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The effect of early weaning on feedlot performance and measures of stress in beef calves^1,2

J. D. Arthington^*,3, J. W. Spears and D. C. Miller

^* University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Range Cattle Research and Education Center, Ona 33865; and and Department of Animal Science and Interdepartmental Nutrition Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695

	Abstract

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Forty crossbred steers (Brahman x English) were categorized into two groups: 1) early weaned (EW; n = 20); and 2) normal weaned (NW; n = 20). Calves were 89 and 300 d of age at the time of EW and NW, respectively; SEM = 4.4. Early-weaned calves were kept on-site (University of Florida, Ona), provided supplement (1% of BW), and grazed on annual and perennial pastures until NW. At the time of normal weaning, all calves were loaded on a commercial livestock trailer and transported to the North Carolina State University Research Feedlot in Butner (approximately 1,200 km). Upon arrival, calves were stratified by BW and randomly allotted to four pens per weaning age treatment. Individual calf BW and blood samples were collected at the time of normal weaning, on arrival at the feedlot (d 1; 24 h following weaning), and on d 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 of the receiving period. Individual BW was collected at the start and end of the growing and finishing periods, and feed intake by pen was measured daily. As an estimate of stress during the receiving period, plasma was collected and analyzed for the acute-phase proteins, haptoglobin and ceruloplasmin. Early-weaned calves were lighter (P = 0.03) at normal weaning than NW calves (221 vs. 269 kg; SEM = 10.6). By d 28, EW calves tended (P = 0.12) to be lighter than NW calves (242 vs. 282 kg, respectively). Gain:feed was improved for EW compared with NW calves during both the receiving (G:F = 0.157 vs. 0.081) and growing (0.159 vs. 0.136) periods. There tended (P < 0.10) to be weaning age x day interactions for each acute-phase protein. Ceruloplasmin concentrations increased in NW, but not EW calves, and peaked on d 7 (27.6 and 34.2 mg/100 mL for EW and NW calves, respectively; P < 0.05). Haptoglobin concentrations increased in both groups and were greatest (P < 0.05) in NW calves on d 3 (7.63 vs. 14.86 mg of haptoglobin/hemoglobin complexing/100 mL). No differences in ADG or G:F were detected during the finishing phase; however, overall G:F was improved (P = 0.03) for EW vs. NW calves (0.155 vs. 0.136). Carcass measures, including backfat thickness, USDA yield grade, marbling score, and LM area, did not differ between treatments. These data imply that EW calves, which are maintained onsite before shipping, may be more tolerant to the stressors associated with transportation and feed yard entry. Early weaned calves, managed within the system described in this study, may have improved G:F.

Key Words: Calves • Stress • Weaning

	Introduction

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Cow BCS typically decreases after calving, when the nutritional demands of the cow are at a maximum. Rae et al. (1993) reported on the influence of BCS on the productivity of Florida beef cows. In their study, cows with a low BCS (4.0) had a 30% reduction in pregnancy rate compared with cows in optimal body condition (BCS = 5.0 to 6.0). Early weaning of calves is a practical management consideration for improving BCS in beef cows, and it has been shown to decrease voluntary forage intake, increase pregnancy rate, and decrease the postpartum anestrous period (Houghton et al., 1990; Arthington and Kalmbacher, 2003; Arthington and Minton, 2004).

If producers are to gain the cow reproductive performance advantages of early calf weaning, calves must be weaned at the start of the breeding season. Care of the early-weaned calf is an important consideration with this management system, as most beef cattle producers are not experienced in managing 70- to 90-d-old calves. Producers who adopt early calf weaning have at least two options: 1) market the calf immediately after early weaning; or 2) manage the calf on pasture or drylot. There may be important production efficiencies associated with accepting the added inputs of rearing an early-weaned calf. Early-weaned calf growth is highly efficient (Peterson et al., 1987) and may lead to improved feedlot performance (Myers et al., 1999b) and carcass quality (Myers et al., 1999a).

Further research focusing on the management of early-weaned calves is warranted. One specific area of investigation relates to the potential differences in stress tolerance between normal-weaned calves and calves that are early-weaned and managed on the ranch for approximately 200 d before shipping and receiving into a feed yard. The objective of this study was to examine performance and acute-phase protein concentrations in early- and normal-weaned calves following transportation and entry into a feed yard.

