Jpa. Roefs et al., EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE AND FOOD-INTAKE ON METABOLIC-RATE AND POSTURE OF PRERUMINANT CALVES, Physiology & behavior, 60(1), 1996, pp. 203-209
Influence of feeding level and temperature on posture and posture-rela
ted heat production was studied in preruminant calves. Twenty-four you
ng calves were assigned in a 2 x 2 factorial design to one of two feed
ing levels [high (FH) or low (FL)] and to one of two temperature (7.5
degrees C or 19 degrees C). Heat production (HP) and posture were meas
ured per calf every 9 min, during 3 days. HP was dependent on feeding
level and temperature. Energy expenditure related to standing was high
er at 7.5 degrees C than at 19 degrees C. Time spent standing was high
er at FL than at FH, and at 7.5 degrees C than at 19 degrees C. On the
contrary, the number of standing periods was lower at 7.5 degrees C t
han at 19 degrees C. Consequently, the duration of a standing period w
as higher at 7.5 degrees C than at 19 degrees C. Within a standing per
iod, HP decreased with time. This decline was largest at 7.5 degrees C
. Thus, energy cost of standing was lower in treatments with a longer
duration of a standing period. These results demonstrated that the eff
ect of temperature on energy cost of standing is influenced by the num
ber of standing periods.