Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #215014
Title: Effect of breed on acute phase protein response to weaning and transport in beef calves.

Author
item QIU, X - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item ARTHINGTON, JOHN - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item Riley, David
item Chase, Chadwick - Chad
item Phillips, William
item Coleman, Samuel

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science Supplement
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/17/2007
Publication Date: 2/6/2006
Citation: Qiu, X., Arthington, J., Riley, D.G., Chase, C.C., Phillips, W.A., Coleman, S.W. 2006. Effect of breed on acute phase protein response to weaning and transport in beef calves [abstract]. Journal of Animal Science Supplement.84(2): Paper No. 48

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Over three consecutive years, weaned calves and transported steers (n = 1,033 and 482, respectively)were studied for effects of breed on the acute phase protein response to weaning and transport. Calves and steers were sired by 12 Angus bulls. 11 Brahman bulls, and 15 Romosinuano bulls bred randomly to cows of all three breeds. Calves were weaned at approximately 7 mo of age (Sept) and provided a comercial preconditioning concentrate and free choice grass hay. Approximately 28 d after weaning, steers were transported 2,200 km to central OK. As an estimate of inflammation, concentrations of ceruloplasmin (CR,mg/dL), fibrinogen (FBm ng/dL), and haptoglobin (HP, sepectrophotometry absorbance at 450 nm, %) were measured in blood samples collected at weaning, 24 and 72 h post-weaning, and 24 hours before shipping, immediately before shipping, 24 and 72 h after arrival. Combinations of fixed effects were investigated in both data sets, including: breed, sampling time, sex, birth location, and age of dam. Age and weight were analized as covariates. Random effects included sire, animal within sire, and year. Nonsignificant effects were excluded from final models, with the exception of breed sampling time which was the effect of intrest. Contrasts were constructed to estimate breed and genetic effects. Significant Angus and Brahman maternal effects on HP (0.20+/- 0.10; -30+/-0.10 respectively) and FB (18.09+/- 7.37; -18.61+/-7.7) concentrations were detected in weaned calves, Romosinuano (3.16 +/- 1.05) and Angus (-2.53 +/- 1.12) direct effects were significant for FB concentrations in weaned calves. Heterosis was detected for FB concentrations in Angus x Romosinuano weaned calves (13.37 +/- 4.44) and in transported steers (27.7 +/- 5.8). Significant direct breed effects for HP Concentrations were detected in Angus (0.60 +/- 0.30) and for CR concentrations in Romosinuano (3.0 +/- 1.33) in transported steers, in conclusion calves and steers prduced by matings of Romosinuano, Angus, and Brahman may exhibit different acute phase protein responses to the stressors associated with weaning and transportation.