scholarly journals Factors affecting neonatal beef calf metabolism and vigor

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Lindsey Grace Wichman

Two studies were conducted to investigate factors affecting neonatal beef calf metabolism and vigor. In the first study, effects of late gestational nutrient restriction on colostrum yield, neonatal vigor, and blood chemistry and hematology measures were investigated in beef cattle. Colostrum volume and weight from nutrient restricted dams was 40 percent less compared with control dams. Although gestational nutrition did not affect gestation length or calf birth weight, calves born to control dams had faster times to attempt to stand and to stand. Calves born to nutrient restricted dams had greater serum protein metabolites from 6 to 48 h of age. Serum aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase concentrations were greater in nutrient restricted calves until 24 h postnatal. Red blood cells, hemoglobin, and hematocrit were greater in control calves at 6 and 12 h of age. In conclusion, calves born to nutrient restricted dams experienced more trauma at birth, reduced neonatal vigor, and had less colostrum available but greater serum protein concentrations. The objectives of the second study were to determine the effect of calving season on perinatal nutrient availability and neonatal vigor. Fall-born calves tended to have lighter birth weight and faster time to stand than spring-born calves. Spring-born calves had greater circulating 0 h glucose, 0 and 6 h NEFA, and 0, 6, 12, and 48 h triglycerides. Fall-born calves had greater sodium and magnesium during the first 48 h postnatal. Spring-born calves had greater aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase concentrations until 48 h of age. Albumin, chloride, calcium, and anion gap were greater in fall-born calves. Bicarbonate and direct bilirubin were greater in spring-born calves. In conclusion, spring-born calves are heavier at birth but were slower to stand. Additionally, differences in metabolites over time suggest that spring- and fall-born calves adapt to postnatal life differently where thermoregulation plays an important role.

1988 ◽  
Vol 111 (2) ◽  
pp. 363-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Ruvuna ◽  
T. C. Cartwright ◽  
H. Blackburn ◽  
M. Okeyo ◽  
S. Chema

SummaryData on gestation period of 701 indigenous East African and Galla does and pre- and postweaning growth of 810 pure-bred and cross-bred kids were analysed by least squares statistical analysis. Breeds of kids were East African, Galla, Toggenburg × East African, Toggenburg × Galla, Anglo-Nubian × East African and Anglo-Nubian × Galla. Average gestation length was 149 days and was significantly (P < 0·05) affected by type of birth of the kid, year–month of kidding, and age of dam. Does carrying twins had shorter gestation length than does carrying singles. Sex and breed of kid did not have significant effect on gestation length.Significant (P < 0·05) factors affecting birth weight, weight at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 210 and 270 days of age, and preweaning growth rate were breed and sex of kid, type of birth, year–month and age of dam. Male kids grew faster and were heavier than females. Kids born single were heavier and grew faster than twin-born kids. Kids from dams less than 3 years old weighed less than kids from older dams. Cross-bred kids had higher preweaning growth rates than indigenous pure-bred kids. The Anglo-Nubian × Galla cross was heaviest while the East African ranked lowest. The results point to importance of cross-breeding with temperate breeds to increase growth rates of indigenous goats. Comparison of Toggenburg and Anglo-Nubian sires for cross-breeding showed both buck breeds produced kids with roughly equal growth rates. Evaluation of indigenous Galla and East African dams for cross-breeding showed Galla dams produced heavier kids than East African but preweaning growth rates were not significantly different.


2016 ◽  
Vol 96 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. López Helguera ◽  
A. Behrouzi ◽  
J.P. Kastelic ◽  
M.G. Colazo

The aims of the study were to: (1) investigate factors affecting calf birth weight (CBW) and gestation length (GL); and (2) determine risk factors associated with dystocia in 1019 Holstein heifers and cows in a tie stall dairy herd. Calf sex (CS), sire, and GL were related to CBW in primiparous and multiparous cows, with no significant effect of season, age of primiparous cows (AGE) or days in milk (DIM) of multiparous cows at conception. Gestation length was affected by CS in primiparous, with a shorter GL for female versus male calves (275.7 ± 0.5 vs. 278.3 ± 0.4; P < 0.001). Also, GL was shorter in multiparous cows that calved during the cold season compared to those that calved in mild or warm seasons. Primiparous cows had a higher prevalence of dystocia compared to multiparous cows (32.1 vs. 8.5%; P < 0.001), but it was highly variable depending on sire (24.4%–60.0% for primiparous and 0%–21.1% for multiparous). In conclusion, CS, sire, and GL were related to CBW, whereas GL was affected by CS in primiparous and season in multiparous. The CBW was the major factor affecting dystocia in primiparous cows, whereas sire and twin pregnancies were factors related to dystocia in both primiparous and multiparous cows.


