiratory signs. By day 12, 8 of the Adult Immune Primer group and 3 of the Adult Immune Primer Sustained Release with Minerals group had respiratory signs.
On day 16, Dr. McClung decided to mass treat the Adult Immune Primer group with antibiotics and 2 of the Adult Immune Primer Sustained Release with Minerals group.
On day 21, Dr. McClung repeated the Adult Immune Primer group’s antibiotics and re-bled all cattle in the study. After suspecting a vaccine failure and consulting with the manufacturer, Dr. McClung sent in titers for IBR, PI3, BVD, and BRSV. The manufacturer also suspected a vaccine failure or virus mutations. This was the first time in 5 years that Dr. McClung had problems with immune supplementation and vaccine response.
On day 42, all cattle were re-bled and weighed.
SUMMARY: Chuteside Manner
- Essentially all cattle in the study had zero starting titers for the swine vaccines.
- Both viral and bacterial components of the vaccines responded very strongly to Natural Immune Supplementation. And ranging from a 320% to 500% increase in titers.
- Also discovered was a delayed loss of vaccine immunity, or in other words, a Prolonged Duration of Immunity.
Calf Sickness Can Cost
Although this article is dated, it demonstrates the hidden costs of calf illness and how illness early in life prevents maximum performance and limits complete genetic expression. Using our bovine products from day one will help maximize health, lower drug and labor costs, improve feed efficiency, enhance genetic expression, improve carcass quality, and increase profits.
Reproduction Fertility in Cows
Show Cattle Reproduction Natural Immunotherapy
Reproduction Fertility in Cows: Case Results Chart. Our patented products stand at the forefront of immune system enhancement for Bovine. Our products for the bovine species are safe, healthy, effective, natural, and environmentally friendly.
Patented formulas provide technology and opportunity.
Our patented formulas provide the technology and opportunity for newborn and adult ruminants to absorb the equivalent immune information and education found in six gallons of colostrum in an easy-to-deliver form. Our field veterinarians use these products as adjunctive and preventative therapy in treatment programs with or without antibiotics. The key to this approach is modifying the animal’s response to stress (cortisol production) and maintaining a highly functional and vigilant immune system.
Reduce Cortisol
The key to this approach is to modify the animals’ normal response to stress (increased cortisol production), thus maintaining a highly functional and vigilant immune system. Our studies demonstrate that we can reduce excessive cortisol release (by 42%) associated with stress using a safe and economical product, conveniently delivered at all stages of production.
Integrating Supplements with a Herd Health Program
Natural Immunotherapy
We strongly advise incorporating these natural supplements, Newborn Immune Primer and Adult Immune Primer, into a proven herd health program that includes appropriate vaccine protocols, rations, and, most importantly, mineral and trace mineral supplements. We have found in our case studies that by integrating our supplements with a herd health program, we have seen significant results with the following:
- BVD (Bovine Viral Diarrhea)
- BRD (Bovine Respiratory Disease)
- Pneumonia
- Shipping Fever
- Stocker and Feeder stress
- And many other health issues
Health and Vigor
Trials repeatedly have shown an improvement in Health and vigor that translates to
- Decreased sickness to below 6%
- Decreased death loss to .2-1%
- Increase in weight gain and feed conversion
- Decreased days on feed
- Increased performance ↑efficiency with a 15% improvement
- Increased yield ↑2-3%
- Increased Prime and Choice grades
- For “All Naturals,” Increased Health results in an increased number of cattle on the program to receive the all-natural bonus at harvest.
Birth to Harvest
In the “all-natural” business of buying single-source, preconditioned cattle, our formulas help control Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD). Since we know that 46% of healthy cattle harbor Mycoplasma in their respiratory tracts, as identified via PCR testing, prevention is crucial to enhancing immune function before the onset of stress and disease. For optimal results, it is essential to enroll all cattle in the program to maintain their health from birth to harvest.
Reproduction Fertility in Cows Results Chart
Don’t take our word for it…
Natural Beef Feedlot
July 2004, Minden, Nebraska
KEY POINTS:
- ZERO% DEATH LOSS
- .004% Treats vs. Historically having 13% Treats
- OMRI Listed Product
This feedlot specializes in “natural beef,” feeding 9,000 heads annually for a major distributor. The study started with 750 heads of 5 & 6 weights, not pre-conditioned, traveling 600 to 2000 miles from California, Texas, and Arkansas.
