ENDOCRINE, METABOLIC AND HEMATOLOGICAL-CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH REDUCED GROWTH-PERFORMANCE DURING CHRONIC PNEUMONIA IN CALVES - A CASE-STUDY

A veal calf with chronic pneumonia was characterized by reduced weight gain, feed intake and increased feed/gain ratio. Concentrations of he moglobin, packed cell volume, red blood cell number and blood plasma l evels of iron, albumin, urea, glucose, insulin, insulin-like growth fa ctor-1 and triiodothyronine were decreased, while plasma levels of tot al protein, immunglobulin G and non-esterified fatty acids were increa sed. White blood cell number, blood plasma concentrations of triglycer ides, growth hormone, cortisol and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were no t changed. Hematological, metabolic and endocrine changes were interpr eted as expressions of reduced energy and protein intake and of nutrie nt partitioning which contributed to reduced growth performance.