Weanling pigs (n = 132) were used to investigate the effects of three common stressors (and a control) and differing social status on behavior, immunity, plasma cortisol, blood chemical, and performance measures. Eleven blocks of 12 pigs each were evaluated. Each pen contained three pigs of dominant (DOM), intermediate (INT), or submissive (SUB) social status. Two weeks later, random pens of pigs experienced either a control treatment (CON) or they were stressed for 4 h by shipping (SHIP), heat-stressed (HEAT) with overhead heat lamps in their home pens, or cold-stressed (COLD) by direct application of water and an air current. Treatments did not influence body weights; however, percentage weight loss during SHIP was greater than for other treatments. Body weights were heavier for DOM pigs than for INT and SUB pigs. Social status had large effects on plasma cortisol, globulin, acute-phase proteins, body weight, and weight changes. Only acute shipping stress resulted in weight loss. Many immune and blood measures were not changed among acutely stressed pigs; however, the relationship between social status and mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation and natural killer cell cytotoxicity was disrupted during acute stress. Pig behavior was significantly changed by each stress treatment in a unique manner. During acute stress, behavioral changes seem to be the most consistent and reliable indicators.

Thirty-six Angus and Angus×Simmental heifers, averaging 291 kg, were used to determine the effects of dietary Cr, in the form of Cr propionate (Cr Prop), on glucose metabolism and serum insulin concentrations following glucose administration. Heifers were stratified by body weight (BW) within a breed and randomly assigned to treatments. Treatments consisted of 0, 3, 6, or 9 mg of supplemental Cr/d from Cr Prop. Based on dry matter (DM) intakes, the daily doses of Cr were equivalent to 0.47, 0.94, and 1.42 mg of supplemental Cr/kg of DM. Heifers were individually fed a corn silage-based diet at a level of 2% of BW. Each heifer was also fed 0.45 kg of a ground corn supplement daily that served as a carrier for supplemental Cr. Glucose tolerance tests were performed on d 44 of the study. Glucose was infused via jugular catheters at a level of 0.45 g/kg of BW(0.75) over a course of 1 to 2 min. Blood samples were collected at -10, 0, 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 min relative to glucose dosing for glucose and insulin determination. Area under the glucose response curve was lower (1,603 vs. 1,964 mg/dL per minute) in heifers supplemented with Cr from 0 to 45 min following glucose challenge. Serum insulin concentrations were lower in Cr-supplemented heifers than in controls following glucose infusion. The molar ratio of insulin to glucose was also lower in Cr-supplemented heifers relative to controls. Serum insulin and serum insulin to glucose ratios did not differ among heifers supplemented with 3, 6, or 9 mg of Cr/d. Results indicate that Cr Prop supplementation increased tissue sensitivity to insulin in growing heifers. Based on insulin sensitivity, Cr requirements (as Cr Prop) of growing heifers can be met by supplementing with 3 mg of Cr/d or 0.47 mg of Cr/kg of DM.

An experiment was conducted to examine the effects of dietary Mn on growth, reproductive performance, and Mn status of beef heifers. Eighty Angus (n = 40) and Simmental (n = 40) heifers, averaging 249 kg, were stratified by BW within a breed and randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments providing 0 (control), 10, 30, or 50 mg of supplemental Mn/kg of DM from MnSO(4). Heifers were individually fed a diet containing cottonseed hulls, corn gluten feed, citrus pulp, and ground corn, and the control diet contained 15.8 mg of Mn/kg of DM by analysis. Average daily gain, DMI, and G:F for the 196-d period were not affected by Mn supplementation. Control heifers had reduced (P = 0.04) liver Mn when contrasted with the 3 levels of supplemental Mn. Serum cholesterol was greater (P = 0.001) in Angus compared with Simmental heifers over the course of the 196-d experiment but was not affected by treatment. Dietary Mn did not significantly affect measures of reproductive performance. Results of this study indicate that 15.8 mg of Mn/kg of diet DM should be adequate for growth, onset of estrus, and conception of beef heifers.

Norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) actively inhibit the release of LH in anestrous ewes. This can be detected as an increase in LH pulse frequency following i.v. injection of NE and DA antagonists. The objective of this study was to determine the sites of these inhibitory actions in the ovine hypothalamus by using local administrations of the NE antagonist, phenoxybenzamine (PBZ), or the DA antagonist, pimozide (PIM), into specific hypothalamic areas. Each neurotransmitter antagonist was administered via a chronically implanted steel guide tube into either the preoptic area (POA), retrochiasmatic area (RCh), or the median eminence region (ME). Blood samples were taken every 15 min for 2 h before and 4 h during implantation of these drugs and were analyzed for LH and prolactin by RIA. Control (no treatment) samples were obtained similarly from the same animals on another day. Placement of PBZ into the POA significantly increased LH pulse frequency and mean LH concentrations over control values whereas PIM did not. In contrast, PIM significantly increased LH pulse frequency and mean LH concentrations when placed in the ME or in the RCh, but PBZ did not. No effects of PIM on prolactin concentrations were detected. These results suggest that an NE neural system operates in the POA and that a DA system acts in the medial basal hypothalamus (RCh or ME) to suppress GnRH pulse frequency in the ovary-intact anestrous ewe.

This study was designed to investigate the effects of weaning age on specific components of the adaptive immune system in pigs. Twenty-three crossbred pigs were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: weaning at 14 (14D, n = 8), 21 (21D, n = 7), or 28 (28D, n = 8) d of age. Peripheral blood samples, obtained when pigs were 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, 29, and 35 d of age, were analyzed for peripheral blood cell percentages and concentrations of neutrophils, lymphocytes, T cell subsets, mature B cells, and plasma cortisol concentrations. For each of the 3 groups, weaning increased plasma cortisol concentrations (P < 0.001) and reduced BW percentage change (P < 0.017). Lymphocyte concentrations displayed a treatment effect for the 14D (P = 0.074) and 28D (P = 0.014) groups. Albeit inconsistent, lymphocyte concentrations were less in weaned pigs on the day after weaning than in pigs remaining on the sow or weaned at a younger age. Specifically, mature B cells (CD21(+)) and CD4(+)CD8(+) cells decreased (P < 0.05) after weaning at 28 d of age. Other differences occurred among treatments; however, the differences apparently were not associated with weaning. Based upon the immunological measures used in the present study, there was not an explicit benefit to the adaptive immune system for any weaning age. Early weaning did not negatively affect the adaptive immunological competence of pigs as determined by changes in populations of immune cells.