Effects of prenatal stress on suckling calves

Pregnant Brahman cows (n = 42), bred to either Brahman or Tuli bulls, were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: 1) transported in a stock trailer for 24.2 km, unloaded at a second farm and penned for 1 h, and then returned to the original farm (TRANS); 2) i.v. injection of ACTH, 1 IU/kg BW (ACTH); or 3) walked through the handling facilities (SHAM). Treatments were initiated on d 60 and repeated at 80, 100, 120, and 140 d of gestation. The calves from these cows were subjected to tests to measure their capacity to react to stress. In Test 1, Tuli-sired calves were restrained at 10 and 150 d of age for 3.5 h. In Test 2, Brahman-sired calves were restrained for 3.5 h and given an injection of ACTH (.125 IU ACTH/kg of BW). In Test 3, Test-2 calves were restrained at 180 d of age and hot-iron branded. In Test 4, Test-1 calves were restrained at 180 d of age and given an injection of cortisol (6.7 ng/kg BW) to estimate cortisol clearance rate. During all tests, calves were restrained for 3.5 h, and heart rates were recorded and blood samples were taken at -15, 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, and 180 min. The 10- and 150-d-old TRANS calves maintained greater plasma cortisol in Test 1 (restraint) than the ACTH and SHAM calves (P < .01). The ACTH challenge (Test 2) increased plasma cortisol and ACTH, but cow treatment did not alter the response (P > .4). In response to branding (Test 3), the TRANS, ACTH, and SHAM calves' overall mean plasma cortisol was not affected by treatment (52, 51, and 43 +/- 3 ng/mL, respectively; P > .1), nor was the calves' overall heart rate (91, 94, and 86 +/- 3 beats/min, respectively; P > . 1). In Test 4, TRANS calves cleared plasma of cortisol at a slower rate than did the SHAM calves (P < .01), but not the ACTH calves (261, 374, and 473 +/- 50 mL/min, respectively; P > .1). The TRANS calves had an overall greater heart rate than did the ACTH or the SHAM calves (91, 79, and 77 +/- 2 beats/min, respectively; P < .001). Exposing cows to repeated transportation stress during gestation altered their calf's physiological response to stress, and these alterations could have a profound influence on the calfs ability to adapt to stress, thereby influencing its welfare. Further research should examine the growth, immune function, and reproductive function of prenatally stressed calves to determine whether these changes in plasma cortisol are beneficial or deleterious.