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Wijffels G, Sullivan ML, Stockwell S, Briscoe S, Pearson R, Li Y, Macs AM, Sejian V, McCulloch R, Olm JCW, Cawdell-Smith J, Gaughan JB. Comparing the responses of grain-fed feedlot cattle under moderate heat load and during subsequent recovery with those of feed-restricted thermoneutral counterparts: blood cells and inflammatory markers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2024; 68:211-227. [PMID: 38092991 PMCID: PMC10794350 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-023-02584-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Given the climate projections for livestock rearing regions globally, understanding the inflammatory status of livestock under various heat loads will be informative to animal welfare and management. A survey of plasma inflammatory markers was conducted, and blood leucocyte counts followed to investigate the capacity of the ~ 500 kg grain fed Black Angus steer to respond to and recover from a moderate heat load challenge. Two sequential cohorts of 12 steers were housed in climate-controlled rooms (CCR) for 18 days. A thermally challenged (TC) group (n = 2 × 6) experienced five consecutive periods: PreChallenge, Challenge, and Recovery within the CCR, and 40 days in outdoor pens (PENS and Late PENS). PreChallenge (5 days) and Recovery (7 days) delivered thermoneutral conditions, whereas in Challenge the TC steers experienced a diurnal temperature range of 28-35 °C. A feed-restricted thermoneutral (FRTN) treatment (n = 2 × 6) was run concurrently to differentiate between responses to reduced feed intake alone and moderate heat stress. Blood neutrophil counts were particularly sensitive to moderate heat load with higher numbers during Challlenge and in PENs. The plasma concentrations of TNFα and IL-1β were depressed in the TC group compared to the FRTN counterparts and remained so for 40 days after Challenge. Linear relationships of the concentrations of IL-1β, IL-10, and haptoglobin with rumen temperature or dry matter intake detected in the FRTN group were altered or absent in the TC group. The findings suggest significant impacts of moderate heat load on the inflammatory status of feedlot cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Wijffels
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia, Qld, 4067, Australia.
| | - M L Sullivan
- School of Agriculture and Food, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld, 4343, Australia
| | - S Stockwell
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia, Qld, 4067, Australia
| | - S Briscoe
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia, Qld, 4067, Australia
| | - R Pearson
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia, Qld, 4067, Australia
| | - Y Li
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia, Qld, 4067, Australia
| | - A M Macs
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia, Qld, 4067, Australia
| | - V Sejian
- Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Veterinary Education and Research, Kurumbapet, Puducherry, 605009, India
| | - R McCulloch
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia, Qld, 4067, Australia
| | - J C W Olm
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld, 4343, Australia
| | - J Cawdell-Smith
- School of Agriculture and Food, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld, 4343, Australia
| | - J B Gaughan
- School of Agriculture and Food, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld, 4343, Australia
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Wijffels G, Sullivan ML, Stockwell S, Briscoe S, Anderson ST, Li Y, de Melo Costa CC, McCulloch R, Olm JCW, Cawdell-Smith J, Gaughan JB. Comparing the responses of grain fed feedlot cattle under moderate heat load and during subsequent recovery with those of feed restricted thermoneutral counterparts: metabolic hormones. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2023; 67:897-911. [PMID: 37041373 PMCID: PMC10167112 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-023-02464-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
We set out to determine the impact of moderate heat load on the plasma concentrations of a suite of hormones involved in regulating energy metabolism and feed intake. The responses of the thermally challenged (TC) feedlot steers were compared to those of feed restricted thermoneutral (FRTN) steers. Two sequential cohorts of twelve 518 ± 23 kg Black Angus steers on finisher grain ration were housed in climate-controlled rooms (CCR) for 18 days and returned to outdoor pens for 40 days. The TC group was subjected to a diurnal range of 28-35 °C for 7 days (Challenge) but held in thermoneutral conditions beforehand (PreChallenge), and in Recovery (after Challenge). The FRTN group was held in thermoneutral conditions and feed restricted throughout. Blood was collected over the three periods in CCR and two periods in outdoor pens for 40 days (PENS and Late PENS). Plasma concentrations of prolactin, thyroid stimulating hormone, insulin, leptin, adiponectin and thyroxine (T4) were determined during the five periods. Whilst the pituitary hormones were relatively stable, there were differences in plasma leptin, adiponectin and T4 between the two groups during Challenge and Recovery, and occasionally in PENS. The interaction of the plasma hormone concentrations and rumen temperature and DMI were also investigated. Whilst the positive relationship between DMI and leptin was confirmed, we found a strong negative relationship between adiponectin and rumen temperature, and a strong positive relationship between adiponectin and dry matter intake (DMI) in the TC steers only.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Wijffels
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia, Qld, 4067, Australia.
| | - M L Sullivan
- School of Agriculture and Food, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld, 4343, Australia
| | - S Stockwell
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia, Qld, 4067, Australia
| | - S Briscoe
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia, Qld, 4067, Australia
| | - S T Anderson
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld, 4067, Australia
| | - Y Li
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia, Qld, 4067, Australia
| | - C C de Melo Costa
- Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - R McCulloch
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia, Qld, 4067, Australia
| | - J C W Olm
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld, 4343, Australia
| | - J Cawdell-Smith
- School of Agriculture and Food, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld, 4343, Australia
| | - J B Gaughan
- School of Agriculture and Food, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld, 4343, Australia
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