Skip to main content
Log in

Influence of different seasons during late gestation on Holstein cows’ colostrum and postnatal adaptive capability of their calves

International Journal of Biometeorology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Season may affect calves’ thermal comfort and behavior, but the data related to the overall influence of seasonal variations on dams’ colostrum and postnatal adaptive capability of calves are limited. The aim of this study was to measure the effects of a 49-day-long low air temperature (LAT) season (5.20 ± 0.46 °C mean air temperature) and a 53-day-long high air temperature (HAT) season (27.40 ± 0.39 °C mean air temperature) on dams’ colostrum quality and physiological, biochemical, hormonal, and oxidative stress parameters of their calves during the first 7 days of life. The dams’ colostrum was sampled at 2, 14, and 26 h after calving, before feeding of their calves. Calves’ blood samples were taken before the first colostrum intake and on days 1, 2, 3, and 7 of life. Calves’ physiological parameters were measured on days 0 and 7. HAT season significantly reduced the quality of dams’ colostrum. The ingestion of the low-quality colostrum, combined with the thermal discomfort during HAT season, probably provoked impaired physiological, biochemical, hormonal, and oxidative stress parameters in samples taken from the post-colostral calves. Additionally, intravenous glucose tolerance test was performed on day 7, which suggested an enhanced insulin response in HAT season calves. This study highlights the importance of adequate supporting strategies for the care of the late gestation cows and postnatal calves during the HAT season.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bell AW, McBride BW, Slepetis R et al (1989) Chronic heat stress and prenatal development in sheep: I. Conceptus growth and maternal plasma hormones and metabolites. J Anim Sci 67:3289–3299

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Benjamin MM (1981) Fluid and electrolytes. In: outline of veterinary clinical pathology. Iowa State Univ Press, Ames, pp 213–228

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernabucci U, Lacetera N, Baumgrd LH et al (2010) Metabolic and hormonal acclimation to heat stress in domesticated ruminants. Animal 4:1167–1183

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Breier BH, Oliver MH, Gallaher BW (2000) Regulation of growth and metabolism during postnatal development. In: Kronjé PB (ed) Ruminant physiology: digestion, metabolism, growth and reproduction. CABI publishing, Wallingford, pp 187–204

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Broucek J, Kisac P, Uhrincat M (2009) Effect of hot temperatures on the hematological paramters, health and performance of calves. Int J Biometeorol 53:201–208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chigerwe M, Beck AD, Kim SS, Coons DM (2013) Comparison of plasma oxidative status biomarkers in neonatal dairy calves during summer and fall seasons. J Vet Sci Technol 11:006

    Google Scholar 

  • Collier RJ, Zimbelman RB (2007) Heat stress effects on cattle: what we know and what we don’t know, Proceedings of the 22nd annual southwest nutrition and management conference. Univ of Arizona, Tucson, Tempe, pp 76–83

    Google Scholar 

  • Collier RJ, Zimbelman RB, Rhoads RP,  Rhoads ML, Baumgard LH (2011) A re-evaluation of the impact of temperature humidity index (THI) and black globe humidity index (BGHI) on milk production in high producing dairy cows. In Western Dairy Management Conf, Reno, pp 113–125

  • Dahl GE (2008) Effects of short day photoperiod on prolactin signaling in dry cows: a common mechanism among tissues and environments? J Animal Sci 86:10–14

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Das R, Sailo L, Verma N, Bharti P, Saikia J, Imtiwati, Kumar R (2016) Impact of heat stress on health and performance of dairy animals: a review. Vet World 9:260–268

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • de Andrade Ferrazza R, Mogollón Garcia HD, Vallejo Aristizábal VH, de Souza Nogueira C, Veríssimo CJ, Sartori JR, Sartori R, Pinheiro Ferreira JC, (2017) Thermoregulatory responses of Holstein cows exposed to experimentally induced heat stress. J Therm Biol 66:68–80

  • Gantner V, Bobic T, Gantner R, Gregic M, Kuterovac K, Novakovic J, Potocnik K (2017) Differences in response to heat stress due to production level and breed of dairy cows. Int J Biometeorol 61(9):1675–1685

  • Gorniak T, Meyer U, Südekum KH, Dänicke S (2014) Impact of mild heat stress on dry matter intake, milk yield and milk composition in mid-lactation Holstein dairy cows in a temperate climate. Arch Anim Nutr 68:358–369

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo JR, Monteiro APA, Weng XS, Ahmed BM, Laporta J, Hayen MJ, Dahl GE, Bernard JK, Tao S (2016) Short communication: effect of maternal heat stress in late gestation on blood hormones and metabolites of newborn calves. J Dairy Sci 99:6804–6807

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hahn GL, Mader TL, Eigenberg RA (2003) Perspective on development of thermal indices for animal studies and management. EAAP Technic Series 7:31–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Heinrichs C, Yanovski JA, Roth AH, Yu YM, Domené HM, Yano K, Cutler GB Jr, Baron J (1994) Dexamethasone increases growth hormone receptor messenger ribonucleic acid levels in liver and growth plate. Endocrinology 135:1113–1118

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holt SD (2014) Ambient temperature, calf intakes, and weight gains on preweaned dairy calves. Utah State Univeristy, Master of science Thesis

    Google Scholar 

  • Holtenius K, Agenäs S, Delavaud C, Chilliard Y (2003) Effects of feeding intensity during the dry period. 2. Metabolic and hormonal responses. J Dairy Sci 86:883–891

