Impact of Cold Stress on Physiological, Endocrinological, Immunological, Metabolic, and Behavioral Changes of Beef Cattle at Different Stages of Growth

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of cold stress (CS) on the physiological, blood, and behavioral parameters of beef cattle according to their growth stage. Twelve calves in the growing stages (220.4 ± 12.33 kg, male and non-castrated) and twelve steers in the early fattening stages (314.2 ± 18.44 kg) were used in this experiment. The animals were randomly distributed into three homogenized groups (four animals each) for 14 days, namely threshold, mild–moderate cold stress (MCS), and extreme cold stress (ECS), according to the outside ambient temperature. The feed and water intakes were recorded daily. The physiological parameters, blood parameters, and behavioral patterns were measured weekly. All data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis. The calves exposed to the ECS decreased (p < 0.064, tendency) their dry matter intake compared to the threshold and MCS groups. The HR and RT increased (p < 0.001) in the ECS compared to the threshold in calves and steers. Moreover, increased (p < 0.05) blood cortisol, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), and time spent standing were observed after exposure to ECS in calves and steers. However, the calves exposed to the ECS had decreased (p = 0.018) blood glucose levels compared to the threshold. In conclusion, ECS affects the dry matter intake, HR, RT, blood cortisol, NEFA, and behavioral patterns in beef calves and steers. This phenomenon indicated that beef cattle exposed to CS modulated their behavior and blood parameters as well as their physiological response to maintain homeostasis regardless of the growth stage.

Heating Drinking Water in Cold Season Improves Growth Performance via Enhancing Antioxidant Capacity and Rumen Fermentation Function of Beef Cattle

“…Exposure to a cold climate could induce metabolic changes in beef cattle, leading to decreased growth performance and production efficiency [ 28 ]. Previous studies have defined mild, moderate, and severe cold stress temperatures for cattle as 0 to −6.7 °C, −7.2 to −13.9 °C, or <−13.9 °C, respectively [ 29 ].…”

Hypothalamic Neuromodulation of Hypothermia in Domestic Animals

“…Moreover, the same animals showed behavioral alterations during cold periods, such as spending more time standing than lying down or eating. Similarly, in calves during the growing stage, Kim et al [55] found that, when compared to threshold values, calves exposed to extreme cold stress (−4.33 • C) significantly increased their cortisol concentrations (8.97 vs. 12.60 ng/mL, respectively), while a decrease in blood glucose was registered (71.00 vs. 61.75 mg/dL, respectively). This was also observed by Uetake et al [57], who determined that lactating dairy cows in cold-temperate climates had higher hair cortisol values (between 15 and 16 pg/mg of hair) than those located in warm-temperature regions (between 10 and 11 pg/mg).…”

“…Moreover, mild hypothermia (35 • C) in rats increases their plasma levels of corticosterone and thyrotropin-releasing hormone while their prolactin levels decrease [54]. Likewise, in cattle, exposure to mild/moderate (−1.05 • C) and extreme cold (−4.33 • C) resulted in increases in cortisol (7.00 ng/mL and 11.38 ng/mL, respectively) [55]. The hormonal response observed in hypothermic animals is greatly influenced by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is triggered when the organism perceives alterations in homeostasis, including a decrease in their core temperature.…”

“…Cortisol release stimulates the immune system to restore homeostasis, increasing its concentrations under acute stress [59]. Moreover, adrenal hormones such as cortisol mobilize glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids because the body uses energy resources to maintain or initiate thermogenic mechanisms such as skeletal muscle growth to promote shivering thermogenesis [60], which is related to the decreased glucose concentrations [55].…”

Multiview Monitoring of Individual Cattle Behavior Based on Action Recognition in Closed Barns Using Deep Learning

“…In livestock tracking, animals are considered complex active systems mainly due to variability in actions and poses, as well as different sizes and sudden movements. Traditionally, monitoring animals in indoor barns has been possible through direct observation [ 6 ] or by using wireless wearable devices [ 7 ], such as neck collars, ear tags, and leg tags. An extensive literature has demonstrated the utility of these devices [ 8 ].…”