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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Livestock Issues Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #224659

Title: Influence of temperament on behavioral, physiological, and endocrine responses of cattle to a provocative challenge with lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Author
item Hulbert, Lindsey
item Carroll, Jeffery - Jeff Carroll
item Dailey, Jeffery
item RANDEL, RON - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item WELSH, TOM - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item CALDWELL, LISA - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item BURDICK, NICOLE - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item VANN, RHONDA - MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV
item WILLARD, SCOTT - MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV

Submitted to: American Dairy Science Association Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/11/2008
Publication Date: 7/23/2008
Citation: Hulbert, L.E., Carroll, J.A., Dailey, J.W., Randel, R., Welsh Jr., T., Caldwell, L., Burdick, N., Vann, R., Willard, S. 2008. Influence of temperament on behavioral, physiological, and endocrine responses of cattle to a provocative challenge with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) [abstract]. Journal of Animal Science. 86(E. Supp. 2):527. (Abstract #578)

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Studies indicate that an animal's temperament can influence its health and productivity (Voisinet et al., 1997; Fell et al., 1999). Therefore, our objective was to evaluate the effect of temperament on rectal temperature (RT), sickness score (SS), and adrenal function of yearling bulls in response to a LPS challenge. Brahman bulls (10 mo of age) were selected based on temperament score; an average of exit velocity (EV) and pen score (PS) determined at 131.08 ± 3.23 d of age. Bulls were ranked into 3 groups: Calm, lowest score (C; n=8; 0.87 m/s EV and 1 PS), Intermediate (I; n=8; 1.59 m/s EV and 2.25 PS), and Temperamental, highest score (T; n=8; 3.70 m/s EV and 4.88 PS). Bulls were fitted with indwelling jugular catheters and RT devices that recorded RT at 1-min intervals. The next day blood samples were collected at 30-min intervals from -2 to 8 h relative to an i.v. infusion of LPS (0.5 ug/Kg BW) at 0 h. Serum was stored at -80 deg C until analyzed for cortisol (CS) and epinephrine (EP). RT data were summed into 10-min intervals prior to statistical analysis. SS were defined as follows: (1) on side with labored breathing; (2) clinical signs, increase respiration; (3) calm, but head distended; (4) appeared normal; and (5) active/agitated. SS was obtained from 30 min post-LPS until all animals scored at least 4. CS concentrations increased during the first 2 h post-LPS, and remained elevated for 6 h post-LPS (P less than or equal to 0.01). LPS-induced CS concentrations were not affected by temperament (P greater than or equal to 0.05). Concentrations of EP peaked 1 h post-LPS with C bulls having a greater peak EP (849.2 ± 107.1 pg/mL) than I (352.5 ± 87.1 pg/mL) and T bulls (417.2 ± 90.7 pg/ml; P less than or equal to 0.01). SS revealed that T bulls showed less signs of sickness 30 min to 3 h post-LPS than I and C bulls (P less than or equal to 0.01). I bulls had the greatest increase (P less than or equal to 0.01) in RT (1.74 ± 0.23 deg C at 240 min) compared to C (1.45 ± 0.36 deg C at 260 min) and T bulls (0.86 ± 0.13 deg C; at 230 min). Based on our data, temperamental bulls appear to be more resilient to immunological challenges and calm bulls appear to be more susceptible.