192
Views
9
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Scientific Article

Blood metabolites and body temperature of single calves between 1 and 4 days of age in a dairy herd in New Zealand

, , &
Pages 256-260 | Accepted 27 Jan 2004, Published online: 22 Feb 2011
 

Abstract

AIM: Using specified indices, to determine the nutritional and thermal status of calves between 1 and 4 days of age.

METHODS: After birth, calves (n=106) were collected daily, according to farm practice. Over the following 4 days a jugular blood sample and rectal temperature were taken twice daily before feeding. Plasma concentrations of glucose, beta-hydroxybutyrate and urea, and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activities were determined. The significance of differences in plasma composition and rectal temperature between calves whose birth had been assisted or unassisted, and between calves with low and high plasma GGT activities 24 h after birth, was determined using repeated measures analysis of varianc

RESULTS: There were no marked differences in plasma metabolite levels or body temperature of assisted and unassisted calves. Calves that had high plasma GGT activities 24 h after birth had higher plasma glucose concentrations over the 4 days than calves that had low plasma GGT activities (p<0.001). Overall, compared to published data on poorly-fed and hypothermic calves, calves in this study were normoglycaemic, their plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate and urea concentrations were low and their rectal temperatures were normal, indicating that they were well fed and did not become hypothermic.

CONCLUSIONS: The nutritional and thermal status of at least 90% of the calves was compatible with good health and survival during the first 4 days after birth.

Acknowledgements

We thank Gareth Evans, Michael Burry and their staff at Massey University Dairy Farm No. 4 for their support during the experiment; Phil Pearce and Marie Russell for advice and sample analysis; and Duncan Hedderley for advice about statistical analysis. We gratefully acknowledge the students and staff who provided assistance with the experiment. We would also like to gratefully acknowledge the financial support given by the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF Policy) and Dairy InSight.

Log in via your institution

Log in to Taylor & Francis Online

PDF download + Online access

  • 48 hours access to article PDF & online version
  • Article PDF can be downloaded
  • Article PDF can be printed
USD 61.00 Add to cart

Issue Purchase

  • 30 days online access to complete issue
  • Article PDFs can be downloaded
  • Article PDFs can be printed
USD 213.00 Add to cart

* Local tax will be added as applicable

Related Research

People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read.

Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine.

Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.
Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab.