[Physiological reactions of suckler calves from a cow-calf operation exposed to transport stress and temporary separation from the herd in winter stalling].

Suckler calves from a cow-calf operation (German Red Pied, German Black Pied) were used repeatedly for separation, transport and isolation (TSI) experiments of 60 min duration at five life ages. Measurements of body weight, body temperature and heart rate were combined with blood sampling before TSI, and at the end of the isolation period of one hour duration as well. Effects of gender, age and body weight on the variables and on the changes of the variables were tested.

[Reactions of dairy cows to ACTH administration and ingestion of liquid feed at different age points before and in the course of rearing with automatic milk feeding--plasma cortisol, saliva cortisol, hematologic, metabolic variables and heart rate].

On dairy calves (totally 35 animals; 14 male; 21 female) measurements of rectal temperature, heart rate and blood values (acid-base balance, Hb, Hk, MCHC, gas content and gas pressure, hemoglobin derivatives, cortisol, total protein, albumin, blood urea, creatinine, glucose, lactate, Ca, Mg, P, Fe) and of salivary cortisol were done before and after i.v. ACTH application and liquid feed intake at 5, 15, 40 and 60 days of life age.

[Reactions of dairy calves exposed to transport stress at 60 days of age. Effects of various rearing conditions in the developmental quality of calves on physiological variables and their changes].

Dairy calves reared in groups of constant (Gk, N = 16, m 8, w 8) and changing composition (Gw, N = 16, m 8, w 8) and single box reared calves (E, N = 15, m 8, w 7) were exposed to transport stress lasting around 60 minutes at 60 days of age. Long term measurements of heart rate (HF) were combined with blood sampling (V. jugularis) before and immediately after transport and at the following day as well.

[Quality of development and adaptation reactions of dairy calves at specific age periods in early life. Effect of rearing variations on proteins and minerals and on metabolic variables of blood].

Calves from the dairy herd of the institute reared in groups with changing (Gw, N 16, m 9, w 7) and constant composition (Gk, N 16, m 9, w 7) since the first day of life and single box reared calves (E, N 11, m 7, w 4) were tested at 15, 30, 60 and 90 days of age. Venous blood samples were analysed for total protein, albumin, creatinine, blood urea, glucose, Ca, Mg, P and iron. At 15 days between group differences of mean values existed for total protein, albumin, blood urea, creatinine and at 30 days for rectal temperature, albumin, blood urea, Ca, P and Fe, at 60 days for blood urea, glucose, Ca, Mg, P and at 90 days for total protein, albumin, creatinine, glucose, Mg and P.

[Reactions of young dairy calves and young suckling calves from the mother cow herds to transportation induced stress--effects of age and rearing conditions].

Single box reared dairy calves (TK) and suckler calves (SK) from a mother cow herd were exposed to uniformly performed short-haul road transports. Long lasting measurements by way of heart rate recording, body temperature, body weight and blood sampling before and just after finishing transport and in the morning of next day as well were used assessing the strain and adaptation of calves of 3 to 7 days, of 8 to 15 days and of more than 15 days of postnatal age. Blood samples were analyzed for acid base balance, gas content, haemoglobin derivatives and haemoglobin variants, protein, metabolites, minerals and cortisol.

[Reactions of non pregnant and and of cattle at different stages of pregnancy from the Holstein Friesian breed (HF) and from the old type German black and white breed (DSB) exposed to transport stress: variation and individual reaction patterns of hormone metabolic and hematologic variables].

Breeding animal transports between parts of our institute were used assessing effects of age of animals, of breed, of their functional state and of individual specificity of reaction patterns using peripheral venous blood samples. Increased mean values of Hb, Hk, body temperature, total protein, albumin, FT4, T4, FT3, T3, cortisol, adrenaline and decreased ones of body weight, Pa, Fe, noradrenaline were found after transport stress. Comparing age matched groups of DSB and HF breed higher concentrations of total protein, creatinine, lactate, cortisol, FT4, T3 and FT3 and lower ones of albumin, blood urea and Fe could be observed in animals of DSB breed before and after transport.

