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Cited by 33Animal health and immunologyAnimal Behavior and Welfare StudiesEffects of Environmental Stressors on Livestock

Arrival cortisol measurement in veal calves and its association with body weight, protein fractions, animal health and performance

Masmeijer, Christien, Deprez, Piet, van Leenen, Katharina, De Cremer, Lieze, Cox, Eric, Devriendt, Bert, Pardon, Bart·2021·Preventive Veterinary Medicine
DOI 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2020.105251
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Abstract

Male dairy calves are exposed to an accumulation of transport, social and environmental stressors while transferred to fattening units. As a consequence, calves show high cortisol concentrations upon arrival at the veal facility. Whether cortisol levels as measured on arrival can be associated with animal health, welfare and production results is currently unknown. The first objective of this prospective cohort study was to determine possible associations of arrival serum cortisol concentration with health and production variables of veal calves and other arrival predictors like body weight and γ-globulin concentration. The second aim was to investigate potential clustering of arrival risk factors in veal calves for developing bovine respiratory disease (BRD) based on arrival body weight, serum cortisol concentration, total protein and protein fractions. In total, 105 male Holstein calves from two consecutive production cycles in a single, commercial white veal farm were blood sampled directly at arrival on the farm to determine serum cortisol, total protein and protein fractions. All calves were weighed the day after arrival and clinical signs, average daily weight gain (ADG) and carcass weight were collected. Also, all calves of both production cohorts were repeatedly examined by thoracic ultrasonography at the onset of group respiratory disease symptoms (2-3 weeks after arrival) and four weeks later. Linear and logistic mixed models together with k-means clustering were used for statistical analyses. Calves showed on average high, but individually variable serum cortisol concentrations (mean value = 96.6 ng/mL ± standard deviation (SD) = 48.8; Range (R) = 50.0-317 ng/mL). Arrival cortisol, body weight and γ-globulin content were not significantly associated. Serum cortisol and albumin concentrations at arrival were associated with chronic, unresponsive pneumonia. For each increase of serum cortisol concentration by 10 ng/mL, the odds for lung consolidation of ≥1 cm in depth at the second ultrasonography increased, odds ratio (OR) = 1.03 (95 % confidence interval (CI) = 1.01-1.06; P < 0.050). For every decrease in serum albumin concentration by 1g/L, the OR for developing pneumonia was 1.23 (95 % CI= 1.04-1.46; P < 0.015). Additionally, two clusters of calves were identified based upon arrival status: a low risk cluster with below average stress-induced cortisol values, above average body weight, no acute phase response (APR) and no failure of passive immune transfer (FPIT), and a high risk cluster with above average cortisol values, below average body weight, APR and FPIT. High risk calves had higher odds for developing clinical BRD (OR= 3.88 (95 % CI=1.20-12.53; P < 0.020)) and lung consolidation ≥1 cm in depth at week 6-7 after arrival (OR= 3.93 (95 % CI=1.34-11.53; P < 0.013)). Avoiding high cortisol levels upon arrival of calves is important for animal welfare, but also for reduction of the prevalence of chronic, unresponsive pneumonia and the associated need for (repeated) antimicrobial treatment and production losses.

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  • The impact of altered physiological status and health of calves during and after transport is triggered by a combination of factors including reduced feed and water intake, increased physiological and physical stressors, muscle fatigue and immunosuppression.

    “The impact of altered physiological status and health of calves during and after transport has been well documented and has been shown to be triggered by a combination of factors including a reduction in feed and water intake, and increased physiological and physical stressors, muscle fatigue and immunosuppression [3–9].”

    From Observational study: effect of varying transport durations and feed withdrawal on the physiological status and health of dairy calves (2025) · cites this paper as [9]

  • Cortisol levels in the current study were low compared to those of other studies; however, the short half-life of this glucocorticoid affects the results.

    “Cortisol levels in the current study were low compared to those of other studies (17, 37); however, the short half-life of this glucocorticoid affects the results.”

    From Effect of source and journey on physiological variables in calves transported by road and ferry between Ireland and the Netherlands (2023) · cites this paper as [37]

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Authors
Masmeijer, C., Deprez, P., van Leenen, K., De Cremer, L., Cox, E., Devriendt, B., & Pardon, B.
Affiliations
Ghent University (BE)
Corresponding author
Masmeijer, Christien
ORCID
Venue
Preventive Veterinary Medicine
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2021-02
Volume
187
Pages
105251
ISSN
0167-5877 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.prevetmed.2020.105251
OpenAlex
W3116240822
Cited by
33
References
59
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 4
FWCI
2.62
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • Preventive Veterinary Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Agentschap voor Innovatie door Wetenschap en Technologie
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal health and immunology
  • Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Effects of Environmental Stressors on Livestock
Keywords
serum cortisol, veal calves, bovine respiratory disease, transport stress, acute phase response, failure of passive transfer, serum albumin, total protein, gamma globulin, lung consolidation, average daily gain, carcass weight, calf health, animal welfare, risk factors, Holstein calves, K-means clustering
MeSH terms
Animals, Blood Proteins, Body Weight, Cattle, Hydrocortisone, Male, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex

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