Correlation between blood, physiological and behavioral parameters in beef calves under heat stress

Animals

Eight different experiments were done during the study period. Thirty-two Korean native male beef calves (6 months age, 204.5±6.79 kg) were used for each experiment (four calves per experiment). The four calves were housed in an environmentally controlled individual with 2 chambers (the two calves were housed in a chamber seperated into two parts). All experimental procedures were in accordance with the “Guidelines for Care and Use of Experimental Animals of Konkuk University (KU16054)”.

Climatic chamber details

The size of the climatic chamber was 2.5×2.5×3 m (length, width, and height, respectively). The chamber had ambient temperature of 22°C to 34°C and relative humidity (RH) ranging from 60% to 80%. The chamber has controllable temperature and humidity regulators to maintain the ideal temperature and humidity from 0900 to 1900 per the requirement of the experiment time with a 10:14 light:dark cycle. The climatic chamber was individually separated to contain animals so that feed and water could be offered on an individual basis. Animals were allocated to each space of chamber and acclimatized to the chambers in a thermoneutral environment condition for 3 days. Consequently, calves were exposed to specified experimental environment for 4 days.

Management conditions and treatments

The study was conducted to assess the impact of simulated near-natural heat stress conditions in individual climatic chamber on the adaptive capability of Korean native male beef calves. The study was conducted in eight different experiments. It was designed to have four levels of dry bulb temperature (22°C to 34°C) and two levels of humidity (60% to 80%). During thrmoneutral period, all animals were housed in constant thermoneutral contitions (22°C, 60%, THI = 68.61 with a 10:14 light:dark cycle). During heat stress period, all animals were housed in constant heat condition (23°C, 60%, THI = 70.01; 23°C, 80%, THI = 71.71; 26°C, 60%, THI = 74.22; 26°C, 80%, THI = 76.51; 30°C, 60%, THI = 79.84; 30°C, 80%, THI = 82.92; 33°C, 60%, THI = 84.05; 33°C, 80%, THI = 87.72 with a 10:14 light:dark cycle. These conditions were set by the THI range according to the environmental conditions of South Korea. Ambient temperature and RH inside the chamber were recorded at intervals of 1 s using two sensors (SHT7x, Sensirion AG, Laubisruetistrasse 508712 Staefa ZH, Switzerland). THI was calculated using dry bulb temperature (Tdb, °F) and RH using the formula of Tdb–(0.55–(0.55×RH/100)×(Tdb-58) according to a previous study [8]. These animals were provided free access to feed and water which were, supplied at 0900 h. The residues of both feed and water were recorded on the next day (0900 h). The diet used in this study was composed of 40% roughage (Phleum pretense L.) and 60% concentrate. Their chemical compositions are shown in Table 1. These calves were subjected to heat stress by exposing them to different environments (THI ranging between 70.01 and 87.72) from 0900 to 1900.

Table 1

Chemical compositions of diets provided to the beef calves

Physiological parameters under heat stress

Feeds and water were given to calves four times a day. Feed and water remained were measured in the next morning before feeding (0800 h). During the acclimation period and experiment period, water intake (WI) and feed intake (FI) were measured daily. Entire behaviour was recorded with a videosystem (0900 to 1900 h). The HR was determined by measuring the beat per minute of the heart using a stethoscope (1100 h). The RT was measured on the 2nd day and the last day (1100 h) during the experimental period.

Blood and behaviour parameters under heat stress

Blood samples of each calves were obtained at 1100 h from jugular venepuncture into non-heparinized vacutainers (20 mL; Becton-Dickinson, Belliver Industrial Estate, PL6 7BP, Plymouth, UK) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-treated vacutainers (4 mL; Becton-Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA) on the initial day and the final day of each experiment. Serum samples were obtained from blood samples after centrifugation at 2,700×g at 4°C for 15 min. Serum was transferred to 1.5-mL tube (Eppendorf AG, Hamburg, Germany) and kept at −80°C until analysis. Whole blood samples (White blood cell; Lymphocyte [Lym]) were determined as haematological traits using VetScan HM2 (Diamond Diagnostics, Abaxix Inc., Holliston, MA, USA). Analytical reagents for measuring glucose, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), and glutamic pyruvate transaminase (GPT) levels were purchased from JW Medical (Seoul, Korea). The analytical reagent for measuring non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) was purchased from Wako Pure Chemical (Osaka, Japan). All these parameters were analysed using an automated chemistry analyser (Hitachi 7180, Tokyo, Japan). Serum cortisol, haptoglobin (Hp), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) level were determined using a commercial Bovine ELISA test kit (Life Diagnostics, Inc; Neo Group, Inc; Endocrine Technologies, Inc, West Chester, PA; Boston, MA; Newark, CA, USA). Behaviour patterns were recorded using two cameras (SNV-7080R, Hanwha Techwin, Changwon, Korea). The frequency of ruminant, lying, and standing on the 3rd day (0900 to 1900 h) was calculated.

