Impacts of polyclonal antibody preparations from avian origin as a feed additive to beef cattle: Immune responses during the step-up transition diets

This study investigated the effects of feeding an avian-derived polyclonal antibody preparation (PAP; CAMAS, Inc.) against Streptococcus bovis, Fusobacterium necrophorum, and lipopolysaccharides (40, 35, and 25% of the preparation, respectively) on immune responses [haptoglobin (Hp), serum amyloid A (SAA), rectal temperature (RT), leukocyte counts, and expression of cell adhesion molecules cluster of differentiation (CD) CD11b, CD14, and CD62L] of beef steers during a 21-d step-up adaptation to a high-grain diet. Eight ruminally cannulated Angus crossbred beef steers (658 ± 79 kg of BW) were assigned in a cross-over design and transitioned from a diet containing bermudagrass hay [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] ad libitum plus 0.45 kg/d of molasses with 0 (CON) or 3 g of PAP (PAP) to a high-grain diet. Transition consisted of three 7-d steps of increased inclusion of cracked corn (35, 60, and 82% of the diet dry matter for STEP1, STEP2, and STEP3, respectively). On each transition day and 7 d after STEP3 (STEP3-7d), RT was obtained every 3 h for a total of 24 h, whereas blood was collected on d 0, 1, and 3, relative to diet transition. There were no effects of PAP inclusion in any of the blood parameters (P > 0.11). However, a tendency for day effect (P = 0.10) was observed for concentrations of Hp, which were greater on d 3 and 7 vs. d 0 relative to the second diet transition (STEP2). Plasma concentrations of SAA were greater on d 1, 3, and 7 compared to d 0 during STEP1 (P = 0.01), while during STEP2 and STEP3, SAA concentrations increased (P < 0.01) from d 0 to 3. During STEP2, PAP steers tended to have lower (P = 0.08) RT than CON steers. Neutrophil and monocyte counts were the least during STEP3 (P < 0.01), whereas expression of CD11b and CD62L was the least through forage feeding (P < 0.01). Concentration of starch in the diet was correlated to all the variables tested (P ≤ 0.01), except for the percentage of B cells (P = 0.22). Yet only ruminal pH, RT, monocyte, and neutrophil counts presented strong correlation coefficients. In conclusion, the step-up transition from forage to high-grain diets triggered systemic inflammation in beef steers as observed by increased plasma concentrations of haptoglobin, serum amyloid A, and expression on adhesion molecules in leukocytes. However, feeding polyclonal antibody preparations against Streptococcus bovis, Fusobacterium necrophorum, and lipopolysaccharide did not provide benefits to mitigate inflammation.