2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 261
Author(s):  
A. Pugh ◽  
S. Hagenson ◽  
J. Forsyth ◽  
K. Cockrem ◽  
V. McMillan ◽  
...  

Heavy birth weight, increased calving difficulty, heart function defects, increased perinatal mortality and organ immaturity have been reported for calves produced from IVP embryos compared to those produced from MOET or AI (van Wagtendonk AM et al., 2000 Theriogenology 53, 575–597; Jacobsen H et al., 2002 Anim Reprod Sci 70, 1–11). In this study we examined birth weight (BWT), and blood chemistry at 1 day of age, gestation length and heart function at 7 days, and response to an ACTH challenge at 21 days of calves derived from IVP in a ‘semi-defined’ IVC system (Thompson JG et al., 2000 J. Reprod. Fertil. 118, 47–55) and of contemporary MOET or AI calves. Holstein Friesian (HF) 2- and 3-year-old recipients carrying single HF calves (101×IVP and 21×MOET) were monitored in this study. Within 1 day of birth the calves were weighed and a blood sample taken for analysis. At 7d, ultrasound measurement of the left ventricle diastolic diameter (LVEDd) and % ejection fraction (EF%) was determined. Each calf was then transported to a rearing unit. At 3 weeks of age, 30 IVP and 30 control AI calves of the same age were injected i.v. with Synacthen (synthetic ACTH, Ciba Corporation, 0.1μgkg−1 body weight). Blood samples were collected at −30, 0, 30, 60 and 90min (0min=time of injection) for cortisol measurements. There was no difference in BWT for MOET or IVP calves (40.9±4.7 v. 35.6±4.8kg, respectively). Moreover, gestation lengths (279 days v. 281 days) and calving assistance scores (1.3 v. 1.6) did not differ. Calf mortality at birth was higher for IVP calves (16%) than for MOET calves (5%). All but 7 surviving calves (6×IVP and 1×MOET) had high GGT levels at 1 day. Blood chemistry revealed no differences between the calf types, all measures being within normal ranges. For all calves, heart function analysis revealed no abnormalities with mean LVEDd=4.1±0.6cm and mean EF%=78.5±8.4%. All calves exhibited elevated cortisol following ACTH challenge. There was no difference between control and IVP calves for mean cortisol concentration at any time point (0min, 13.8±5.2; 30min, 46.6±9.8; 60min, 42.8±9.9; 90min, 28.1±8.9ngmL−1). These data suggest that, unlike calves produced in less defined culture systems, calves produced by IVP in a semi-defined culture system have birth weight and gestation lengths similar to those of MOET calves. Moreover, no abnormalities in organ (heart, adrenal) function were detected. However, of concern was the high number of unexplained deaths for IVP calves. This may be due to an overall lack of vigour in IVP calves that, in an unsupervised calving, results in calf death. More vigilence at calving may be needed to ensure calf survival. The authors thank Juliet Jensen, Waikato Hospital, for ultrasound measurements and David Stewart, Morrinsville Veterinary Services, for calf care. This study was funded by Vialactia Biosciences and FRST.


1987 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Panteghini ◽  
F Pagani ◽  
C Cuccia

Abstract Activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) isoenzymes were determined in serial serum samples from 40 cases of acute myocardial infarction, and compared with activities of creatine kinase, CK-MB isoenzyme, lactate dehydrogenase, and alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase for temporal changes. Cytosolic (soluble) AST (s-AST) and mitochondrial AST (m-AST) respectively increased 6.6 and 9.0 h after onset of chest pain. The median time at which serum m-AST activity peaked (15.8 U/L, range 6.4-53.5 U/L) was 47.8 h after the onset of infarction, 19.8 h later than the peak s-AST activity (171 U/L, range 53-517 U/L) and m-AST also disappeared from the serum more slowly than s-AST (p less than 0.001). Serum m-AST values were above normal for at least six days after the infarct. The ratio of m-AST to total AST in serum increased after myocardial infarction, being greatest (20%, range 11-32%) on the third day after onset. For individuals, peak activities of s-AST correlated well with total CK (r = 0.91) and CK-MB (r = 0.86) peak activities, indicating that s-AST also reflects the infarct size. However, m-AST correlated poorly with the enzymes commonly used in infarct diagnosis; it apparently provides different biological information.