Historically, the cattle are fed grass hay on day one and processed with deworming and vaccines on day two. Revaccination occurs in 12 days. Standard processing protocols over the past nine years have yielded mortality rates of 1 to 1.5% and pull rates of 13%.
This study started on July 24, 2004, with all 750 incoming heads receiving two (2) one-ounce gel caps on day one of Ramaekers IMMUNE PRIMER. On day two, a pelletized starter ration with one ounce of IMMUNE PRIMER per 5-lb ration was started daily for three days. All cattle consumed approximately 5#’s of ration per day.
At the end of the study, death loss was zero, and only three were treated once for respiratory symptoms.
Natural Beef Feedlot Summary:
- Manage Stress By Starting Early Immune Supplementation with IMMUNE PRIMER.
- Invest in Health EARLY to prevent the cost of disease management.
Learn More about our Bovine Products
Mastitis Study
Dairy Study: Somatic Cell Reduction
MASTITIS STUDY KEY POINTS:
- Somatic Cell Count Reduction: 59.7%
- OMRI Listed Product
A study on somatic cell counts was conducted involving 26 cows with chronically high somatic cell counts. Thirteen cows were randomly assigned to the study group, while the other thirteen formed the control group. Initial testing on August 21, 2003, revealed that the control group had an average somatic cell count of 1,854,811, while the treatment group had an average count of 2,374,000.
During the 60-day study period, the control group received standard mastitis treatment protocols. In contrast, the cows in the study group were given one ounce of Ramaekers Livestock Stress Stable daily for three days, followed by three days off, for a total of three cycles (nine treatments).
Somatic cell count testing was repeated on September 18, 2003. The control group experienced a 10.5% increase in somatic cell counts, whereas the study group saw a significant decrease of 59.7%. This results in a 70.2% improvement in somatic cell counts when compared to the control group.
Of the treated cows, nine returned to production, while only one cow from the control group recovered after receiving heavy medication.
Summary: Mastitis Study
Using an OMRI-listed immune support product can be more effective than drug therapy for mastitis. Ideally, immune support products like LSSS should be used as preventative measures. Additionally, there are no withdrawal times associated with LSSS.
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Improved Embryo Quality and Quantity
Improved Embryo Quality and Quantity
Ken and Julie Tew own the Sutton Creek Cattle Company, a full-service Wagyu cattle ranch. Ken is the past president of the American Wagyu Association, and Julie is presently on the board of directors.
The farm has a USDA-approved embryo quarantine facility approved for most countries worldwide, and they sell embryos worldwide.
Since 2008, they have used Ramaekers Adult Immune Primer Immune Support for stress management. They have experienced improved wellness in their cow-calf process.
In the ET operation, they have observed an increase in the average number of embryos, and the embryo quality has shown significant improvement.
Until using Dr. Ramaekers’ reproduction protocols, they had never had a flush with 100% of number-one-quality embryos. Now, using Ramaekers Adult Immune Primer Immune Support, 100% #1s are more common than not.
Fertility Study with Ramaekers Livestock Product
6/3/2009
Takana – 143 Wagyu donor cow. Using Ramaekers Adult Immune Primer Immune Support in our embryo production program has increased quality embryo recovery by 35%!
Update: Fertility Study with Ramaekers Livestock Product
06/19/12
Using Ramaekers Adult Immune Primer Immune Support on Takana–143, a 7-year-old Wagyu donor cow. The flush results returned 53 embryos, of which 39 were #1 quality. Julie says they’ve never used a better product for Improved Embryo Quality and Quantity and have been more than happy with the results.
Julie Barnes
Sutton Creek Cattle Company
LLC Baker City, Oregon
Learn More about our Bovine Products
Fort Bidwell Study
Calf Scours Study, 2002
Fort Bidwell Study Findings:
- 100% reduction in scours
- increased weaning weights
- increased weight post-weaning
- OMRI Listed Product
History:
The Fort Bidwell region encompasses the northeastern corner of California, as well as adjacent areas of Oregon and Nevada. Ranching in the Fort Bidwell area primarily consists of private ranches that utilize Bureau of Land Management ranges for grazing beef cattle.
Severe annual calf illness (up to 100% scours) and death (up to 37%) had been observed annually from 1990 to 2001 in a 1200-head cow-calf operation, and years of treatment with numerous antibiotics in several combinations proved unsuccessful. The ranchers had also worked repeatedly with the University of California, Davis College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Washington State College of Veterinary Medicine to ascertain the source of the severe scours that plagued the area. An autogenous bacterin had been developed from the highly resistant strain of enterohemorrhagic E. Coli isolated from local cattle. The effectiveness of this vaccine diminished over time.