	Materials and Methods

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Animal Care, Handling, and Diet
This study was conducted at the Univ. of Florida, Range Cattle Res. and Educ. Center (RCREC), Ona, and North Carolina State University (Butner). The animals were cared for by acceptable practices (FASS, 1999) approved by the University of Florida, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.

The steers used in this study were derived from a larger group of early- and normal-weaned calves from the RCREC. Their dams were 3-yr-old, primiparous crossbred cows (Brahman x British). Cow and calf performance before the time of normal weaning has been summarized previously (Arthington and Kalmbacher, 2003). In early January, steers were assigned randomly to one of two weaning treatments: early-weaned (EW; n = 20) and normal-weaned (NW; n = 20). Calf age did not differ at the time of EW (84 and 93 d for EW and NW, respectively; SEM = 4.4). Both groups of calves were kept onsite at the RCREC until the time of NW (August; average calf age = 300 d; SEM = 4.4). Early-weaned calves were grazed on annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) from January through April and on perennial stargrass (Cynodon spp.) from April to August. During this time, they were provided commercial supplemental feed (Lakeland Animal Nutrition, Lakeland, FL; 13.8, 65.0 1.12, and 0.72% CP, TDN, Ca, and P, respectively; as-fed basis) at a targeted rate of 1.0% BW daily. Normal-weaned calves were unsupplemented and were maintained on bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) pastures with their dams.

In early June, all calves were vaccinated with Bovashield 4 and Ultrabac 8 (Pfizer, Exton, PA). All calves received boosters of the same vaccinations 3 wk before the date of normal weaning. Treatment for parasites was performed on the same dates using Ivomec (Merck, Rahway, NJ). No vaccinations or implants were given in the feedlot.

At the time of NW, both groups of calves were loaded onto a commercial livestock trailer at 0900 and transported approximately 1,200 km to the North Carolina State Univ. Research Feedlot in Butner. Calves remained on the livestock trailer for 24 h before being unloaded. Within weaning treatment, steers were allotted randomly to eight covered, slotted-floor pens (3 m x 4 m) with concrete feed bunks (four pens per treatment). All steers were provided free-choice access to long-stem grass hay from arrival to d 3. During this time and for the remainder of the 28-d receiving period, steers were provided a corn silage-based diet (Table 1). From d 28 to 112, steers were fed a growing diet (Table 2). Dietary DM was determined by drying feed samples in a forced-air oven at 55°C for 48 h. After 48 h of drying, samples were weighed daily until an accurate DM content was determined. Two steers were removed from the study (one steer from each treatment) due to conditions unrelated to the treatments of the study. After d 112, a finishing diet (Table 2) was fed until slaughter. Slaughter date was determined using ultrasonagraphy to estimate 12th-rib backfat thickness. Steers were slaughtered on two separate dates, 35 d apart. Half the steers with the greatest backfat thickness (irrespective of treatment) were chosen to be slaughtered on the first date (d 215; n = 10 and 8 EW and NW steers, respectively). No differences (P >0.13) were detected in backfat thickness among treatments at either slaughter date (0.84 and 0.89, and 0.94 and 1.07 cm for EW and NW steers on the first and second slaughter date [d 250], respectively; SEM = 0.08 and 0.05). Steers were slaughtered at a commercial packing facility, and HCW were determined for calculation of dressing percent. Longissimus muscle area, marbling scores (USDA, 1975) and carcass quality and yield grades were determined by a USDA grader.

Plasma was collected from blood following centrifugation at 2,000 x g for 20 min and then frozen at –20°C until later analysis for acute-phase protein concentration. Plasma ceruloplasmin oxidase activity was measured in duplicate using colorimetric procedures previously described (Demetriou et al., 1974). All results are expressed as mg/100 mL as previously described (King, 1965). The intra- and interassay CV for ceruloplasmin were controlled to values 5 and 10%, respectively. Plasma haptoglobin concentrations were determined in duplicate samples by measuring haptoglobin/hemoglobin complexing (HpHbB) by the estimation of differences in peroxidase activity as described previously (Makimura and Suzuki, 1982). For haptoglobin concentrations 1.0 mg of HpHbB/100 mL, the intraassay CV was controlled to values 20%, and for concentrations >1.0 mg of HpHbB/100 mL, the intraassay CV was controlled to values 10%. The haptogloblin assay interassay CV was controlled to values 10%.