Statistical analysis

All data are expressed as means±standard error of mean. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of JMP 5.0 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). The model included THI as fixed variable and physiological, blood and behavior traits as random variables. When significance was found, a Tukey-Kramer honestly significant difference for mean comparisons was performed. Differences were considered statistically significant if p-value was less than 0.05 (p<0.05). Relationships between levels of THI and parameters (HR, RT, cortisol) were tested by regression (Microsoft Excel 2013; Microsoft, Redmond, WA, USA)

Physiological responses

The HR was significantly (p<0.05) higher at THI of 76.51 to 87.72 than that at THI of 70.01 (Table 2). Similar pattern was found for RT. Furthermore, there were significantly (R² = 0.8368, p<0.01) positive association between THI and HR (Figure 1A). THI and RT also showed significantly (R² = 0.6162, p<0.01) positive association (Figure 1B). WI was significantly (p<0.05) increased at THI from 82.92 to 84.05 compared to that at THI 74.22 (Table 2).

Table 2

Relationship between THI and physiological parameters related to heat stress in beef calves

Figure 1

Relationship between heart rate (HR), rectal temperature (RT), and temperature humidity index (THI) under heat stress. (A) HR and (B) RT were measured on the 2nd day and the last day (1100 h) during the experimental period. HR and RT were increased at high THI compared to those at low THI (R² = 0.8368, p<0.01; R² = 0.6162, p<0.01, respectively).

Stress and blood parameters

Stress indicator; serum cortisol level was significantly (p<0.05) higher at THI of 84.05 to 87.72 than that at THI of 70.01 to 82.92 (Table 3). There were significantly (R² = 0.581, p<0.01) positive association between THI and cortisol (Figure 2) and between HR and cortisol (R² = 0.4697, p<0.01) (Figure 3A). RT and cortisol also had significantly (R² = 0.4581, p<0.01) positive association (Figure 3B). Blood protein indicators; HSP70 level was significantly (p<0.05) higher at THI of 84.05 to 87.72 compared to that at THI of 74.2 (Table 3). Hp level was significantly (p<0.05) lower at THI of 82.9 than that at THI of 70.0 to 71.7 (Table 3). Blood metabolite indicators; GOT and GPT levels were significantly (p<0.05) increased at THI of 84.05 to 87.72 compared to those at THI of 71.7 (Table 3). NEFA was also significantly (p<0.05) increased at THI from 84.05 to 87.72 compared to that at THI of 70.01 (Table 3). Serum glucose level was significantly (p<0.05) decreased at THI of 82.92 compared to that of 70.01 to 76.51 (Table 3). Blood haematology indicator Lym was significantly (p<0.05) lower at THI of 82.92 to 84.05 than that at THI of 74 (Table 3).

Table 3

Relationship between THI and blood parameters related to heat stress in beef calves

Figure 2

Relationship between serum cortisol level and temperature humidity index (THI) under heat stress. Serum cortisol level was determined using a commercial bovine cortisol ELISA test kit (Life Diagnostics, Inc., West Chester, PA, USA). Serum cortisol level was increased at high THI compared to that at low THI (R² = 0.581, p<0.01).

Figure 3

Relationship between heart rate (HR), rectal temperature (RT), and serum cortisol level under heat stress. (A) HR and (B) RT had significantly positive associations with serum cortisol level (R² = 0.4697, p<0.01; R² = 0.4581, p<0.01, respectively).

Stress and behavior parameters

Lying position was significantly (p<0.05) decreased at THI of 74.22 to 87.72 compared to that at THI of 70.01 (Table 4). On the other hand, standing position was significantly (p<0.05) higher at THI of 74.22 to 87.72 than that at THI of 70.01 (Table 4). Rumination was decreased at high THI compared to that at low THI. However, there was no significant difference among the 8 groups (Table 4).

Table 4

Relationship between THI and behaviour parameters related to heat stress in beef calves

Physiological responses

Based on the study results, WI was significantly (p<0.05) higher at high THI as than that at low THI (Table 2). This result is in accordance with results of previous studies on many different breeds of cattle [10]. Specially, our results showed that WI was increased by 3.3 L/d when THI is increased from 70.01 to 87.72. The increased WI is also closely associated with body temperature control of ruminants [11]. In general, ruminants carry out body temperature control according to the discharge of body sweat through skin. For this reason, when animals are exposed to high temperature and humidity, physiological sweat discharge is increased to control their body temperature. In this study, we confirmed that this phenomenon beginning from THI of 82.92 in Korean native beef calves (Table 2). The change at this THI level was similar to RT and HR.

