Effect of maternal exercise on calf dry matter intake, weight gain, behavior, and cortisol concentrations at disbudding and weaning

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of maternal physical activity during late gestation on calf dry matter intake, weight gain, behavior, and cortisol concentration during disbudding and weaning. Fifty-five Holstein and 5 Jersey × Holstein crossbred calves were enrolled into the study during gestation. Calves were born from pregnant, nonlactating Holstein (n = 58) and Jersey × Holstein crossbred (n = 2) dairy cows. Cows were assigned to either confinement (n = 20 cows; 13 female calves, 7 male calves), exercise (n = 20 cows; 8 female calves, 12 male calves), or pasture (n = 20 cows; 11 female calves, 9 male calves) treatments at dry-off from January to November 2015. Enrollment in treatment was balanced by parity (1.8 ± 0.9), projected mature-equivalent fat-corrected milk (13,831 ± 2,028 kg/lactation), dam breed, and projected calving date. Cows assigned to confinement remained in the pen throughout the dry period. Cows assigned to exercise were walked 5 times/wk at a targeted 1.5 h at 3.25 km/h. Cows assigned to pasture were turned out 5 times/wk for a targeted 1.5 h/d. Treatments were terminated on the expected due date or at signs of calving. Calves were removed from cows immediately once observed by farm staff and subsequently weighed and moved into a straw deep-bedded hutch. Data loggers were attached to the rear fetlock of each calf −3 d to +6 d relative to disbudding and weaning to monitor changes in lying behavior. Calves were weighed on d −7, −5, −3, −1, 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7, and grain was weighed the 7 d preceding and following disbudding and weaning. Blood was collected 24 h before and 0, 1, and 4 h after disbudding and d −1, 0, 1, and 2 relative to weaning to determine cortisol concentrations. Data were analyzed using mixed linear model in SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). Calf weight gain decreased the day after disbudding and calves tended to have elevated cortisol concentrations 1 h after disbudding, regardless of maternal treatment. Calf weight gain decreased the day of and after weaning; calves had elevated cortisol concentrations the day after weaning, regardless of treatment. Behavior did not differ by treatment at disbudding, but calves from pasture cows lay down for less time compared with confinement and exercise maternal treatments and less frequently than exercise maternal treatments at weaning. More research investigating the significance of lying time and restlessness around stressful events is needed to further understand the implications of such behavioral responses.