Identification of biomarkers measured upon arrival associated with morbidity, mortality, and average daily gain in grain-fed veal calves
Open accessAbstract
There is a strong need for management strategies that help reduce the incidence of disease and subsequent antimicrobial use in the veal industry. Biomarkers could serve as useful tools that allow producers to take preventative measures before clinical problems occur. The objective of this prospective cohort study was to identify biomarkers measured upon arrival associated with morbidity, mortality, and average daily gain (ADG) in grain-fed veal calves. Upon arrival at a grain-fed veal facility in Ontario, Canada, calves were weighed and health-scored using a standardized health-scoring system. Several metabolites were measured including creatine kinase (CK), cholesterol, haptoglobin, manganese, serum total protein, iron, cobalt, zinc, selenium, molybdenum, and IgG. Farm personnel treated calves according to their farm protocol and weighed them at 78 d after arrival. Performance, treatment, and mortality records from the facility were used for analysis. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were created to evaluate metabolic biomarkers associated with morbidity and mortality. A mixed linear regression model was created to determine biomarkers associated with ADG. A total of 992 male dairy calves were evaluated at arrival from January to December 2017. Of the calves evaluated, 74 calves (7.5%) died and 877 (88.4%) were treated for illness over the 11-wk period under observation. Higher levels of haptoglobin and molybdenum were associated with a greater hazard of morbidity, whereas higher weight upon arrival and higher levels of both CK and IgG were associated with a reduced hazard of morbidity. For mortality, higher weight upon arrival and higher levels of cholesterol and IgG were associated with a lower hazard of mortality occurring over the 78-d period of observation. Higher weight, cholesterol, copper, CK, iron, and IgG were associated with increased ADG, whereas increased zinc and haptoglobin were negatively associated with ADG. These results demonstrate that certain biomarkers could be used to identify high-risk calves when measured upon arrival at a veal facility. Future research should focus on determining the utility of these biomarkers to selectively target intervention strategies to improve ADG and reduce morbidity and mortality.
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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 [7]
Calves arriving with elevated haptoglobin had a greater hazard of morbidity, whereas calves with higher levels of cholesterol and IgG had a lower hazard of mortality.
“Specifically, calves arriving with elevated haptoglobin had a greater hazard of morbidity, whereas calves with higher levels of cholesterol and IgG had a lower hazard 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 Goetz et al., 2021
Higher cholesterol, IgG, and CK on arrival to a veal facility have been associated with increased average daily gain compared with calves arriving with lower cholesterol, IgG, and CK.
“Higher cholesterol, IgG, and CK on arrival to a veal facility have also been associated with increased ADG compared with calves arriving with lower cholesterol, IgG, and CK”
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 Goetz et al., 2021
Measures such as creatine kinase, haptoglobin, IgG, and cholesterol have been associated with future morbidity, mortality, and average daily gain in veal calves.
“Measures such as creatine kinase (CK), haptoglobin, IgG, and cholesterol have been associated with future morbidity, mortality, and ADG in veal calves”
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 Goetz et al., 2021
Previous studies have found that calves arriving to a veal facility with higher levels of cholesterol experience increased ADG and decreased hazard of mortality during the growing period.
“Previous studies have found that calves arriving to a veal facility with higher levels of cholesterol experience increased ADG and decreased hazard of mortality during the growing period”
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 Goetz et al., 2021
Elevated concentration of acute phase proteins has been associated with reduced ADG and in surplus calves, increased haptoglobin upon arrival has been associated with a higher hazard of morbidity in calves at a calf-raising facility.
“Elevated concentration of acute phase proteins has been associated with reduced ADG and in surplus calves, increased haptoglobin upon arrival has been associated with a higher hazard of morbidity in calves at a calf-raising facility (Pardon et al., 2015; Goetz et al., 2021).”
From A randomized controlled trial evaluating the effect of providing a rest period during long-distance transportation of surplus dairy calves: Part II. Effect on hematological variables (2024) · cites this paper as Goetz et al., 2021
A previous study found that increased levels of CK were associated with increased ADG and decreased hazard of morbidity.
“A previous study also found that increased levels of CK were associated with increased ADG and decreased hazard of morbidity”
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 Goetz et al., 2021
Higher BW at arrival is associated with decreased mortality and infection risk, as well as higher growth rates.
“Higher BW is associated with decreased mortality [48, 49] and infection risk [25, 50, 51], as well as higher growth rates [52, 53].”
From Effects of age and feeding protocols on the metabolic and physiological condition of unweaned calves during and after long-distance transport (2026) · cites this paper as [53]
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“Higher BW is associated with decreased mortality [48, 49] and infection risk [25, 50, 51], as well as higher growth rates [52, 53].”
- Authors
- Goetz, H. M., Kelton, D. F., Costa, J. H. C., Winder, C. B., & Renaud, D. L.
- Affiliations
- University of Guelph (CA)
- University of Kentucky (US)
- Corresponding author
- Renaud, D.L.
- Venue
- Journal of Dairy Science
- Publisher
- American Dairy Science Association
- Published
- 2021-01
- Volume
- 104
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 874-885
- ISSN
- 0022-0302 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3095453680
- Cited by
- 37
- References
- 57
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 5
- FWCI
- 5.03
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Dairy Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
- 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
- veal calves, biomarkers, calf morbidity, calf mortality, average daily gain, creatine kinase, haptoglobin, molybdenum, cholesterol, IgG, trace elements, antimicrobial use reduction
- MeSH terms
- Farms, Animals, Animal Feed, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Cattle, Cattle Diseases, Health Status, Male, Morbidity, Ontario, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, Cohort Studies, Biomarkers, Weight Gain
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