Changes in blood parameters due to transportation in fattened and early-weaned calves
Groth, W.; Granzer, W.
Deutsche Tierärztliche Wochenschrift 84(3): 89-93
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0341-6593 PMID: 322992 Document Number: 120916
Ten female calves aged about 3 weeks were conveyed by motor vehicle at the start of the trial and 5 weeks later, for 5 and 7 h. Half were fattening calves given milk substitute in increasing amounts and concentrates and the others, the early weaned, had limited amounts of milk substitute in addition to hay and pelleted rearing feed. Compared with physiological diurnal blood patterns, studied in 10 other fattening calves, there were significant increases with transport in the total leucocyte count, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, creatine phosphokinase (CPK), lactic dehydrogenase and its isoenzymes, cholesterol, lactate and free fatty acids. The percentage rises in CPK and free fatty acids were less in the fattening group, which also had more blood sugar 18 to 24 h after transport than the others. The rises in CPK and free fatty acids induced by transport were twice as great for the second as for the first trip. Inhibition of growth lasted longer after the first trip. The early-weaned group had low carbohydrate reserves and when exposed to transport stress they had to increase CPK production in muscle and mobilize more fat and use free fatty acids for energy production. Blood values for both groups without transport stress are compared, also values at 3 and 8 weeks of age.