Characterisation of physiological and immunological responses in beef cows to abrupt weaning and subsequent housing

Lynch, Eilish M; Earley, Bernadette; McGee, M.; Doyle, Seán

doi:10.1186/1746-6148-6-37

Cited by 45 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…It seems that the behavioral response is more sensible than the hematological response to weaning in experienced cows. Therefore, it should be considered that although hematological parameters are reliable indicators of stress (Lynch et al, 2010), experimental results that do not include other physiological or behavioral variables should be carefully considered if comparisons of stress responses are the aim. This interpretation agrees with Bath (1998), who considered that stress responses should be studied by multiple approaches, since chemical changes, behavior or performance provide only partial information.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioral and physiological changes in early-weaned multiparous and primiparous beef cows

Ungerfeld

Hötzel

Scarsi

et al. 2011

Animal

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Early weaning is used to advance postpartum ovulation in beef cows, but triggers a stress response, affecting cows' and calves' welfare. Our aim was to compare the response to early weaning in multiparous and primiparous cows. Seventy-one days after birth, calves from 14 primiparous and 11 multiparous cows were weaned. Since birth, cow's body weight (BW), body condition (BC), milk yield and calves' BW were recorded. Basophil/neutrophil relationship, total protein and albumin concentrations were measured before and after weaning. The distance between each cow and its calf before weaning, as well as main behaviors of the cows before and after weaning were recorded using 10 min scan sampling. BW and BC were greater in multiparous than in primiparous cows ( P , 0.0001 for both). There was an interaction between parity ( P 5 0.004) and gender of the calf ( P 5 0.007): both BW and BC were greater in multiparous than primiparous cows, but multiparous cows with male calves had lower BW and BC than those with females ( P , 0.001 for both variables). Milk yield was greater in multiparous than in primiparous cows ( P 5 0.02), and there was an interaction, with greatest milk yield in multiparous cows that calved males ( P 5 0.02). Total protein blood concentration increased with time ( P , 0.0001), similarly in both groups. Albumin concentration profiles were similar despite parity, and decreased since 10 days after weaning ( P , 0.0001). Basophil/neutrophil ratio was not affected by parity, and increased the day of weaning, remaining high until day 10 ( P , 0.05). Frequency of standing decreased during the 2 days after weaning, with a greater decrease in multiparous than in primiparous cows ( P , 0.0001). Pacing increased after weaning ( P 5 0.001), but increased significantly more in multiparous cows ( P 5 0.006), with a significant time after weaning by parity interaction ( P 5 0.01) reflected in greater frequencies in multiparous cows in the 2 days. Walking increased with time ( P , 0.0001), and was more frequent in primiparous cows ( P 5 0.008). Ruminating, which was less frequent in multiparous cows ( P 5 0.014), decreased and remained low during the 3 days following weaning ( P , 0.0001), but there was a significant time by parity interaction ( P , 0.0001). The frequency of vocalizations increased dramatically after weaning ( P , 0.0001), and was greater in multiparous cows ( P 5 0.006), and decreased more slowly during the 2nd and 3rd days after weaning ( P 5 0.005) in these animals. In conclusion, behavioral changes induced by weaning were greater in multiparous than primiparous cows, indicating a more intense response to cow-calf separation in the multiparous animals.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioral and physiological changes in early-weaned multiparous and primiparous beef cows

Ungerfeld

Hötzel

Scarsi

et al. 2011

Animal

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“…The plasma concentration of adrenal androgens increases during acute stress [6]. In contrast, prolonged stress decreases the plasma concentration of these steroids in humans, cattle, and cats [6][7][8][9][10][11]. This decrease in adrenal androgens coupled with the increase in cortisol may have a role in the diminished vigor of cattle with inflammatory conditions or chronic stress and thus may contribute to the decreased food consumption, poor digestive function, decreased weight gain, and diminished milk production of stressed cattle [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Interleukin-6 inhibits adrenal androgen release from bovine adrenal zona reticularis cells by inhibiting the expression of steroidogenic proteins

McIlmoil

Call

Barney

et al. 2015

Domestic Animal Endocrinology

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“…Although meat ruminant extensive systems can increase the reproductive and productive performance of the head, abrupt weaning is a source of stress for the animals (Lynch et al, 2010;Ungerfeld et al, 2011;Enríquez et al, 2010). Generally, weaning causes a wide range of physiological and behavioural responses (Hickey et al, 2003;Loberg et al, 2008;Carroll et al, 2009).…”

Section: The Antioxidant Capacity In Tissuesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Protein and/or Energy Restriction for Six Weeks, Followed with Nutritional Recovery on the Antioxidant Capacity and Development of Liver, Spleen and Muscle of Weaned Kids

Yang¹,

Sun²,

He³

et al. 2012

JAS

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The effects of protein and/or energy restrictions on the antioxidant capacity and development of liver, spleen and muscle were investigated in kids. Sixty Liuyang Black kids, weaned at 28-day old, were allocated to four treatments: control, either energy or protein restriction, and combined energy and protein restriction. The experimental period consisted of six weeks of nutritional restriction followed with nine weeks of nutritional recovery. On day 42, energy restriction decreased the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in spleen, the superoxide dismutase (SOD) mRNA level in muscle and spleen, and the ratio of RNA to DNA in liver (P < 0.05); protein restriction decreased the activity of glutathione reductase (GR) in muscle and liver, the ratio of RNA to DNA in liver, and the N concentration and the ratio of N to DNA in spleen and muscle (P < 0.05); combined restriction of energy and protein decreased the activities of catalase and GR and the ratio of RNA to DNA in muscle, and the activities of SOD, GSH-Px and GR in spleen (P < 0.05). On day 105, there was no difference in the antioxidant parameters among four groups (P > 0.05); however, the weights of liver and spleen in groups of pre-protein restriction and pre-combined restriction of energy and protein were still less than those of kids in control. The results indicate that six weeks of nutritional restriction can reduce the antioxidant capacity of muscle, spleen and liver, retard the development of liver and spleen, and the retarded development partly continues even after nine weeks of nutritional recovery.

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Characterisation of physiological and immunological responses in beef cows to abrupt weaning and subsequent housing

Cited by 45 publications

References 41 publications

Behavioral and physiological changes in early-weaned multiparous and primiparous beef cows

Behavioral and physiological changes in early-weaned multiparous and primiparous beef cows

Interleukin-6 inhibits adrenal androgen release from bovine adrenal zona reticularis cells by inhibiting the expression of steroidogenic proteins

Effects of Protein and/or Energy Restriction for Six Weeks, Followed with Nutritional Recovery on the Antioxidant Capacity and Development of Liver, Spleen and Muscle of Weaned Kids

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