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holtenius P, Holtenius K (2007) A model to estimate insulin sensitivity in dairy cows. Acta Vet Scand 49:29–31

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change–IPCC (2007) Climate change 2007: the physical science basis. Contribution of working group I to the fourth assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Kadzere CT, Murphy MR, Silanikove N, Maltz E (2002) Heat stress in lactating dairy cows: a review. Liv Prod Sci 77:59–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kirovski D (2015) Endocrine and metabolic adaptations of calves to extra-uterine life. Acta Veterinaria 65:297–318

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li G, Currie RW, Ali IS (2004) Insulin potentiates expression of myocardial heat shock protein 70. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 26:281–288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lough DS, Beede DL, Wilcox CJ (1990) Effects of feed intake and thermal stress on mammary blood flow and other physiological measurements in lactating dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 73:325–332

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Machado-Neto R, Graves CN, Curtis SE (1987) Immunoglobulins in piglets from sows heat-stressed prepartum. J Anim Sci 65:445–455

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Messinis IE, Milingos SD (1999) Leptin in human reproduction. Hum Reprod Update 5:52–63

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Monteiro APA, Guo JR, Weng XS, Ahmed BM, Hayen MJ, Dahl GE, Bernard JK, Tao S (2016) Effect of maternal heat stress during the dry period on growth and metabolism of calves. J Dairy Sci 99:3896–3907

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mostyn A, Keisler DH, Webb R, Stephenson T, Symonds ME (2001) The role of leptin in the transition from fetus to neonate. Proc Nutr Soc 60:187–194

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nardone A, Lacetera N, Bernabucci U, Ronchi B (1997) Composition of colostrum from dairy heifers exposed to high air temperatures during late pregnancy and the early postpartum period. J Dairy Sci 80:838–844

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nienaber JA, Hahn GL, Eigenberg RA, Brown T, Gaughan JB (2001) Feed intake response of heat-challenged cattle. In: Proceedings of the 6th international livestock environment symposium. Louisville, Kentucky, p 154–164

  • NRC (2001) Nutrient requirements of dairy cattle. 7th rev. ed. National Academy Press, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearson EG, Dirksen G, Meyer J, Seitz A, Rowe KE (1995) Evaluation of liver function tests in neonatal calves. J Am Vet Med Assoc 207:1466–1469

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Platz E, Newman R (2008) Diagnosis of IUGR: traditional biometry. Semin Perinatol 32:140–147

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roland L, Drillich D, Klein-Jöbstl D, Iwersen M (2016) Invited review: influence of climatic conditions on the development, performance, and health of calves. J Dairy Sci 99:2438–2452

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Silanikove N (2000) Effects of heat stress on the welfare of extensively managed domestic ruminants. Liv Prod Sci 67:1–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silva BT, Henklein A, de Sousa MR et al (2016) Vital parameters of Holstein calves from birth to weaning. Rev Bras Med Vet 38:299–304

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh SP, Newton WM (1978) Acclimation of young calves to high temperatures: physiologic responses. Am J Vet Res 39:795–797

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith SM, Vale WW (2006) The role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in neuroendocrine responses to stress. Dialogues Clin Neurosci 8:383–395

    Google Scholar 

  • Steinhardt M, Thielscher HH (2000) Tiergerechte Haltung und physiologische Funktionen von Tieren. Tierärztliche Umschau 55:189–198

    Google Scholar 

  • Strong RA, Silva EB, Cheng HW, Eicher SD (2015) Acute brief heat stress in late gestation alters neonatal calf innate immune functions. J Dairy Sci 98:7771–7783

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tao S, Dahl GE (2013) Invited review: heat stress effects during late gestation on dry cows and their calves. J Dairy Sci 96:4079–4093

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tao S, Bubolz JW, do Amaral BC, Thompson IM, Hayen MJ, Johnson SE, Dahl GE (2011) Effect of heat stress during the dry period on mammary gland development. J Dairy Sci 94:5976–5986

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tao S, Monteiro APA, Thompson IM, Hayen MJ, Dahl GE (2012a) Effect of late-gestation maternal heat stress on growth and immune function of dairy calves. J Dairy Sci 95:7128–7136

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tao S, Thompson IM, Monteiro APA, Hayen MJ, Young LJ, Dahl GE (2012b) Effect of cooling heat-stressed dairy cows during the dry period on insulin response. J Dairy Sci 95:5035–5046

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tao S, Monteiro APA, Hayen MJ, Dahl GE (2014) Short communication: maternal heat stress during the dry period alters postnatal whole-body insulin response of calves. J Dairy Sci 97:897–901

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tripon I, Cziszter LT, Bura M, Sossidou EN (2014) Effects of seasonal and climate variations on calves’ thermal comfort and behaviour. Int J Biometeorol 58:1471–1478

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zakari FO, Ayo JO, Rekwot PI, Kawu MU (2015) Effects of age and season on haematological parameters of donkeys during the rainy and cold-dry seasons. Int J Biometeorol 59:1813–1824

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Republic of Serbia, project number III 46002.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Danijela Kirovski.

Ethics declarations

The animal-related component of the study was approved by the Ethical Committee of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade in accordance with the National Regulation on Animal Welfare.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Trifković, J., Jovanović, L., Đurić, M. et al. Influence of different seasons during late gestation on Holstein cows’ colostrum and postnatal adaptive capability of their calves. Int J Biometeorol 62, 1097–1108 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-018-1514-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-018-1514-6

Keywords

Navigation