2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (No. 8) ◽  
pp. 323-330
Author(s):  
Nienartowicz-Zdrojewska Anna ◽  
Sobek Zbigniew ◽  
Różańska-Zawieja Jolanta

Research material included data on gestation length of 15 436 cows of Polish native breeds. These were: White Backed (BG; 324 records), Polish Red (RP; 5396 records), Polish Black and White (ZB; 3508 records), and Polish Red and White (ZR; 6208 records). The calvings took place in 2005–2009, and we analysed two calving seasons, lactation number, the degree of calving difficulty, sex, and body weight of newborn calves. The effect of birth year on gestation length and birth weight of offspring was statistically significant, whereas calving season had statistically highly significant effect on both. Gestation length in the analysed breeds was 281.02, 283.35, 280.5, 281.53 for BG, RP, ZB, and ZR, respectively. The birth body weight heritability was 0.13 (RP), 0.33 (ZB) and 0.40 (ZR).


2007 ◽  
Vol 23 (5-6-2) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
M.D. Petrovic ◽  
Z. Skalicki ◽  
V. Bogdanovic ◽  
M.M. Petrovic

The examination was made on the effect of systematic factors (parturition group, calving season, birth type, calf gender, and birth type-calf gender interaction) and age at first conception on the expression of reproductive traits (gestation length, service period, fertility intensity and calf birth weight) in 143 Simmental cows. The overall mean (?) for gestation length, service period, intercalving period and calf birth weight was 284.14 days, 153.82 days, 416.92 days and 35.40 kg, respectively. The parturition group effect on all fertility traits was highly significant (P<0.01). The calving season statistically significantly (P<0.05) affected the intercalving period and calf birth weight. Birth type induced very significantly longer gestation (P<0.01) and higher calf birth weight in singles (P<0.01) and significantly longer service period in twins (P<0.05). Calf gender had a very significant effect (P<0.01) only on calf birth weight, and the interaction between birth type and calf gender significantly affected gestation duration only (P<0.05). The regression effect of age at first conception on all fertility traits was not significant (P>0.05).


1982 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 709-716 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. R. BATRA ◽  
A. J. McALLISTER ◽  
A. J. LEE ◽  
G. L. ROY ◽  
J. P. F. DARISSE ◽  
...  

Data on conception rate, gestation length, incidence of calving difficulty and retained placenta were obtained from 269 heifers and 525 cows as mates of the pureline foundation phase sires of the National Cooperative Dairy Cattle Breeding Project. The data were analyzed by least squares separately for heifers and cows using a model containing fixed effects for station, year of calving, season of calving, sex of calf, line, sire groups within line, sires within sire group and line, birth weight of the calf as a covariate and residual. Effect of age at first calving was used as a covariate in the heifer data while the effect of parity was included in the cow data. The effect of station, year of calving, season of calving, line, sire groups within line and sires within sire group and line were significant (P < 0.05) for gestation length of heifers and cows. Other significant (P < 0.05) effects in heifers were age at calving on conception rate, sex and birth weight of the calf on calving difficulty. In addition the effects of sex and birth weight of the calf on gestation length, station and parity on calving difficulty and station and line on retained placenta were significant in cows. Key words: Reproductive performance, dairy cattle


1977 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Adeneye ◽  
T. A. Bamiduro ◽  
Adetowun K. Adenbanjo ◽  
A. A. Akinyemi

SUMMARYThe birth weight of Friesian and Holstein calves in Western Nigeria was generally lower than that recorded in other tropical countries. This was attributed to a low plane of nutrition during pregnancy and a consequent reduction in length of gestation of the dams. On average, pure-bred Friesian, pure-bred Holstein and Holstein x Friesian calves weighed 29·1, 30·8 and 30·7 kg respectively at birth. Male and female Friesian, Holstein and cross-bred calves averagely weighed 29·9 and 28·2 kg, 29·9 and 31·7 kg, and 32·6 and 28·8 kg respectively. Both the sex differences and breed x sex interaction were not significant.Positive correlation coefficients of 0·45, 0·38 and 0·26 found between calf birth weight and gestation length for the Friesians (P < 0·05), Holsteins (P < 0·01) and their crosses (P > 0·05) respectively suggest that gestation length had a significant effect on Friesian and Holstein calf birth weight. In many cases, parturition occurred 8–16 days earlier than expected.Calves born during the rainy season (April–September) were approximately 10% heavier at birth than those born during the dry season (October–March). The heaviest calves were born during the second half (July–September) of the rainy season. The breed x sex x season of calving interaction was significant for the Holstein breed (P < 0·05). Holstein male calves born during the rainy season were significantly (P <; 0·05) heavier than those born during the dry season. Friesian dams with three or more parities and Holstein dams that were 3 years old and above produced calves that were significantly (P < 0·01) heavier at birth than calves of younger dams.


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