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The cold tolerance of beef and dairy type calves in the first weeks of life

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

A. J. F. Webster ,
J. G. Gordon  and
R. McGregor
A. J. F. Webster
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
J. G. Gordon
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
R. McGregor
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
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Abstract

1. British Friesian (F) and Hereford × British Friesian (H × F) male calves were raised from about 3 days to 8 weeks of age at air temperatures of 5, 10 or 15°C. They were given a milk replacer diet supplying 950 kJ metabolizable energy/kg M0·75.24 h.

2. There was no effect of environmental temperature on weight gain in calves of either type.

3. Total heat loss measured in a direct calorimeter, increased by about 5 kJ/kg M0·75.24 h per °C fall in air temperature. It was the same whether calves were penned singly or in pairs. Heat loss from F calves was slightly, but not significantly, greater at all temperatures than from H × F calves.

4. The proportion of heat lost by evaporation (a measure of environmental warmth) increased with increasing air temperature and was greater for H × F than for F calves at 15°C.

5. Tissue insulation and external insulation values were similar for H × F and F calves. The calculated lower critical temperatures of the F and H × F calves were 10 and 8°C respectively.

6. The results are discussed in relation to the housing requirements of young calves.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 26 , Issue 1 , February 1978 , pp. 85 - 92
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1978

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References

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