Metabolic and behavioral changes in calves as a function of stress in response to gradual or abrupt weaning

• Grant number: 11/01349-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2011
• End date: July 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Production
• Principal Investigator: Carla Maris Machado Bittar
• Grantee: Mariana Pompeo de Camargo Gallo
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Early weaning can be a stressful period for dairy calves, resulting in animal behavioral and metabolic changes. The aim of this project is to evaluate two weaning methods, abrupt and gradual, on physiological and behavioral parameters related to stress in dairy calves. Sixty dairy males and females calves from previous experiments will be weaned at 8 weeks despite concentrate intake, and will be allocated in the two experimental treatments (gradual x abrupt). Animals will be weighed and evaluate for whiter height, heart girth and hip width once a week from birth until de 10th week of age. Two weeks before and after weaning feed intake will be observed by weighing concentrate every two hours. Blood samples will be taken -7, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 days from weaning, 30 min after milk feeding, and evaluated for cotisol, glucose, soluble acids glycoproteins, haptoglobin, B-hydroxybutyrate. Serum amyloide A will also be analyzed on day 0,1,2,3,4 after weaning. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

BITTAR, C. M. M.; GALLO, M. P.; SILVA, J. T.; DE PAULA, M. R.; POCZYNEK, M.; MOURAO, G. B.. Gradual weaning does not improve performance for calves with low starter intake at the beginning of the weaning process. JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE, v. 103, n. 5, p. 4672-4680, MAY 2020. (11/01349-1)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

GALLO, Mariana Pompeo de Camargo. Performance and metabolic and behavior changes of dairy calves in response to the weaning stress. 2013. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC) Piracicaba.