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Cited by 73Animal Behavior and Welfare StudiesAnimal health and immunologyEffects of Environmental Stressors on Livestock

Effects of food withdrawal and transport on 5- to 10 day-old calves

TODD, S.E., MELLOR, D.J., STAFFORD, K.J., GREGORY, N.G., BRUCE, R.A., WARD, R.N.·2000·Research in Veterinary Science
DOI 10.1053/rvsc.1999.0345
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Abstract

The effects of food withdrawal for 30 hours and transport for up to 12 hours on 5- to 10-day-old calves were determined by monitoring plasma concentrations of glucose, beta-hydroxybutyrate, urea, lactate and creatine phosphokinase. In addition gamma-glutamyl transferase activity, packed cell volume, total plasma protein concentration, bodyweight and rectal temperature were recorded. Food withdrawal for 30 hours caused hypoglycemia but calves maintained normothermia and although their beta-hydroxybutyrate level increased indicating lipid mobilisation, the changes in blood urea level were minimal indicating low amino acid catabolism. When calves were transported for 12 hours in addition to having food withdrawn for 30 hours, they remained normoglycemic for six hours longer than non-transported calves, probably due to an effect of muscular activity during bracing against truck movements. Stocking calves at a lower density during transport apparently had a beneficial effect, as calves were able to lie down throughout the journey and therefore produced a similar metabolic profile to resting, non-transported animals. Transport and food withdrawal had no obvious effects on calf hydration. The results of this study suggest that food withdrawal for up to 30 hours and transport for up to 12 hours had no detrimental effects on the metabolism of healthy and clinically normal calves. With correct feeding regimes and transport protocols, welfare compromise in young, healthy calves being transported for up to 12 hours can be minimised when they are slaughtered within 30 hours of the start of transport.

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Crossref · 10.1053/rvsc.1999.0345

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71 of 71 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Both cortisol and lactate have been shown to increase in response to transport in calves, whilst in other research, creatine kinase and lactate were not affected by transport but did increase in response to stocking density or exposure to prevailing weather.

    “Both cortisol and lactate have been shown to increase in response to transport in calves (11, 17, 30), whilst in other research, creatine kinase and lactate were not affected by transport but did increase in response to stocking density or exposure to prevailing weather (11, 15, 36).”

    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 [30]

  • In contrast to findings in previous research, neither total protein nor haematocrit concentrations varied outside the reference ranges throughout the journey, although an incremental increase in haematocrit was found between the SF/MA and lairage, which likely reflected the lack of water/milk intake during the transport.

    “In contrast to findings in previous research (11, 30), neither total protein nor haematocrit concentrations varied outside the reference ranges throughout the journey, although an incremental increase in haematocrit was found between the SF/MA and lairage, which likely reflected the lack of water/milk intake during the transport.”

    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 [30]

  • Elevated CK activity has been associated with transporting calves at higher stocking densities, without bedding, and for longer durations.

    “Elevated CK activity has also been associated with transporting calves at higher stocking densities, without bedding, and for longer durations”

    From A randomized controlled trial investigating the effect of transport duration and age at transport on surplus dairy calves: Part II. Impact on hematological variables. (2023) · cites this paper as Todd et al., 2000

  • The additional energy needed for thermoregulation and maintaining balance in a moving vehicle aggravates energy loss during transport.

    “The additional energy needed for thermoregulation and maintaining balance in a moving vehicle aggravates energy loss during transport (Todd et al., 2000; Bernardini et al., 2012).”

    From Effects of pre- and post-transport feeding protocols on the metabolism and physiological status of veal calves. (2025) · cites this paper as Todd et al., 2000

  • During long-distance transport in the European Union, feed is often withheld for prolonged periods (>12 h), which results in lowered glucose levels and a negative energy balance, causing calves to experience hunger and stress.

    “feed is often withheld for prolonged periods (>12 h), which has been shown to result in lowered glucose levels and a negative energy balance, causing calves to experience hunger and stress (Todd et al., 2000, Fisher et al., 2014; Marcato et al., 2020a).”

    From Effects of pre- and post-transport feeding protocols on the metabolism and physiological status of veal calves. (2025) · cites this paper as Todd et al., 2000

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Authors
TODD, S. E., MELLOR, D. J., STAFFORD, K. J., GREGORY, N. G., BRUCE, R. A., & WARD, R. N.
Affiliations
Massey University (NZ)
ORCID
TODD, S.E.
Venue
Research in Veterinary Science
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2000-04
Volume
68
Issue
2
Pages
125-134
ISSN
0034-5288 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1053/rvsc.1999.0345
OpenAlex
W2008958396
Cited by
73
References
71
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 6 · 2012: 4
FWCI
2.20
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • Research in Veterinary Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
  • Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal health and immunology
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Effects of Environmental Stressors on Livestock
Keywords
food withdrawal, neonatal calves, hypoglycemia, beta-hydroxybutyrate, lipid mobilization, blood urea, lactate, creatine kinase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, stocking density, rectal temperature, hydration, animal welfare
MeSH terms
Animals, Animals, Newborn, Blood Glucose, Cattle, Creatine Kinase, Food Deprivation, Male, Transportation, Urea, Lactic Acid, 3-Hydroxybutyric Acid

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