Evaluating Stress in Calves Weaned at Three Different Ages

Authors

Andrea Bueno, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Todd Cappel, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Chuck Story, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Richard J. Rasby, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Edd Clemens, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Mark Dragastin, Dalbey-Halleck Research Farm, Virginia

Date of this Version

January 1998

Comments

Published in Nebraska Beef Cattle Report 1998, published by Agricultural Research Division, University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension, and Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Abstract

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.