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J. Dairy Sci. 2009. 92:365-368. doi:10.3168/jds.2008-1323
© 2009 American Dairy Science Association ®
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Short communication: Analysis of immune function in lactating dairy cows fed diets varying in phosphorus content

I. K. Mullarky1, W. A. Wark, M. Dickenson, S. Martin, C. S. Petersson-Wolfe and K. F. Knowlton

Department of Dairy Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg 24061

1 Corresponding author: mullarky{at}vt.edu

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of varying dietary P on bovine immune function. Nine first- or second-lactation Holstein cows were fed diets varying in P in a 3 x 3 Latin square design. Diets were formulated to contain either low (0.34%, no supplementary P), medium (0.43%), or high (0.52%) P. All 3 diets were formulated to meet or exceed current NRC requirements for P content. Between d 21 and 26 of each period, blood samples were collected and serum inorganic P concentration, lymphocyte proliferation, and neutrophil bactericidal activity were measured. Serum P increased with increasing dietary P intake and was greatest in the first lactation compared with subsequent lactations. There was a stage of lactation-dependent increase in lymphocyte proliferation after stimulation with concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, or pokeweed mitogen. However, dietary P did not alter lymphocyte proliferation or neutrophil bactericidal activity in vitro. In conclusion, decreasing dietary P to reduce manure P content and the risk of P losses from farms to surface water does not have an adverse effect on the innate or cell-mediated immune responses of lactating dairy cattle.

Key Words: phosphorus • cattle • immune function






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