Preliminary Observations on the Immune Status of Newborn Normal and Weak Calf Syndrome Calves

Authors

Rita C. Manak, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center
William G. Kvasnicka, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center

Date of this Version

1982

Document Type

Article

Comments

Published in Beef Research Program Progress Report (1982) No. 1: 23

Abstract

Thymus-derived lymphocytes from weather-stressed calves decline in response t6 Concanavalin A (Con A) and Pokeweed Mitogen (PWM) as the age of calf increases. Maximal response is from 24-hr old normal calves; very little response is from Weak Calf Syndrome (WCS) calves. This depressed response reflects the observed thymus degeneration in WCS calves and contributes to the animals' impaired immune system development.