Causes of Oxidative Stress

There are many causes of oxidative stress that can cost a producer money. Disease challenges such as bacterial and viral pathogens can be linked to oxidative stress. Fast growth, early lactation and obesity can also elevate oxidative stress. Environmental conditions, such as heat stress, increase oxidative stress. Finally, the diet plays a key role. Vitamin and mineral imbalances can be linked to oxidative stress as well.

Signs of Oxidative Stress

Dealing with oxidative stress requires more energy from the animal that could be used for milk production, growth, longevity and overall animal productivity. Symptoms can include retained placenta, udder edema and mastitis, as well as delayed first estrus, delayed first breeding and repeat breeding resulting from failure to conceive or from early embryonic death. For producers, this means increased calving intervals, lowered production and, ultimately, culling of cows for failure to breed. All of these symptoms are costly and reduce profitability for the dairy producer.

What Happens

There is a natural balance between free-radical formation and the defense system in both humans and animals. For a dairy cow to stay healthy, the systems should stay in balance. But when the body is under stress, free radicals can get out of balance.

When this system is out of balance, the body initiates an oxidative chain reaction, resulting in oxidative stress. Peroxidative damage can occur in lipids and macromolecules, which can cause free-radical formation. Those changes in cellular membranes can modify metabolic pathways with altered physiology and pathology, which can lead to decreased efficiency and premature cell death.

Once critical structural damage occurs, antioxidants may no longer be able to repair the problems. Understanding proper balance could help reduce stress and prevent some of the greatest problems animals face—the same challenges that affect the dairy producers’ bottom line.

Role of Nutrition

Nutrition is known to play an important role in oxidative balance, as nutrients are important for synthesis of and as cofactors for enzymes. Specific ingredients or ingredient components can provide protection against pathogen invasion or exposure. Certain nutrients also play a role in oxidative balance by enhancing tissue integrity, thus enhancing the barrier to free-radical attack. One way to manage oxidative balance is through a comprehensive nutritional approach that manages ingredients for quality, minimizes pathogen exposure, optimizes response to vaccination, maximizes tissue integrity and supports optimal functioning of the normal antioxidant system.

Solutions to Oxidative Stress

A dairy cow’s nutrition program can help maintain oxidative balance. The nutrition program can benefit from the proper balance of antioxidants, minerals and amino acids.