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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Livestock Issues Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #202284
Title: Development of an automatic, indwelling rectal temperature probe for cattle research

Author
item REUTER, RYAN - TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY
item Carroll, Jeffery - Jeff Carroll
item Dailey, Jeffery
item Chase, Chadwick - Chad
item Coleman, Samuel
item Riley, David
item SPIERS, DON - UNIV OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA
item WEABER, ROBERT - UNIV OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA
item GALYEAN, MIKE - TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/10/2006
Publication Date: 2/1/2007
Citation: Reuter, R., Carroll, J.A., Dailey, J.W., Chase Jr., C.C., Coleman, S.W., Riley, D.G., Spiers, D., Weaber, R., Galyean, M. 2007. Development of an automatic, indwelling rectal temperature probe for cattle research [abstract]. Journal of Animal Science. 85(Suppl. 2):12.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A device to continuously monitor rectal temperature of beef cattle in research settings was developed with the objective of obtaining frequent measurements on several animals simultaneously, while minimizing labor and handling. The device consists of a modified polyvinylchloride pipe coupling that is attached to the animal’s tail that supports a plastic tube that contains a temperature-sensitive probe. The probe is attached to an electronic, programmable data logger that can record temperature at any desired interval with minimal disturbance to the animal. Rectal temperature data were collected with the device from 9 Angus and 9 Romosinuano steers in environmentally controlled chambers (19.7°C) at 1-min intervals from -2 h to 8 h. At time 0, all steers received an i.v. injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 2.5 ug/Kg BW). Skin temperature, ruminal temperature, respiration rate, perspiration rate, and serum concentrations of cortisol (CS), pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6), and acute-phase proteins were also measured at 30- to 60-min intervals over the same period as rectal temperature. The increase in rectal temperature following the LPS challenge was greater (P = 0.10) for Romosinuano than for Angus steers, indicating that the device could detect breed differences in rectal temperature response. Rectal temperature was a significant covariate for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (P = 0.02) and interleukin-6 (P = 0.003) in a repeated measures ANOVA model that included breed, time, and their interaction, indicating that rectal temperature measured with the device was related to these pro-inflammatory cytokines. The reusable device can be constructed for approximately $150 US per unit, and could be adapted to a wide range of uses in cattle health, physiology, and management research.