Effects of changing housing on physiology of calves.
Holstein bull calves were assigned to be reared in either a stall until 47 d of age, then moved to a hutch; a hutch until 47 d, then moved to a stall; or an elevated pen. Jugular blood samples were obtained at 42, 49, and 56 d of age. Two trials were run during the fall of successive years with 5 to 7 calves per treatment per trial. Stalls were .56 X 1.2 m with elevated wooden slotted floors. Pens were 1.2 X 1.5 m with elevated wooden slotted floors and were located in the same open front building as the stalls. Hutches were 1.2 X 1.2 X 2.4 m long, and calves were restrained with a collar and 2.4-m chain. Calves were placed on treatment between 12 to 24 h after parturition. A treatment by day interaction for triiodothyronine, thyroxine, and adrenocorticotrophic hormone-induced cortisol release indicated that conditions responsible for treatment effects were largely reversed 9 d after moving from stalls to hutches or hutches to stalls.
Friend
T H
TH
Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843.
Dellmeier
G R
GR
Gbur
E E
EE
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D006799:Housing, Animal; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000502:physiology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013974:Thyroxine; D006854:Hydrocortisone