Calving Difficulty and Calf Response to Stress

Calving difficulty altered the stress-related capabilities of the calf, placing the newborn in a compromised situation. Calves derived by severe mechanical pull or cesarean section exhibited depressed short-term defensive capabilities, lower cortisol and elevated neutrophil values, necessary for fighting infectious organisms. Of equal concern: when compared to calves born with little or no parturition difficulty, the stressed calves failed to develop effective adaptive mechanisms, having lower thyroid activity and lymphocyte values of principle importance for long-term survival. Neither the heifer’s mothering ability nor her disposition tended to influence her calf’s stress indicators

Evaluating Stress in Calves Weaned at Three Different Ages

Trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of weaning calves at 150, 210 and 270 days of age (i.e. August, October and December, respectively). A total of 75 Angus x MARC II heifers calves were used in this study. Heifers were bled on the day of weaning and again at 2, 7, 14 and 28 days after weaning. Blood was analyzed for differential WBC, cortisol, T3 and glucose. Weight changes were recorded. The data suggests October weaned calves (210 days) had both greater blood cortisol and glucose at days 7, 14 and 28 post-weaning and greater weight gains when compared to calves weaned at 150 and 210 days of age

EC90-219 1990 Nebraska Swine Report

This 1990 Nebraska Swine Report was prepared by the staff in Animal Science and cooperating departments for use in the Extension and Teaching programs at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Authors from the following areas contributed to this publication: Swine Nutrition, swine diseases, pathology, economics, engineering, swine breeding, meats, agronomy, and diagnostic laboratory. It covers the following areas: breeding, disease control, feeding, nutrition, economics, housing and meats