Statistical Analyses
Statistical analysis of initial and final BW, ADG, and G:F for each of the feedlot periods and final carcass measures was achieved by ANOVA for a completely randomized design using the MIXED procedure of SAS (SAS Inst., Inc., Cary, NC). The model statement contained the main effect of treatment. Pen was the experimental unit. Statistical analyses of acute-phase protein concentrations and percentage of BW change during the receiving and growing periods were achieved by ANOVA for a repeated-measures experiment within a completely randomized design using the MIXED procedure of SAS. The model statement contained the effects of treatment and time and the interaction for treatment x time. Pen was the experimental unit. Data are presented as least squares means. Linear regressions were fitted to determine relationships, if any, between average plasma acute-phase protein concentrations and calf ADG.

	Results and Discussion

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Early-weaned calves were lighter (P = 0.03) at the time of normal weaning than NW calves (Table 3). The steers in this study were derived from a larger group of EW and NW calves at the RCREC. Data before the time of normal weaning for these calves and their cohorts has been summarized previously as Year 2 of a 2-yr study (Arthington and Kalmbacher, 2003). In that study, EW calves in Year 1 had a 0.17 kg greater ADG, but in Year 2, ADG was 0.24 kg less compared with NW contemporaries. In both years, ADG was calculated from the time of EW (early January) to the time of NW (early August). Variation in EW calf performance over the 2 yr is most likely related to the effects of variable annual weather conditions on the growth and subsequent availability of pasture forage. The rate of supplementation was held constant over both years (1.0% BW daily). In Florida, the availability of pasture forage extends late into the summer and early fall. Our EW calf management systems have attempted to identify grazing and supplementation strategies that best utilize this forage resource. Nevertheless, the results might have differed if EW calves were supplemented to achieve a greater BW gain before the time of normal weaning.

View larger version (15K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 1. Change in calf BW relative to BW at the time of normal weaning (d 0). Early-weaned calves removed from their dams at 85 d of age. Normal-weaned calves remained with their dams until the day of normal weaning (d 0; average age = 300 d). At weaning, calves were transported approximately 1,200 km directly into a feed yard. Time xtreatment; P < 0.01. Means differ (*P < 0.05) on d 14, 28, 56, 84, and 112. Pooled SEM = 1.67; n = four pens per treatment.

Feed DMI, BW gain, and G:F were similar for both EW and NW steers during the finishing period, which lasted 103 and 138 d for steers processed in the first and second slaughter dates, respectively. Although G:F for EW steers did not differ from that of NW steers during the finishing phase, the accumulative advantage derived from the receiving (28 d) and growing (84 d) periods resulted in an overall net improvement (P = 0.02) in G:F for EW vs. NW calves (Table 3).

Overall feedlot ADG did not differ between weaning treatments (1.23 and 1.25 kg/d for EW and NW calves, respectively; SEM = 0.11). Myers et al. (1999b) reported that Simmental x Angus x Hereford steers early weaned at 90 d of age and put directly into a feed yard had a greater ADG than contemporaries weaned at 215 d of age (1.16 vs. 1.01 kg/d; SEM = 0.03). In that study, EW steers were put directly into a feed yard, compared with the current study, in which EW steers were grazed for approximately 215 d before entering a feed yard. In another study (Myers et al., 1999c), EW calves (117 d of age) were either grazed for 82 d after weaning or put directly into a feed yard. In that study, EW calves put directly into a feed yard had a greater ADG and improved G:F than calves grazed on pasture before entry into a feed yard. Grazing EW calves before entry into the feedlot seems to affect overall feedlot performance compared with EW calves placed directly in a feed yard.

