The effect of age, stocking density, and flooring during transport on welfare of young dairy calves in Australia
Open accessAbstract
Transport of young (‘bobby’) calves for slaughter is a contentious welfare issue for some sectors of the Australian community. Factors of age, stocking density and flooring need further research to develop appropriate welfare standards for transport of bobby calves. The objective of this study was to identify the space allowance requirements for transport of bobby calves and to understand factors such as age and flooring that minimise risks to calf welfare during transport. Animals aged 3-, 5- and 10-day old were transported for 12 h in a custom-made cattle truck fitted with 9 pens, with movable mesh divisions. Each pen contained 4 calves, with space allowances of 0.2, 0.3 and 0.5 m2 per calf and flooring of solid metal, mesh or straw bedding. A total of 432 male dairy calves were transported in 12 trips during the 2-year study. Behavioural measurements included lying during transport, and lying and drinking for 12 h after transport during recovery. Blood samples were taken prior to transport, immediately after transport and 12 h after transport. Blood samples were analysed for metabolic state (glucose, beta-hydroxy-butyrate (BOHB)), hydration (packed cell volume (PCV)) and exhaustion/bruising (creatine kinase (CK) activity). It was found that several measures were affected by age, which indicates that the physiology and in particular lying behaviour of 3-day old calves is fundamentally different from that of older calves. It is unclear how this affects their ability to cope with the stressors of transport. Space affected the posture changes and CK activity during and after transport and it is concluded that space allowance should be at least 0.3 m2 per calf for calves of average size, while CK activity suggested that providing more space to 0.5 m2 per calf may provide even greater benefits. Straw bedding is of clear benefit to calves during transport, to the extent that it may even reduce some of the negative effects of reduced space on lying behaviour.
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Muscle damage and fatigue, highlighted by increasing levels of haptoglobin and CK, occur following extended periods of transportation.
“For example, muscle damage and fatigue, highlighted by increasing levels of haptoglobin and CK, occur following extended periods of transportation”
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 Jongman and Butler, 2014
The Methods (§2.5) describe 12 hours of transport, and the Results (§3) show higher CK levels afterward. The Discussion (§4) says elevated CK may indicate muscle fatigue or bruising, but the paper does not report haptoglobin measurements or establish that both muscle damage and fatigue occurred. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredElevated 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 Jongman and Butler, 2014
The Results report higher CK activity at greater stocking densities and lower CK activity when straw bedding was provided. The Methods state that all calves were transported for 12 hours, so this study does not support an association between CK activity and longer transport durations. (LLM, conf=0.90)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredCreatine kinase is often referred to as an indicator of tissue damage, poor muscular tissue reperfusion, hypoxia, and fatigue, and may be an indicator of tissue damage in diseased animals.
“Creatine kinase is often referred to as an indicator of tissue damage, poor muscular tissue reperfusion, hypoxia, and fatigue, and may be an indicator of tissue damage in diseased animals”
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 Jongman and Butler, 2014
The Discussion (page not provided) says CK rises with muscle-cell damage from exertion or bruising and may indicate muscle fatigue. The Measurements section also uses CK activity to assess muscle exhaustion or bruising. Our copy does not link CK to poor muscular tissue reperfusion, hypoxia, or tissue damage specifically in diseased animals. (LLM, conf=0.87)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredHigher CK in older calves may be explained by older calves standing longer during the journey.
“which could also explain the higher CK in older calves, who may have stood longer during the journey”
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 Jongman and Butler, 2014
The Discussion reports that 3-day-old calves lay down more than older calves, consistent with older calves standing longer during transport. It also suggests that elevated CK may reflect fatigue from standing, but discusses that explanation in relation to space allowance, not higher CK in older calves. The passages do not establish an age-related CK increase. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredYounger calves tend to lie down more during transportation.
“Furthermore, younger calves tend to lie down more during transportation”
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 Jongman and Butler, 2014
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- Authors
- Jongman, E., & Butler, K.
- Affiliations
- The University of Melbourne (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Jongman, Ellen
- Venue
- Animals
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Published
- 2014-04-11
- Volume
- 4
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 184-199
- ISSN
- 2076-2615 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC4494384
- OpenAlex
- W2088519386
- Cited by
- 37
- References
- 20
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Animals (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- Department of Environment and Primary Industries
- 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
- transport stress, space allowance, stocking density, floor coverings, straw bedding, creatine kinase, lying behavior, beta-hydroxybutyrate, hematocrit, blood glucose
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