The incidence of scour skyrocketed during times of rain, temperature fluctuations, cold stress, and difficulty calving.
The Study:
In January 2002, fifty cows were assigned to the calving study. At birth, the calves were ear-tagged and randomly assigned to either the Treatment group or the Control group.
On days 1 and 2 after birth, the twenty-seven calves in the treatment group received a dose of Ramaekers NEWBORN IMMUNE PRIMER. The twenty calves in the untreated group served as controls.
All calves were branded and vaccinated at 2 to 3 months of age, and the bull calves were castrated. The Treatment group received another dose of IMMUNE PRIMER, while the Control group received nothing. The study calves with their dams were mixed with other cows with calves and cows still due from multiple herds and turned out onto BLM land around April 15th.
After grazing for 5 months, all the calves were returned to the local ranchland for weaning and vaccines, and the Treatment group received one more dose of ADULT IMMUNE PRIMER.
Results & Discussion:
Within the first week of life, 100% of the control calves develop diarrhea, commonly referred to as scours. NONE of the treatment groups experienced any signs of scours.
After observing the difference between the two groups, the ranch owner DEMANDED that the protocol be broken and that the control calves receive IMMUNE PRIMER. The Control calves were given IMMUNE PRIMER for 3 days, after which the diarrhea stopped. This group became designated the Delayed-Treatment group, and the original treatment was renamed the Immediate-Treatment group.
A neighboring herd with similar genetics, herd management, calving times, branding, and a vaccination schedule was now designated as the Control Herd. The only difference was that the Control herd calved at a higher altitude and had a drier climate than the treatment herd, and did not receive the Ramaekers IMMUNE PRIMER formulas.
All the ranchers noted that the Treated calves were easily identifiable, with an estimated 5% to 7% heavier body weight and a more vibrant coat than the untreated calves.
| Average Weaning Weights (in pounds) | ||
| heifers | steers | |
| Immediate-Treatment | 555 | 594 |
| Delayed-Treatment | 547 | 589 |
| Control Group | 500 | 525 |
The calves were hay-fed for 25 days after weaning and then sold. Combined Group weight averages are as follows:
| All Treats | All Control | |
| Weaning weight | 570 | 514 |
| weaning + 1 month | 611 | 550 |
| weight gain | 41 | 36 |
Fort Bidwell Study Summary & Conclusions:
- Starting at birth, the NEWBORN IMMUNE PRIMER formula proved valuable and economical for preventing and treating calf scours.
- Placing the calf’s immune system on a high alert level against impending pathogens proved successful.
- Strategically using immune supplementation to establish a wellness platform early in life is key to overall health and performance.
- IMMUNE PRIMER is efficient and reliable as a new technology in the area of Wellness Management tools.
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Embryo Quality Characteristics
Characteristics of Superovulated Cows: Treatment with Nutrition
Horizons Nutrition Factor Immune Product (NHNFI)
G.H.L. Marquezinia, V.R.G. Mercadantea, M.M. Wardb, A.R. Spell,
J. Carter, N. Paton, G. C. Lamb
North Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Marianna, FL;
Nutrition Horizons, Lewisburg, OH;
Applied Reproduction Resources, Daphne, AL
Embryo Quality Characteristics: Summary
We evaluated the effects of the Nutrition Horizons Nutrition Factor Immune Product (NHNFI) on the quality, stage, and fertilization rate of embryos recovered from embryo donor cows. The cows were superovulated using follicle-stimulating hormone (NIH-FSH-P1) and were stratified by breed before being randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups:
1) The NHNFI group, which received six boluses of the product (n = 35).
2) The Control group, which received six placebo boluses containing wheat middlings (n = 37).
All donor cows underwent the same superovulation protocol. This was initiated by the insertion of a CIDR on day 0, followed by eight injections of FSH administered every 12 hours starting on day 4, and two injections of PGF administered 12 hours apart on day 7. Cows were artificially inseminated (AI) at 0 hours (with one unit of semen) and at 12 hours (with two units of semen) after detecting estrus. Boluses were administered into the esophagus using a balling gun, with two boluses given over three days: at CIDR insertion (day 0), at the first FSH injection (day 4), and at the third FSH injection (day 5).
Embryos were collected 7 days after the first detected estrus by a single embryo technician using a nonsurgical embryo collection procedure. The collected embryos were evaluated under a stereomicroscope and classified by stage and quality.
