Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, PO Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, the Netherlands; Livestock Research, Wageningen University & Research, PO Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, the Netherlands.
Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, PO Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, the Netherlands.
J Dairy Sci. 2020 Apr;103(4):3505-3520. doi: 10.3168/jds.2019-17445. Epub 2020 Feb 7.
This study aimed to investigate effects of pretransport diet (rearing milk vs. electrolytes), type of vehicle (open vs. conditioned truck), and transport duration (6 vs. 18 h) on physiological status of young calves upon arrival at the veal farm. A total of 368 calves were transported in 2 consecutive batches from a collection center to a veal farm. Blood samples were collected from calves before transport; immediately posttransport (T0); and 4, 24, and 48 h, and 1, 3, and 5 wk posttransport. Blood was analyzed for glucose, urea, lactate, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), creatine kinase, albumin, total protein, osmolality, calcium, sodium, magnesium, and hematological variables. Body weight, rectal temperature, and skin elasticity were determined before and immediately posttransport. Blood glucose, NEFA, and urea concentrations at T0 showed an interaction between pretransport diet and transport duration. Milk-fed and electrolyte-fed calves transported for 18 h did not significantly differ in plasma glucose concentration or serum NEFA concentrations. However, after 6 h of transport, milk-fed calves had higher plasma glucose and lower serum NEFA concentrations (4.71 mmol/L and 586.5 µmol/L, respectively) than electrolyte-fed calves (3.56 mmol/L and 916 µmol/L, respectively). After 18 h of transport, milk-fed calves had lower urea concentrations (5.40 mmol/L) than electrolyte-fed calves (7.38 mmol/L). In addition, at T0, after 6 h of transport, milk-fed calves gained weight (Δ = 0.41 kg), whereas electrolyte-fed calves lost weight (Δ = -0.16 kg). After 18 h of transport, both milk-fed and electrolyte-fed calves showed body weight losses (Δ = -0.67 and -0.74 kg, respectively). Type of vehicle had a limited influence on blood parameters. Concentrations of NEFA and BHB reached the maximum values at T0 and then decreased until wk 5 posttransport. The increase in NEFA and BHB concentrations between prior to and just posttransport (T0) was less pronounced in calves transported for 6 h (746.1 µmol/L and 0.38 mmol/L, respectively) than in calves transported for 18 h (850.6 µmol/L and 0.50 mmol/L). Overall, the recovery rate of calves at the veal farm seemed rapid; all blood parameters returned to (below) pretransport values within 48 h posttransport. We concluded that feeding milk before short-term transport helps young veal calves cope with transport, whereas this is not the case during long-term transport.
本研究旨在探讨在到达犊牛场之前，预运输饲料（饲养奶与电解质）、运输工具（开放式与空调卡车）和运输时间（6 小时与 18 小时）对幼犊生理状态的影响。总共 368 头犊牛分两批从收集中心运往犊牛场。在运输前、运输即刻（T0）、4 小时、24 小时、48 小时、1 周、3 周和 5 周时采集犊牛血液样本。分析血糖、尿素、乳酸、非酯化脂肪酸（NEFA）、β-羟丁酸（BHB）、肌酸激酶、白蛋白、总蛋白、渗透压、钙、钠、镁和血液学变量。在运输前和运输即刻测量犊牛的体重、直肠温度和皮肤弹性。T0 时的血糖、NEFA 和尿素浓度表现出预运输饲料和运输时间之间的相互作用。18 小时运输的喂奶和电解质喂奶犊牛在血浆葡萄糖浓度或血清 NEFA 浓度上没有显著差异。然而，在 6 小时的运输后，喂奶犊牛的血浆葡萄糖水平更高，血清 NEFA 浓度更低（分别为 4.71mmol/L 和 586.5µmol/L），而电解质喂奶犊牛的血浆葡萄糖水平更低，血清 NEFA 浓度更高（分别为 3.56mmol/L 和 916µmol/L）。18 小时运输后，喂奶犊牛的尿素浓度（5.40mmol/L）低于电解质喂奶犊牛（7.38mmol/L）。此外，在 T0 时，经过 6 小时的运输，喂奶犊牛体重增加（Δ=0.41kg），而电解质喂奶犊牛体重减轻（Δ=-0.16kg）。18 小时的运输后，喂奶和电解质喂奶的犊牛均出现体重下降（Δ=-0.67 和-0.74kg）。运输工具的影响有限。NEFA 和 BHB 浓度在 T0 时达到最大值，然后下降直到运输后 5 周。与 18 小时运输相比，6 小时运输的犊牛（分别为 746.1µmol/L 和 0.38mmol/L）在 T0 前后（即 T0）的 NEFA 和 BHB 浓度升高幅度较小（分别为 850.6µmol/L 和 0.50mmol/L）。总的来说，犊牛在犊牛场的恢复速度似乎很快；所有血液参数在运输后 48 小时内均恢复到（低于）运输前的值。我们得出结论，在短期运输前喂奶有助于幼犊牛应对运输，而在长期运输中则不然。