Previous studies have shown that the HR and RT are increased by heat stress in growing cattle [6]. Our result showed that HR and RT were closely associated indicators with heat stress. They were most sensitive to heat stress. Therefore, they may be likely to change in Korean native beef calves under heat stress. RT was increased by 0.95°C when THI was increased from 70.01 to 87.72 while HR was increased by 12.75 beat/min. In addition, there was significantly (R² = 0.8368, p< 0.01) positive association between THI and HR (Figure 1A). Similarly, THI and RT also were significantly (R² = 0.6162, p< 0.01) and positively associated (Figure 1B). The high correlations among THI, and RT, HR indicate that these indicators could be used as parameters to determine heat stress levels. In general, levels of HR and RT are measured in animals in a variety of environments, with maximum RT and HR indicating severe heat stress [6].

Correlation between physiological responses and blood cortisol

In this study, there was significantly positive association between serum cortisol level and HR (R² = 0.4697, p<0.01) (Figure 3A). Significantly positive association between serum cortisol level and RT (R² = 0.4697, p<0.01) was also found (Figure 3B). An increase in serum cortisol level is closely related to abnormal behaviour of animals such as anxiety and sensitivity [12,13]. Reduced animal productivity [14,15] has been utilized as an important indicator for measuring stress levels [16]. HR is correlated with the concentration of blood cortisol. It has been utilized as an index for the regulation of animal body homeostasis [17]. It has been reported that the rise in blood pressure is associated with increased HR [18]. RT is also an important indicator for homeostasis regulation of body temperature in calves. The positive correlation between cortisol levels and RT might give evidence that there exists a metabolic relationship between cortisol levels and RT. Previous studies have suggested that the concentration of serum cortisol is a sensitive indicator of heat stress and there is a significant correlation between cortisol and RT [19]. Therefore, significant correlation between HR and RT and the concentration of serum cortisol can be used to determine heat stress level as physiological parameters in Korean native beef calves.

Stress and blood parameters

It has been reported that stress might impair liver function [20]. In the present study, GOT and GPT levels as liver damage markers [21] were increased at high THI. The reduction in serum glucose level at high THI can be explained by different factors, including reduced energy intake as a consequence of reduced FI increased cost for thermoregulation, and negative effect of heat on gluconeogenesis as an endocrine acclimation to hot condition [22]. On the other hand, blood NEFA level was increased at high THI. NEFA and glucose levels have significantly negative correlation [23]. Due to lipolysis, NEFA is released to the bloodstream. It can act as an alternative energy source [24]. Several studies [25,26] have reported the relationships between heat stress and immune cell function in bovine. Regarding lymphocyte function in cows exposed to hot environments, some authors have reported an improvement [27] while others have described an impairment [28]. The reduction of lymphocyte during high THI means that exposure to heat and humidity for 4 d can decrease the number of viable cells and reduce their responsiveness to mitogens.

The acute phase response with its changes in blood plasma composition that react to disturbances of their homeostasis with a set of physiological changes [29]. This responses is associated with changes in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism [30] and in some serum proteins such as acute phase proteins [31]. In our study Hp level was influenced by the experimental period with significantly lower concentratios in high THI. Environmental stressful situations do not always elevate signs of acute stress indicator. Heat shock proteins are beneficial compounds chaperoning damaged cellular molecules by heat stress [32]. The heat shock protein act cognitively in cellular and tissue homeostasis [33] and are released intracellularaly and extracellularly in an inducible form in response to stress [34]. HSP70 level was increased in high THI. Exposure to stressors will induce a heat shock protein response resulting in intra cellular concentrations of HSP70 [35].

Stress and behavior parameters

Behaviour patterns (standing and lying position) depending on different THI values showed that increasing heat stress relatively increased standing position time. On the other hand, it decreased lying position time (Table 4). Previous studies have already reported behaviour changes in animals in response to high heat stress [36]. Spending more time for standing may allow cows to maximize effective surface area for sensible and insensible heat release from body surfaces, to reduce heat from a warm lying surface, or increase the efficiency of respiration in ruminants [37]. Therefore, under increased THI, animals were affected by heat stress. The positive correlation between THI and standing time was consistent with previous studies. Standing time might be an important indicator of heat stress [38]. In addition, previous studies have suggest that lying position can be increased when animals are provided with shaded environment that reduces heat stress [39].