O'Loughlin, Aran and McGee, Mark and Doyle, Sean and Earley, Bernadette
(2014)
Biomarker responses to weaning stress in beef calves.
Research in Veterinary Science, 97 (2).
pp. 457-463.
ISSN 0034-5288
Abstract
The study objective was to investigate the physiological effects of weaning on beef calves and identify a
panel of blood-based welfare biomarkers. On the day (d) of weaning (d 0), 16 spring-born, singlesuckled,
beef bull calves that previously grazed with their dams at pasture, were assigned to one of two
treatments: (1) control (n = 8), calves were loose-housed with their dam, (2) weaned (n = 8), calves were
abruptly separated from their dam and loose-housed. Jugular blood was collected on d −4, 0, 1, 2, 3, 7,
and 14 relative to weaning (d 0) and assayed for inflammatory and steroid variables. Total leukocyte counts
were measured in whole blood. It is concluded that neutrophil number is a robust biomarker of stress
and that plasma CXCL8 is a sensitive indicator of stress in weaned and control calves. In future studies,
these two biomarkers should be central to the characterisation of stress responses.
| Item Type: |
Article
|
| Keywords: |
Cattle; Weaning; Stress; Biomarkers; Haematology; Cortisol; CXCL8; |
| Academic Unit: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering > Biology |
| Item ID: |
7388 |
| Identification Number: |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2014.06.003 |
| Depositing User: |
Dr. Sean Doyle
|
| Date Deposited: |
26 Aug 2016 14:48 |
| Journal or Publication Title: |
Research in Veterinary Science |
| Publisher: |
Elsevier |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| URI: |
|
| Use Licence: |
This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available
here |
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