Get started
Work

Effect of post-weaning management practices on physiological and immunological responses of weaned beef calves

Year: 2011
Type: article
Abstract: The objectives were: i) to investigate the physiological and immunological responses\nof previously grazed, abruptly weaned beef calves that were then either housed (H)\nand offered a diet of grass silage ad libitum plus concentrate or returned to familiar\npasture (P) (Phase I), and ii) to examine the effect of subsequent housing (35 days\npost-weaning) on these responses in P calves compared with the H calves, which were\nacclimated to housing (Phase II). Rectal temperature was recorded and jugular blood\nwas collected on days 0 (weaning), 2, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 (Phase I) and on days 0\n(housing of P), 2, 7, 14, and 21 (Phase II). There was a treatment × sampling time\ninteraction (P<0.05) for rectal temperature, fibrinogen concentration, total leukocyte\nand lymphocyte number, and phytohaemagglutinin-induced interferon-γ production\nduring Phase I, with H calves having higher (P<0.05) rectal temperature and fibrinogen\nconcentrations on day 7, lower total leukocyte and lymphocyte number on days\n7 to 35 and days 2 to 28, respectively, and reduced interferon-γ production on day\n7 compared with P calves. Neutrophilia (P<0.05) was present in P calves on days 2\nand 7 post-weaning. In Phase II, total leukocyte and neutrophil numbers increased\n(P<0.05), whereas lymphocyte number declined on day 2 relative to values on day 0\nof Phase II. In conclusion, deferring housing at the time of weaning resulted in a\nless marked stress response in beef calves compared with the traditional combined\npractice of weaning and simultaneous housing, however these changes were minimal suggesting that the overall health and welfare of beef calves was not compromised by\nabrupt weaning and simultaneous housing.
Language: English
Open Access status: green
Funder: Teagasc
OpenAlex ID: W39001966
FWCI: 3.042
Cites: 24
Cited by: 28
Related to: 10