Immature dendritic cells (DCs) resident in bovine spleens represent a distinct CD11a(+) CD11c(+) CD13(+) CD172(+) CD205(+) population compared to those circulating in peripheral blood or trafficking via afferent lymph. Upon cytokine-induced maturation, splenic DCs both efficiently present antigen in the stimulation of allogeneic lymphocyte proliferation and recall antigen-specific responses.