[Hemoglobin derivatives in blood of cattle during during winter housing. Effect of age as well as developmental and functional conditions].

Peripheral venous blood samples taken from pregnant and lactating dairy cattle, from young cattle and from new born calves as well were analysed for hemoglobin content, hematocrit, oxygen saturation, oxygen capacity, oxygen content and for the hemoglobin derivatives O2Hb, HHb, COHb, MetHb and SHb. Significant differences of mean values could be pointed out between age groups and breeds. Strong negative correlations exist between MetHb fraction and hemoglobin content in dairy cattle and in new born calves but not in young cattle.

[Maturational quality, adaptation reactions and clinical-chemical blood values in automatically milk-fed bred milk calves].

Calves of the dairy herd were used for this investigation. Body weight and growth rate were measured at 4, 6, 10, 12 and 13 weeks of life and venous blood acid base status, gas content, creatinine, urea, total protein, Ca, Mg, P, Na, K, Cl, Fe and catecholamine content at 15 days and at 90 days of age as well. Changes of blood values were analyzed in connection with growth performance and with the blood values of calves at 15 days of age testing the individually different degrees of adaptation and development.

[Physiological variables in calves and their significance for vitality and growth].

Calves from the dairy herd and from the mother cow herd and their dams were investigated just after parturition and the calves at the first two days of life and between fifteen and twenty days and than at ninety days of life as well using whole day heart rate and video recording, results of venous blood sample analysis and body growth and health criteria. The great variation of physiological variables in calves can partly be explained by maturity, degree of adaptation, gender, time of day and the birth course. Relationships between physiological variables and the adaptability, body growth performance and the degree of adaptation to specific rearing condition could be pointed out.

[Thyroid hormones in dairy calves after birth and in the first days of life. Amplitude of variation, maternal-fetal relationships and reaction patterns specific to the individual].

Dairy calves and their dams from the dairy herd of the institute were used for this investigation. Calvings were watch carefully and jugular venous blood samples taken immediately after delivery from the cow and the calf and in the calf at 24 hours and at 48 hours of postnatal age as well were analyzed for T4, FT4, T3 and FT3 by luminescence enzyme immunoassay (LEIA). Higher thyroid values in calves than in their dams could be found increasing short after birth and reaching their highest level within 24 hours of postnatal life.

[Thyroid hormones in cesarean-delivered suckling calves after birth and in the first days of life--maternofetal relations and early postnatal adaptation reactions].

Caesarean section delivered suckler calves and their dams from the mother cow herd were used for this investigation. Jugular venous blood samples taken immediately after delivery from the cow and the calf and in the calf at 24 hours and at 48 hours of postnatal age as well were analyzed for T4, FT4, T3 and FT3 by luminescence enzyme immunoassay. Strong correlation between the thyroid hormone values of the cow and those of the calf could be found.

[Clinical chemical and hematological blood values and adaptation reactions in suckling calves in the first weeks of life].

Suckler calves of the mother cow herd were used for this investigation. Body weight, growth rate and venous blood acid base status, gas content, creatinine, urea, lactate, total protein, albumin, Ca, Mg, Na, K and Cl were measured at 20, 60 and 90 days of postnatal life. Body weight and growth rate showed strong correlations with some blood values especially at 60 and 90 days of age meaning that adaptation is performed successful in some calves and incomplete in others.

[The acid-base balance in the blood of calves of different breeds in a mother cow herd raised on deep straw and strawless conditions].

The influence of two different animal loose housing systems (deep litter resp. gum lying area/slatted floor) with additional calf pen on blood gases and buffer systems in the blood of 19 calves of the breed Deutsche Schwarzbunte and 20 calves of the breed Deutsche Rotbunte of both sexes in a suckler cow herd was examined in a period from the first to the sixth month of life. The pH of the blood remains within the well-known small limit of variability, and no exogenic influences could be seen.

[Adaptation reaction of dairy calves in the first days of life. Effects of type of delivery and individuality of the newborn].

