title: Effect of transportation during periods of high ambient temperature on physiologic and behavioral indices of beef heifers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of transportation during periods of high ambient temperature on physiologic and behavioral indices of beef heifers.
  
  
  METHODS
  20 heifers (mean body weight, 217.8 kg).
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten heifers were transported 518 km when the maximum ambient temperature was ≥ 32.2°C while the other 10 heifers served as untransported controls. Blood samples were collected from transported heifers at predetermined intervals during the transportation period. For all heifers, body weights, nasal and rectal temperatures, and behavioral indices were measured at predetermined intervals for 3 days after transportation. A week later, the entire process was repeated such that each group was transported twice and served as the control twice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Transported heifers spent more time near the hay feeder on the day of transportation, had lower nasal and rectal temperatures for 24 hours after transportation, and spent more time lying down for 2 days after transportation, compared with those indices for control heifers. Eight hours after transportation, the weight of transported heifers decreased 6%, whereas that of control heifers increased 0.6%. At 48 hours after initiation of transportation, weight, rectal temperature, and time spent at various pen locations did not differ between transported and control heifers. Cortisol concentrations were higher 4 hours after initiation of transportation, compared with those determined just prior to transportation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results indicated transportation during periods of high ambient temperatures caused transient changes in physiologic and behavioral indices of beef heifers.
authors: Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA.
authors: Miles E
authors: ME
authors: Theurer
authors: Brad J
authors: BJ
authors: White
authors: David E
authors: DE
authors: Anderson
authors: Matt D
authors: MD
authors: Miesner
authors: Derek A
authors: DA
authors: Mosier
authors: Johann F
authors: JF
authors: Coetzee
authors: David E
authors: DE
authors: Amrine
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002417:Cattle / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D016015:Logistic Models; D011897:Random Allocation; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D014186:Transportation
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone