ACID-BASE-BALANCE IN THE BLOOD OF CALVES OF DIFFERENT BREEDS IN A SUCKLER COW HERD ON DEEP LITTER AND STRAWLESS STABLE FLOOR

The influence of two different animal loose housing a systems (deep li tter resp. gum lying area/slatted floor) with additional calf pen on b lood gases and buffer systems in the blood of 19 calves of the breed D eutsche Schwarzbunte and 20 calves of the breed Deutsche Rotbunte of b oth sexes in a suckler cow herd was examined in a period from the firs t to the sixth month of life. The pH of the blood remains within the w ell-known small limit of variability, and no exogenic influences could be seen. Age dependent course up to the third or fourth month of life found out in the factors of oxygen content and oxygen transport, whic h reflect the development to adults. The pCO(2) is higher in calves ke pt on slatted floor, and the difference is significant in the second a nd sixth month of life. No significant differences found out in buffer base between the loose housing systems but a slow decrease is percept ible with the development to ruminant conditions. In the behaviour of calves no significant differences could be seen but calves on slatted floor had some more distance to their mothers. No sex and breed specif ic differences found out in behaviour or physiological data. In conclu sion, an extensive suckler cow management in different equipped loose housing systems is practicable provided, the calves have a separate ca lf pen.