Skip to main content
Log in

Influence of probiotic on somatic cell count in milk and immune system of dairy cows

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Comparative Clinical Pathology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of food supplementation with probiotic on milk production and its effect on seric biochemical variables and levels of cytokines in lactating cows. Thirty Holstein cows with production of 32 ± 3.8 kg/day and 129 ± 26 days of lactation were divided randomly into two groups: the control group (without probiotic supplementation) and the treatment group (probiotics from Saccharomyces cerevisiae at a dose of 3 g/day supplied via top dressing). The two groups received the same volume of feed twice a day. Milk volume was measured individually at each milking time. On days 0, 15, 30, and 44, individual milk samples were collected to measure milk composition and somatic cell counts (SCCs). Blood samples were collected on days 0 and 45 to measure urea, total protein, albumin, globulin, and cytokine levels. It was observed that the addition of S. cerevisiae had neither effect on milk production nor on milk composition. On the other hand, animals fed with probiotics showed reduced somatic cell counts on day 15 as well as a tendency in day 30 of study. Urea, total protein, and albumin levels did not differ between groups, but the levels of serum globulins increased on the probiotic-treated group. The treatment group also increased the levels of circulating cytokines [tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and interferon (IFN)]. The data suggest that the probiotic based on S. cerevisiae when provided to lactating cows is able to enhance their immune system.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ayad MA, Benallou B, Saim MS, Samadi MA, Meziane T (2013) Impact of feeding yeast culture on milk yield, milk components, and blood components in Algerian dairy herds. J Vet Sci Technol 4:135–140

    Google Scholar 

  • Bianchi AE, Macedo VR, Duarte MMMF, Lopes LS, Stefani LM, Rossett J, Klauck V, Radavelli W, Pazinato R, Bottari NB, Da Silva AS (2014) The effect of palm oil addition to the diet of dairy sheep on the immune response. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr 98:446–452

  • Bitencourt LL, Silva JRM, de Oliveira BML, Júnior SS, de Zacaroni OF, Pereira MN (2011) Diet digestibility and performance of dairy cows supplemented with live yeast. Sci Agric 68:301–307

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bruno RGS, Rutiglianoa HM, Cerri RL, Robinson PH, Santos JEP (2009) Effect of feeding Saccharomyces cerevisiae on performance of dairy cows during summer heat stress. Anim Feed Sci Technol 150:175–186

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chiquette J (1995) Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus oryzae, used alone or in combination, as fed supplement for beef and dairy cattle. Can J Anim Sci 75:405–415

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coles EH (1986) Veterinary clinical pathology. Saunders, Philadelphia, p 486

    Google Scholar 

  • Coppola MM, Turnes CG (2004) Probiotics and immune response. Cienc Rural 34:1297–1303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Costa LF (2004) Leveduras na Nutrição Animal. Rev Eletr Nutr 1:1–6

    Google Scholar 

  • Cuarón JÁ (2006) Estímulo de lainmunidad por pre y prebióticos. In: Congressolatino-Americano de Nutrição Animal, São Paulo

  • Dann HM, Dackley JK, Mccoy GC, Hutjens MF, Garrett JE (2000) Effects of yeast culture (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on prepartum intake and postpartum intake and milk production of Jersey cows. J Dairy Sci 83:123–127

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Doretto JS (1996) Influência do tempo e da temperatura de estocagem sobre a estabilidade de alguns constituintes do soro sangüíneo de bovinos. Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias Veterinárias da UNESP, Jaboticabal, p 61

    Google Scholar 

  • Erasmus LJ, Botha PM, Kistner A (1992) Effect of yeast culture supplement on production, rumen fermentation, and duodenal nitrogen flow in dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 75:3056–3065

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Feldman BV, Zinkl JG, Jain NC (2000) Schalm’s veterinary hematology, 5th edn. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, p 787

    Google Scholar 

  • Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) (2012) Produção Agrícola 2012. Accessed: October 2013. Disponible in: <http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/indicadores/agropecuaria/lspa/default.shtm>

  • Krehbiel CR, Rust G, Zhang G, Gilliand SE (2003) Bacterial direct-fed microbials in ruminant diets: performance response and mode of action. Anim Sci 81:120–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Moran CA (2004) Functional components of the cell wall of Saccharomyces cerevisiae: applications for yeast glucan and mannan. In: Lyons TP, Jacques KA (eds) Nutritional biotechnology in the feed and food industries. Proceedings of Alltech’s 20th Annual Symposium: re-imagining the feed industry, Lexington, Kentucky, USA, pp 283–296

  • Oliveira BML, Bitencourt LL, Silva JRM, Dias-Júnior GS, Branco ICC, Pereira RAN, Pereira MN (2010) Suplementação de vacas leiteiras com Saccharomyces cerevisiae cepa KA500. Arq Bras Med Vet Zootec 62:1174–1182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perdigón G, Holgado APR (2000) Mechanisms involved in the immunostimulation by lactic acid bacteria. In: Fuller R, Perdigón G (eds) Probiotics 3: immunodulation by the gut microflora and probiotics. Kluwer Academic, Dordrecht, pp 213–233

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Piva G, Belladonna S, Fusconi G, Sicbaldi F (1993) Effects of yeast on dairy cow performance, ruminal fermentation, blood components, and milk manufacturing properties. J Dairy Sci 76:2717–2722

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rodrigues ACP, Cara DC, Fretez SHGG (2000) Saccharomyces boulardii induces the production of type 1 and type 2 cytokines in gnotobiotic mice. In: The prospects of probiotics and therapy of diseases of young. High Tatras. Proceedings…. High Tatras, Slovak Republic: Department of Gnotobiology and Diseases of Young-Research Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Kosice, p. 87

  • Santos FAP, Carmo CA, Martinez JC, Pires AV, Bittar CMM (2006) Desempenho de vacas em lactação recebendo dietas com diferentes teores de amido total, acrescidas ou não de levedura (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). Rev Bras Zootec 35:1568–1575

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sordilho LM, Snider M, Hughes H, Afseth G, Campos M, Babiuk LA (1991) Pathological changes in bovine mammary glands following intramammary infusion of recombinant interleukin-2. J Dairy Sci 74:4164–4174

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suñé RW, Mühlbach PRF (1998) Efeito da adição da cultura de levedura (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) Cepa 1026 na produção e qualidade do leite de vacas Holandês em pastejo. Rev Bras Zootec 27:1248–1252

    Google Scholar 

  • Tizard IR (2002) Imunologia Veterinária: Uma Introdução. Roca, São Paulo, p 532

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoon IK, Stern MD (1995) Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus oryzae cultures on ruminal fermentation in dairy cows. Anim Sci 79:533–555

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Carlos E. Oltramari or Aleksandro S. Da Silva.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Spaniol, J.S., Oltramari, C.E., Locatelli, M. et al. Influence of probiotic on somatic cell count in milk and immune system of dairy cows. Comp Clin Pathol 24, 677–681 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-014-1966-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-014-1966-y

Keywords

Navigation