Effect of Calf Housing on Plasma Ascorbate and Endocrine and Immune Function

The effect of housing calves in indoor metal pens (1.2 m x 1.2 m) or commercial calf hutches was determined on plasma concentration of cortisol, antibodies, and ascorbate. Six calves per treatment were deprived of colostrum, assigned randomly to treatment, and fed a commercial milk replacer until 56...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of dairy science 1991-05, Vol.74 (5), p.1582-1588
Main Authors: Cummins, K. A, Brunner, C. J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aging - blood
Aging - immunology
Animal productions
Animals
Antibody Formation
Antigens - immunology
Ascorbic Acid - blood
Biological and medical sciences
Cattle - blood
Cattle - immunology
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hemocyanins - immunology
Housing, Animal
Hydrocortisone - blood
Immunoglobulin G - biosynthesis
Immunoglobulin M - biosynthesis
Immunoglobulins - biosynthesis
Regression Analysis
Terrestrial animal productions
Vertebrates
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The effect of housing calves in indoor metal pens (1.2 m x 1.2 m) or commercial calf hutches was determined on plasma concentration of cortisol, antibodies, and ascorbate. Six calves per treatment were deprived of colostrum, assigned randomly to treatment, and fed a commercial milk replacer until 56 d of age. Calves housed in hutches had higher plasma IgG concentrations than calves in pens at 42 and 56 d of age. Housing had no effect on plasma IgM concentration. Antibody titers to keyhole limpet hemocyanin injected at 14 and 28 d of age were higher in hutch-housed calves from 21 to 56 d of age. Calves housed in hutches also had lower plasma cortisol concentrations, although cortisol decreased with age in both treatment groups. Plasma ascorbate and ascorbate plus dehydroascorbate were higher in hutch-housed calves. Regression analysis indicated a positive relationship between plasma ascorbate and IgG in metal penhoused calves and a negative relationship in hutch-housed calves. Housing in 1.2 m x 1.2 m metal pens decreases cortisol, plasma ascorbate, IgG, and specific antibody titers in dairy calves relative to calves housed in hutches.
ISSN:0022-0302
1525-3198
DOI:10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(91)78320-3