There were no significant differences in the carcass characteristics measured in this study (Table 4). Myers et al. (1999a) reported increased carcass quality measures in EW vs. NW calves. In that study, 37% more EW steer carcasses graded USDA choice than did NW steers. This difference in carcass quality is most likely attributable to the time at which the EW steers were first provided a concentrate diet. In the current study, EW steers were grazed on pasture until 300 d of age, whereas in the Myers et al. (1999a) study, EW steers were placed directly into a feed yard and provided access to high-energy concentrate diets.

View larger version (17K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 2. Effect of early calf weaning on plasma ceruloplasmin and haptoglobin concentrations on entry into a feed yard. Early-weaned calves removed from their dams at 85 d of age. Normal-weaned calves remained with their dams until the day of normal weaning (average age = 300 d). At weaning calves were transported approximately 1,200 km directly into a feed yard. Time x treatment; P < 0.001. Means differ on d 7 and d 3 for ceruloplasmin and haptoglobin, respectively; *P < 0.05. Pooled SEM = 1.92 and 0.75 for ceruloplasmin and haptoglobin, respectively; n = four pens per treatment. HpHbB = haptoglobin/hemoglobin complexing.

Morbidity in feeder cattle results in economic loss to the beef industry through decreased performance, mortality, and costs associated with medical interventions (Perino, 1992; Wittum et al., 1996). The effects of feedlot cattle morbidity also extend postharvest, with detrimental effects on carcass quality and meat tenderness (Gardner et al., 1999). In the current study, EW calves had been weaned and exposed to feed for more than 200 d before transport and entry into the feedlot. It is likely that this preconditioning effect also contributed to the performance responses observed in our study. Calves enrolled in preweaning and/or preconditioning programs have been shown to have lower rates of morbidity and improved performance in the feedlot (Roeber et al., 2001). It is probably impossible to separate the performance responses of the current study into those affected by early calf weaning and those affected by preconditioning. Early calf weaning and typical preconditioning programs differ primarily by the time at which the calf is removed from the cow. In early-weaning programs, the calf should be removed at the start of the breeding season, compared with preconditioning or preweaning programs, where the calf is removed from the cow 30 to 45 d before shipping. In either program, the calf could be considered to be preconditioned. An important observation of the current study is the absence of morbidity in both treatments. Although no calves became sick, and DMI did not differ among treatments, differences in the stress response, as measured by acute-phase protein concentrations, were evident. The acute-phase reaction is an important early physiological response to inflammatory stimuli (Baumann and Gauldie, 1994). In response to stress stimuli, blood concentrations of acute-phase proteins increase in cattle (Conner et al., 1988). These proteins are produced from hepatocytes following direct stimulation from proinflammatory cytokines, predominately IL-1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (Richards et al., 1991; Breazile, 1996). These proinflammatory cytokines are highly pleiotropic, and significant evidence exits that suggests they can directly inhibit animal growth (Johnson, 1997). One example includes increased proteolysis mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokines, whereas the AA liberated from body tissues are likely being incorporated into acute-phase proteins by the liver (Johnson, 1997). This activated immune response results in an increase in nutrients required for the production of inflammatory products, as well as replenishing lost body tissue mass. In the current study, the activated inflammatory reaction is likely acting as a nutrient sink, resulting in decreased BW gain in NW calves, even with similar DMI and the absence of clinical illness. Although activation of the inflammatory response may be one explanation for the improved performance of EW vs. NW steers, it is not the only factor to consider. In this study, EW calves were lighter at the time of entry into a feed yard and had been introduced to supplemental feed before the date of shipping. All of these factors may have contributed to the performance responses recorded in this study.

	Footnotes

 
¹ Contribution No. R-10570 from the Florida Agric. Exp. Stn. This research was supported in part by a grant from the USDA-NRI Tropical-Subtropical Agric. Res. Program.

² Appreciation is expressed C. Piacitelli and T. Wood their technical assistance during the conduct of this experiment.

³ Correspondence: 3401 Experiment Station (phone: 863-735-1314; fax: 863-735-1930; e-mail: jdarthington{at}ifas.ufl.edu).

Received for publication June 1, 2004. Accepted for publication January 6, 2005.

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This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Arthington, J. D. Articles by Miller, D. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Arthington, J. D. Articles by Miller, D. C.