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

Authors: Stafford KJ, Mellor DJ, Diesch TJ, Ward RN
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 52, Issue 5, pp 256-260, Oct 2004
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Cattle, Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant
Subject Terms: Animal welfare, Biochemistry/chemistry, Clinical pathology, Diagnostic procedures, Diet/rations/food, Metabolic disease, Neonatal, Nutrition/metabolism, Mortality/morbidity, Parturition, Physiology, Reproduction, Reproduction - female
Article class: Scientific Article

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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 variance.
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.
KEY WORDS: Calves, beta-hydroxybutyrate, GGT, glucose, hypothermia, rectal temperature, starvation, urea

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