Cardiorespiratory Patterns, Rectal Temperature, Serum Electrolytes and Packed Cell Volume in Beef Cattle Deprived of Feed and Water

Abstract

Two trials were conducted with a total of 12 beef heifers and steers to determine the effect of 48-hr deprivation of feed or water or both on rectal temperature, respiratory and heart rates, electrocardiograph (EKG) patterns, packed cell volume (PCV) and the concentrations of serum sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium. The same measurements plus the serum concentration of total acid-soluble phosphorus were made in a third trial with six steers and a 96-hr deprivation period. A fourth trial was conducted with three rumen fistulated steers to determine the effect of manually emptying the rumen on EKG patterns, Deprivation of feed or water or both for 96 hr reduced (P<.05) rectal temperature by 1.5% and respiratory rate by 47% and increased (P<.05) P and R EKG amplitudes by 33% and 35%, respectively, PCB by 21% and serum phosphorus by 43%. Deprivation reduced heart rate 19% and increased serum sodium and potassium 12 and 23%, respectively, but these changes were not significant. These changes appeared smaller and less consistent for animals deprived for 48 hours. The physiological changes associated with both 48-hr and 96-hr deprivation were most pronounced during the deprivation period and for 24 hr after reintroduction of feed and water with little evidence of treatment effects 48 hr after the reintroduction of feed and water. For animals deprived 96 hr, changes in respiratory rate (P<.01), PCV (P~.05) and serum phosphorus (P<.05) were greater for the animals fed concentrate than for those fed in obtaining the physiological measurements in these trials.forage; changes in heart rate and the P-R and T-P EKG intervals tended to be greater for the animals deprived of both feed and water than for animals deprived of feed or water alone. Manually emptying the rumen had little effect on EKG patterns. In the absence of engorgement after a deprivation period as long as 96 hr, the measurements in this study indicated that beef cattle return quickly to a physiologically normal state. (

Effect of water and feed withdrawal and health status on blood and serum components, body weight loss, and meat and carcass characteristics of Holstein slaughter cows1

“…Packed cell volume was greater (P < 0.001) in sick cows in comparison with cows that were not sick, which was likely a result of reduced water intake. Overall, these findings agree with other authors who observed no difference in mean PCV in water-deprived cattle (Rumsey and Bond, 1976;Cole and Hutcheson, 1981;Gortel et al, 1992;Bjerg et al, 2005).…”

Effect of water restriction on performance, hematology and antibody responses in parenteral or intranasal modified-live viral vaccinated beef calves

“…However, as previously indicated no treatment effect on RT was resolved in the current study. In a previous study, RT decreased following 48 h deprivation of feed and water in steers; 14 in the current study CHRSUB and CHRINT had numerically reduced RT on d -3 compared to the other treatments that had not been restricted from water access at this time, but the difference was not statistically significant (P ~ 0.63).…”

Interferon Production and Replication of Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis Virus in Fasted Calves

“…Viremia was not detected. In all treatment groups, mean viral shedding reached a peak between days 2 and 4 after inoculation, declining thereafter with cessation of shedding by day 11 (Fig. 1).…”