Responses of young calves, on two levels of feeding, to transportation

The effect of transportation on energy metabolism in young calves was assessed at two feeding levels by indirect calorimetry during 5.5-day experimental period. Twenty-six Holstein-Friesian male calves were assigned in a 2 X 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Calves were fed below or near the maintenance requirements (270 or 420 kJ metabolizable energy per kg M(0.75) per day). At 5 days of age, 13 calves were transported. The applied transportation procedure was aimed to mimic common transport of young calves. The other 13 calves were controls. Metabolizability of dietary energy was low (0.808), but similar for control and transported calves. Despite the similar salivary cortisol concentrations after transportation, heat production was higher by 23 kJ/kg M(0.75) per day in transported than in control calves. Calves were not in a steady-state regarding their energy metabolism. Heat production decreased with time. Both transportation and feeding level influenced the decline in heat production with time. Both transportation and feeding level influenced the decline in heat production with time. Only during the first 3 days after transportation was heat production enhanced, suggesting a relatively short-term effect of transportation in young calves. The impact of transportation on heat production and time related alterations in heat production were not related to the calf's activity.