PARTNERSHIP: WILDFIRE SMOKE AND THE DAIRY INDUSTRY; IMPACTS ON ANIMAL PERFORMANCE AND HEALTH AND MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR MECHANISMS INVOLVED

Our overarching goal is to understand the pathogenesis and persistency of wildfire particulate matter (PM)-induced health effects in dairy cows and calves. Our central hypothesis is that wildfire PM induces inflammation and oxidative damage that impairs pulmonary function and health, and induces long-term aberrations in the immune and pulmonary systems of the neonatal calf that persist through several key ontogenic stages. We will test our central hypothesis through a combination of observational and experimental and whole-animal, molecular and cellular approaches. Further, we will assess the efficacy of an outdoor air purifier to mitigate the negative health and performance outcomes associated with wildfire PM exposure. The specific objectives of this research are to 1) determine the local and systemic innate immune responses to wildfire smoke exposure in lactating dairy cows and consequent effects on pulmonary and whole-animal health and performance in the short- and long-term; 2) investigate short- and long-term effects in calves exposed to wildfire-derived PM during early postnatal life; and 3) assess the efficacy of an outdoor air purifier in mitigating declines in cattle health and performance from wildfire smoke exposure.?