The total number of ova and transferable embryos collected per flush was not significantly different between the NHNFI and Control groups. The mean percentages of grade 1 and 2 embryos in stages 4, 5, or 6 were similar across treatments. Additionally, there were no differences in the number of degenerated or unfertilized embryos between the groups. However, the percentage of grade 1 embryos collected from the recovered transferable embryos tended to be higher (P = 0.062) for the NHNFI group (39.4%) compared to the Control group (23.4%). Conversely, the percentage of grade 2 embryos collected from the recovered transferable embryos was significantly greater (P < 0.05) for the Control group (76.6%) than for the NHNFI group (59.9%).
In conclusion, while the number of transferable embryos collected per flush did not differ between treatments, the quality of the transferable embryos was improved in donor cows that received NHNFI prior to embryo collection.
Embryo Quality Characteristics: Materials and Methods
Animals and Superovulation
Seventy-two embryo donor cows located in Marianna, FL, underwent a superovulation protocol. On day 0, the cows received a 2 mL combination injection containing estradiol and progesterone, along with a CIDR insert that contained 1.38 g of progesterone (Pfizer Animal Health, New York, NY).
On day 4, the cows were stimulated with eight decreasing doses of follicle-stimulating hormone (NIH-FSH-P1, Folltropin®-V, Bioniche Animal Health USA, Inc., Athens, GA), administered twice daily, 12 hours apart, over 4 consecutive days. Prostaglandin (PGF2α, 25 mg, Lutalyse, Pfizer Animal Health, New York, NY) was given 12 hours apart on day 7 of the protocol.
The cows were inseminated with a single unit of semen at the first observed estrus, followed by artificial insemination (AI) with two units of semen 12 hours later. All semen used in this experiment was collected and frozen by a certified service company following the guidelines of the North American Association of Animal Breeders.
Treatments
Rumen boluses were prepared using two different treatments: 1) the Nutrition Horizons Nutrition Factor Immune product (NHNFI) and 2) placebo boluses containing wheat middlings (Control). The boluses were inserted into the esophagus of each cow with a balling gun. Each cow received two boluses over three days: the first was administered at CIDR insertion (day 0), and the second was given during the first (day 4) and third (day 5) injections of FSH. After stratifying the cows by breed, they were assigned to either the NHNFI group (n = 35) or the Control group (n = 37). Two cows in the NHNFI treatment group did not respond to superstimulation and were excluded from the analyses.
Embryos were collected seven days after the first detected estrus. A single embryo technician performed a nonsurgical embryo collection procedure, and the embryos were evaluated under a stereomicroscope. The technician and the embryologist were blind to the treatments. Each embryo was assigned a developmental stage and quality grade according to the standards established by the International Embryo Transfer Society (Savoy, IL). The developmental stage codes were as follows: 4 = morula; 5 = early blastocyst; 6 = blastocyst; and 7 = expanded blastocyst. The quality codes were: 1 = symmetrical and spherical embryo mass with uniform blastomeres in size, color, and density, with at least 85% of the cellular material intact (excellent or good); 2 = moderate irregularities in the overall shape of the embryonic mass or in the size, color, and density of individual cells, with at least 50% of the cellular material intact (fair); 4 = dead or degenerating; and 5 = unfertilized.
Results
Table 1 summarizes the characteristics of superovulation and embryo quality. There were no differences in the total number of ova and transferable ova per flush between the NHNFI and Control groups. Additionally, the mean grades of embryos (grades 1 and 2, stages 4, 5, or 6) were similar across both treatments. No differences were observed in the number of degenerated or unfertilized embryos between the two groups.
However, there was a tendency for a greater percentage of grade 1 embryos collected compared to the total number of transferable embryos for the NHNFI group (39.4%) than for the Control group (23.4%), with a p-value of 0.062. On the other hand, the percentage of grade 2 embryos collected compared to the total number of transferable embryos was significantly higher for the Control group (76.6%) than for the NHNFI group (59.9%), with a p-value of less than 0.05.
This suggests that while the Control group has a higher percentage of grade 2 embryos, the NHNFI treatment may lead to an increased percentage of higher-quality grade 1 embryos compared to the controls.
Conclusion: Embryo Quality Characteristics
We can conclude that the number of transferable embryos collected per flush did not differ between treatments; however, the quality of transferable embryos was improved after embryo donor cows received NHNFI prior to embryo collection.