Surveying a calving period of tethered dairy cows, newborn dairy calves of different breeds were investigated just after birth and at 24 hours and 48 hours of their postnatal life as well. Blood samples taken by venipuncture in calves were analyzed for acid-base-balance, hemoglobin, catecholamine and cortisol. Comparing the mean values of the newborns from calvings without assistance, with slight pulling and with heavy pulling, differences could be found only in the first hours of postnatal life between some of them without hemoglobin content of the blood that was of individually specificity and all the time lowest in calves delivered by heavy traction.

[Reactions of heifers in early pregnancy and their offspring delivered at term by cesarean section and in the first postpartum days in a cow-calf operation].

In 11 heifers originating from one mother cow herd and in their offspring delivered by cesarean section heart rate recordings were taken during their staying in the calving box and later on in group housing. Heart rate showed a rhythmicity in accordance with behavioural physiological reactions. The mean heart rate of a 24 hour period in an animal was different between and within the newborn and elder animals.

[Heart rate frequency and constitutional features of high yielding dairy cows in intensively managed and environmentally protected pasture].

The heart rate measured continuously in grazing cows over 24 hours is significantly different during specific behavioural patterns of an animal and is influenced by the stage of pregnancy of the cow. Repeated measurements of blood urea, creatinine, total protein, albumin and glucose concentration in these animals permit conclusions about the changes of body weight and of the liver function and hormonal integration of energy substrate supply. Living on pasture during the summer period the cows showed the lowest hemoglobin content and hematocrit level of the blood, which increased when the animals were housed in autumn or when near the end of their final trimester of pregnancy.

[Blood gases and pH value in swine anesthetized with barbiturate].

The influence of short term anaesthesia with the N-methyl barbiturate Eunarcon on the pH and blood gases was investigated in 19 clinical healthy male castrated pigs of the breed Large White, three months old and with a mean body weight of 30 kg. The factors of oxygen in the blood--content, saturation of hemoglobin, O2 partial pressure--are diminished continuously during anaesthesia, with a decrease of pO2 on 77% of the initial value. The pCO2 increased, and the peak value of 11% above the initial level was seen already 10 minutes after starting the anaesthesia.

[The hemoglobin concentration in the blood of dairy cattle of different breeds and their offspring during the peripartum period].

Blood samples taken repeatedly from dairy cows on pasture (50 Holstein-Friesian) and then from 181 cows and their newborn calves within 5 to 10 min after birth were used for measurement of haemoglobin content (Hb). Hb decreased with ongoing lactation and pregnancy, increased several weeks before parturition and reached its highest value shortly after birth. There was some individual, breed and age specificity of Hb in dairy cows.

[Hemoglobin level and lactate concentration in calves kept under extensive and intensive husbandry conditions].

The influence of different housing systems on hemoglobin content and lactate concentration in the blood of 42 calves in a suckler cow herd of the breeds Deutsche Schwarzbunte and Deutsche Rotbunte, and 34 male veal calves of the breeds Deutsche Schwarzbunte and Holstein-Friesian was examined in a period from the first to the fifth month of life. The results are the follows: In calves of the suckler cow herd the hemoglobin content increases continuously, whereas the hemoglobin peak in veal calves is in the second month of life. Divergent values in favour of calves in the suckler cow herd are indicated from the twelfth week of life.

[The acid-base equilibrium in the blood of calves suckled by their mothers and in milk-fattened calves].

The influence of different housing systems on the acid/base balance in the blood of 39 calves in a suckler cow herd of the breeds Deutsche Schwarzbunte and Deutsche Rotbunte, and 25 veal calves of the breeds Deutsche Schwarzbunte and Holstein-Friesian was examined in a period from the first to the sixth month of life. 1. No differences between the test groups were present in the pH of blood.

Behavior and heart rate of heifers housed in tether stanchions without straw.

The effect of tether housing without straw was studied in eight heifers over a 12-week period. Resting behavior was recorded in the first and the twelfth week and heart rate (HR) in the twelfth week and compared to that of eight control heifers kept in a group on deep straw. Tethered heifers changed body position from standing to lying and vice versa significantly less often, and frequency of lying intention movements prior to lying down was significantly increased in tethered heifers.