Gender specific development of physiological variables in calves during early growth period and reactions of animals to transport by road

Suckler calves from the mother cow herd and group reared dairy calves fed w ith milk replacer by way of an automatic feeder were exposed to short haul transport by road at first weeks of postnatal life. Long lasting measuremen ts by way of heart rate recording, body temperature and body weight and blo od sampling before and just after finishing transport and in the morning of the next day as well were used assessing development quality and the strai n and adaptation of male and female calves at 3 to 7 days, 8 to 15 days and more than 15 days of postnatal age. Blood samples were analyzed for acid b ase balance, gas content, haemoglobin derivatives and haemoglobin variants, protein, metabolites, minerals, noradrenaline, adrenaline, thyroid hormone s and cortsiol. Mean value differences of metabolic, haematological and hor monal variables could be found more frequent and more obvious between age a nd rearing groups than between gender groups. Within age groups gender spec ific differences were obvious for thyroid hormones, noradrenaline, adrenali ne and heart rate especially in suckler calves. Rectal temperature, cortsio l, and in most cases lactate and glucose were increased after transport str ess. Loss of body weight increased with age of calves and was more pronounc ed in suckler calves than in dairy calves. Changes of body temperature and of noradrenaline and adrenaline concentration after transport had strong re lationships with the before transport starting values. Changes of variables among one another after transport had strong relationships within groups t he frequency and degree of which was different between age and gender group s. Regression analysis of before to after transport values showed changes i n thyroid hormones concentration after transport in calves of 8 to 15 days of age. Heart rate was higher in suckler calves than in dairy calves, and i n female suckler calves it was higher than in male suckler calves. During t ansport heart rate variation of dairy calves was more pronounced comparing that one of suckler calves.