Effect of transportation on blood serum composition, disease incidence, and production traits in young calves. Influence of the journey duration.

This study was done in the normal commercial operation of a local cooperative in the western part of France. Sixty-two veal calves were randomly divided into two groups. The animals of the first group (short journey) left the farm of origin and arrived at the fattening unit in the evening of the same day after a short passage in a transit center. The animals of the other group (long journey) remained in the transit center, without any food or water supply during the night and were trucked about 300 km before arriving at the fattening unit. Blood was sampled in the farm of origin, on arrival at the fattening unit and one week later in order to allow a longitudinal study of the effects of transportation. A wide blood serum biochemical profile was performed on every sample together with cortisol and immunoglobulin levels. Numerous parameters were modified by the transportation but not by the journey duration. An acute dehydration was apparent in the long journey animals, in the form of an increase in plasma proteins and chloride concentrations on arrival at the fattening unit. One week later serum glucose levels remained low in this group (-45% when compared to basal levels) showing that the feeding regimen was not able to make up the long journey induced energetic deficit. Though production data were not different between the two experimental conditions, the animals in the long journey group displayed an increased incidence of respiratory disease. This study provides a biological basis for improvements likely to reduce the negative consequences of transport in veal calves.