Abstract
The objectives of the study described were to (1) compare environmental temperature-humidity index (THI) with the THI measured within two different calf housing systems and (2) determine how THI affects Holstein heifer calf body temperatures, serum cortisol concentrations, and serum thyroxine concentrations. At 24 to 48 h of age, calves were assigned to one of two individual housing treatments: (1) stalls in a three-sided barn (n = 8) or 2) hutches placed outside (n = 8). Calves were observed until 42 days of age during the summer months. Ambient temperature and relative humidity within housing systems were recorded hourly. Calf body temperatures were measured hourly using devices attached to the underside of each calf’s tail. Blood samples were collected at 7, 21, and 42 days of age via jugular venipuncture. Blood serum was analyzed for cortisol and thyroxine concentrations using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Overall average THI was higher in hutches than in stalls (P < 0.0001). Calves housed in hutches had higher body temperatures (39 ± 0.18 °C vs 38 ± 0.15 °C, P = 0.005). No differences occurred in serum cortisol concentrations (P = 0.89) but at 21 days of age, calves housed in hutches had higher serum thyroxine concentrations (16.55 ± 0.51 μg/dl vs 13.91 ± 0.54 μg/dl, P = 0.0006) than calves housed in stalls. Although both housing systems in this study were located on the same dairy, calves housed in hutches were exposed to higher THI values, had higher body temperatures, and at 21 days of age had higher serum thyroxine concentrations than calves housed in stalls inside a three-sided barn.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Anna Blackburn, Victoria Dart, Taylor Morris, Brittney Williams, and Xiaoyu Wen for assisting with the data collection and analysis. This project would not have been possible without the use of the animals at the WSU Knott Dairy Center by permission of manager John Swain, as well as the staff’s animal care and facilities management. Many thanks are extended to Allison Grove for her advice and editing.
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All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. All procedures performed in studies involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institution or practice at which the studies were conducted (Washington State University Animal Care and Use Committee Protocol #04697-003).
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Young, H., Parchment, B., Lopez Ayala, A. et al. Physiological responses of Holstein calves to hot weather conditions. Int J Biometeorol 64, 2047–2051 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-020-01994-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-020-01994-x