A review of post transport mortality among younger calves

Knowles, T.

doi:10.1136/vr.137.16.406

Cited by 59Animal health and immunologyAnimal Behavior and Welfare StudiesReproductive Physiology in Livestock

A review of post transport mortality among younger calves

Knowles, T.·1995·Veterinary Record

DOI 10.1136/vr.137.16.406

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It has been proposed that higher cholesterol levels may be representative of older calves, because cholesterol increases with age and calves transported at older ages may be at a lower risk of mortality.
“It has been proposed that higher cholesterol levels may be representative of older calves, because cholesterol increases with age and calves transported at older ages may be at a lower risk of mortality”
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 Knowles, 1995

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Knowles, G. W. (1999) · Veterinary Record · doi:10.1136/vr.144.8.197 · Cited by 222 · see citing works
“Veterinary Record (1999) 144, 197-201 T. G. Knowles, BSc, MSc, PhD, School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford, Bristol BS18 7DY EFFECTS OF TRANSPORT Mortality Young calves are especially vulnerable when transported and losses can be high (Knowles 1995).”
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“Usually cattle under 6 mo of age or between 40 and 400 kg are considered to be calves (Knowles, 1995).”
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“Knowles (1995) described a strong negative correlation between age at transport and mortality.”
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Knowles, T. G. (1998) · Veterinary Record · doi:10.1136/vr.143.8.212 · Cited by 102 · see citing works
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Effects on calves less than one month old of feeding or not feeding them during road transport of up to 24 hours.
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Effect on young calves of a one-hour feeding stop during a 19-hour road journey.
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“(144), the thermal comfort zone of young calves is between 13 and 26C, and they are sensitive to both heat and cold stress (145).”
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“A review by Knowles (1995) highlighted that the transport of young calves (approximately 1–2 weeks old) is associated with relatively high levels of subsequent morbidity and mortality, and that these adverse effects may be increased by indirect consignment as compared with direct consignment from…”
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“…have covered in a large number of studies, in which transport is defined as a stressful procedure which may endanger animal welfare (Tarrant 1990; Knowles 1995), has an unfavourable impact on meat quality (Maria 2003), and which even increases mortality among the transported animals (Earley et…”
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“They were all transported in one two-floor trailer at a stocking density of 0·65 m2 per calf, and they were not given food or water during the journey; this has been shown to lead to weight loss and dehydration, especially in young calves (Knowles 1995).”
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“Studies of transportation in calves have shown that health monitoring must be continued for several weeks as clinical signs of disease may develop some time after the transport event (Knowles 1995).”
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“Indeed, Knowles [6] reported a negative correlation between age at the time of travel and mortality in the weeks after travel in calves less than 4 weeks old, possibly due to impaired immune function as a consequence of transport stress.”
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“Thus, young calves are especially vulnerable to long transport stress resulting in high morbidity (from diarrhea, pneumonia and shipping fever) and mortality rates of between 1% and 23% [28].”
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“…susceptible to respiratory disease as a result of stress arising from such factors as other diseases, environmental conditions, poor housing, poor nutrition or transportation (Roe 1982, Knowles 1995), and viral infections frequently predispose them to secondary bacterial infections (Bryson 1985).”
Background
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“Transport is stressful for calves and distance travelled has been linked to calf morbidity [67] and mortality during or shortly after transportation has occurred [68].”
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Abate humanitário de bovinos
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“7, 2022 This mortality risk is negatively correlated with age (Knowles, 1995; Eicher, 2001).”
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Influence of prenatal transportation stress on innate immune response to an endotoxin challenge in weaned Brahman bull calves†,‡
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“Weaning and shipping stressors typically occur at sensitive times relative to immune system development, resulting in a compromised immune response (Blecha, Boyles, & Riley, 1984) and an increased incidence of morbidity and mortality (Knowles, 1995; Sanderson, Dargatz, & Wagner, 2008).”
Background
Farm animal transport, welfare and meat quality
Atkinson, S. (2000) · Epsilon Open Archive (Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet biblioteket (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences)) · Cited by 7 · see citing works
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“This is consistent with previous research, which found that road transportation greatly increases plasma NEFA concentration in animals (24).”
Result
Chapter 2: Cattle
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“During transportation, animals lose weight due to dehydration and loss of energy required for the maintenance of homeostasis (Knowles, 1995).”
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Stress Physiology of Animals During Transport
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“Factors associated with a negative effect of transport on the welfare of cattle and their meat quality have been thoroughly reviewed by different authors (Tarrant, 1990; Warriss, 1990; Knowles, 1995, 1999), with climatic condi- Archivos de zootecnia vol. 60, núm.”
Background
Fysiologische en ethologische behoeften van niet gespeende kalveren in relatie tot transport langer dan 8 uur
Gerritzen, M. A., Kluivers-Poodt, M., & van Reenen, C. G. (2016) · doi:10.18174/385421
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Goetz, H. M., Winder, C. B., Dunn, J., Kelton, D. F., Costa, J. H. C., & Renaud, D. L. (2020) · The Atrium (University of Guelph)
Enzootische Bronchopneumonie im Kälberbestand – Ansätze zur Problemlösung
Kaske, M. (2020) · veterinär spiegel · doi:10.1055/a-1194-8518
The prevalence, severity, and location of bruising of surplus unweaned calves under commercial transport conditions in New Zealand
Deeming, L., Cuttance, E. L., Chambers, G., Todd, P., Brew, S., & Laven, R. A. (2026) · New Zealand Veterinary Journal · doi:10.1080/00480169.2026.2695906

Authors: Knowles, T.
Affiliations: University of Bristol (GB)
Corresponding author: Knowles, T.
ORCID: Knowles, T.
Venue: Veterinary Record
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 1995-10-14
Volume: 137
Issue: 16
Pages: 406-407
ISSN: 0042-4900 (ISSN-L)
2042-7670
DOI: 10.1136/vr.137.16.406
OpenAlex: W1987727637
Cited by: 59
References: 0
Citations by year: 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
FWCI: 2.97
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Veterinary Record (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
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 › Agronomy and Crop Science › Reproductive Physiology in Livestock
Keywords: young calves, calf mortality, animal transport, cattle welfare, transport stress
MeSH terms: Animals, Animals, Newborn, Cattle, Morbidity, Mortality, Transportation

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A review of post transport mortality among younger calves

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