Stair-step strategy and immunomodulatory feed ingredient supplementation for grazing heat-stressed Bos indicus-influenced beef heifers.

On day 0 of years 1 and 2, 64 Brangus crossbred heifers per year were stratified by initial body weight (BW) and age (mean = 257 ± 20 kg and 271 ± 22 d) and allocated into 16 bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) pastures (4 heifers per pasture per yr). Treatments were randomly allotted to pastures in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments (4 pastures per treatment per yr). Treatments consisted of concentrate dry matter (DM) supplementation at 1.

Sexually dimorphic innate immunological responses of pre-pubertal Brahman cattle following an intravenous lipopolysaccharide challenge.

This study was designed to characterize potential sexually dimorphic immunological responses following a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge in beef cattle. Six female (heifers) and five male (bulls) Brahman calves (average age=253 ± 19.9 and 288 ± 47.

Sexually dimorphic stress and pro-inflammatory cytokine responses to an intravenous corticotropin-releasing hormone challenge of Brahman cattle following transportation.

This study was designed to characterize potential sexually dimorphic stress and immunological responses following a corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) challenge in beef cattle. Six female (heifers) and six male (bulls) Brahman calves (264 ± 12 d of age) were administered CRH intravenously (0.5 µg of CRH/kg body mass) after which serum concentrations of cortisol increased from 0.

Temperament influences endotoxin-induced changes in rectal temperature, sickness behavior, and plasma epinephrine concentrations in bulls.

This study was designed to determine the influence of temperament on endotoxin-induced changes in body temperature, sickness behavior, and stress hormone concentrations in cattle. Brahman bulls were selected based on temperament score measured 28 d prior to weaning. In dwelling recording devices were used to monitor rectal temperature, and jugular catheters were used to collect blood samples to determine cortisol and epinephrine concentrations before and after LPS administration (0.