As the low concentrate/high forage group had significantly fewer mastitis and lameness episodes, one interpretation might be that higher levels of NAb within this group are associated with an improved capacity of the innate immune system to respond to pathogenic challenge, with subsequently lower incidence of clinical/subclinical disease and consequently lower levels of TNFα and haptoglobin, both of which are associated with pro-inflammatory immune responses [15], [26]. This evidence concerns the gene TNF and mastitis.