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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Livestock Issues Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #264991
Title: Effects of transportation and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge on vaginal temperature in crossbred heifer calves

Author
item LOYD, ANDREA - Texas A&M University
item VANN, RHONDA - Mississippi State University
item BANTA, JASON - Texas A&M University
item WELSH JR, THOMAS - Texas A&M University
item Carroll, Jeffery - Jeff Carroll
item RANDEL, RONALD - Texas A&M University

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/25/2011
Publication Date: 8/11/2011
Citation: Loyd, A.N., Vann, R.C., Banta, J.P., Welsh Jr, T.H., Carroll, J.A., Randel, R.D. 2011. Effects of transportation and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge on vaginal temperature in crossbred heifer calves [abstract]. Journal of Animal Science. 89:496(E-Suppl. 1).

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: This study evaluated the effects of transportation and subsequent LPS challenge on heifer vaginal temperature (Tvag). Brahman x British heifers (n=44) of from Raymond, MS, were weaned and acclimated to a high roughage diet fed in GrowSafe® bunks for 25 d. Heifers were blocked by body weight (BW) and breed and randomly assigned to a transportation treatment group: transport (Trans; n=14); no transport with access to feed and water (Feed; n=15); and no transport without access to feed and water (NoFeed; n=15). Hobo loggers were fitted onto blank CIDR devices and inserted to monitor Tvag. Trans heifers were loaded onto a livestock trailer, Feed heifers were returned to the GrowSafe® bunks, and NoFeed heifers were placed in a dry-lot. Transport ensued for 12 h before Trans heifers were unloaded in Overton, TX. Trans and NoFeed heifers were then allowed access to hay and water for 6.5 h. Trans heifers were transported 12 h back to MS. NoFeed heifers were restricted from feed and water during this time. Feed heifers had access to feed and water throughout the study. Following transport, all heifers had ad libitum access to water and feed in GrowSafe® bunks for 12 h. Heifers were then injected subcutaneously with LPS (0.5 micrograms/kg BW; n=22) or saline (4.5 microliters/kg BW; n=22). Tvag data were analyzed using mixed models specific for repeated measures. Fixed effects for transportation Tvag included transportation, time, and their interaction. Fixed effects for post-LPS Tvag included transportation, LPS, time and all interactions. Trans Tvag was maximal (39.7 degree C) at the onset of transportation and declined through 5 h below that of Feed and NoFeed (transport x time; P<0.01). Trans Tvag remained lower than Feed and NoFeed for the remainder of both transports. No transport x LPS interaction was observed (P=0.92) post-LPS. LPS-treated heifers had elevated (P=0.01) Tvag above that of saline-treated heifers from 1 h to 7 h, with peak Tvag (39.6 degree C) occurring 4 h post-LPS. At 7 h, Tvag of LPS- and saline-treated heifers were similar. These results indicate that handling and loading of calves before transport induced a transient febrile response that subsided once transportation began. Furthermore, transportation had no additive effect on the post-LPS febrile response.