Oorsig/Review
What is inflammation and
why SHOULD YOU be concerned?
Dr Connie Larson
Historically the livestock and poultry industries
have addressed common production challenges,
such as poor carcass and meat quality, suboptimal
reproduction, decreased milk production and
milk quality, as well as lameness, as singular
issues. We now understand that there is a
common root cause that links these production
issues: chronic or imbalanced inflammation.
What is inflammation?
Inflammation is necessary for life and is the first
step in the healing or repair process that helps the
body fight off bacteria, pathogens and their toxins,
and repair damaged tissue. If you’ve ever twisted
your ankle, been stung by an insect or cut your
finger, you may have experienced first-hand the
familiar sensations of pain, redness, swelling, and
heat that result from an injury or infection. This
is inflammation in action. While an appropriate
and robust inflammatory response is necessary,
excessive or prolonged inflammation can become
detrimental if not controlled. Inflammation is
divided into two categories: acute and chronic.
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Acute inflammation is the first line of defence
to a pathogen or injury. It’s a short-term
process wherein the immune system sends
white blood cells to the site of the injury to
initiate the healing process. This response
should be rapid and robust, appearing within
minutes or hours following the activation of
an immune response.
Chronic inflammation occurs when the
immune response fails to eliminate the
cause of the immune response or acute
inflammation. Chronic inflammation can last
for weeks, months, or even longer. It diverts
nutrients away from growth, reproduction
and production in order to fuel the fight
against the inflammatory response.
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If you’ve ever twisted your ankle, you may have experienced
the familiar sensations of pain, redness, swelling, and heat that
result from an injury or infection. This is inflammation in action.
The cost of chronic inflammation
While inflammation is necessary, there is a
trade-off in terms of animal performance. When
an animal is sick, its feed intake will decrease at
the same time as the immune system redirects
nutrients from growth to an inflammatory
response. When the immune response persists
and chronic inflammation occurs, nutrients
and energy are diverted away from animal
performance, including growth, reproduction,
feed efficiency, and meat, milk, or egg production
– ultimately decreasing profitability.
The immune system in action
The immune system is comprised of a
sophisticated network of cells, proteins and
enzymes that are programmed to monitor
animal wellness. This network of cells detects
and responds to bacteria and pathogens that
may invade the body, as well as responds to
stressors, injury, or environmental challenges.
All of these can have a detrimental impact on
animal wellness and performance.