Effects of Ambient Temperature on Growth Performance, Blood Metabolites, and Immune Cell Populations in Korean Cattle Steers

Abstract

Exposure to cold may affect growth performance in accordance with the metabolic and immunological activities of animals. We evaluated whether ambient temperature affects growth performance, blood metabolites, and immune cell populations in Korean cattle. Eighteen Korean cattle steers with a mean age of 10 months and a mean weight of 277 kg were used. All steers were fed a growing stage-concentrate diet at a rate of 1.5% of body weight and Timothy hay ad libitum for 8 weeks. Experimental period 1 (P1) was for four weeks from March 7 to April 3 and period 2 (P2) was four weeks from April 4 to May 1. Mean (8.7°C) and minimum (1.0°C) indoor ambient temperatures during P1 were lower (p<0.001) than those (13.0°C and 6.2°C, respectively) during P2. Daily dry matter feed intake in both the concentrate diet and forage groups was higher (p<0.001) during P2 than P1. Average daily weight gain was higher (p<0.001) during P2 (1.38 kg/d) than P1 (1.13 kg/d). Feed efficiency during P2 was higher (p = 0.015) than P1. Blood was collected three times; on March 7, April 4, and May 2. Nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) were higher on March 7 than April 4 and May 2. Blood cortisol, glucose, and triglyceride concentrations did not differ among months. Blood CD4+, CD8+, and CD4+CD25+ T cell percentages were higher, while CD8+CD25+ T cell percentage was lower, during the colder month of March than during May, suggesting that ambient temperature affects blood T cell populations. In conclusion, colder ambient temperature decreased growth and feed efficiency in Korean cattle steers. The higher circulating NEFA concentrations observed in March compared to April suggest that lipolysis may occur at colder ambient temperatures to generate heat and maintain body temperature, resulting in lower feed efficiency in March.

Keywords: Ambient Temperature; Blood Metabolites; Feed Efficiency; Growth; Immune Cells; Korean Cattle.

Figure 1

Serum cortisol and lipid metabolite concentrations in Korean cattle steers over several months. Values are means+standard error. Minimum ambient temperature (MT) is shown in the top-left panel. Mean values with different letters differ significantly (p<0.05). NEFA, non-esterified fatty acid; HDL, high density lipoprotein; LDL, low density lipoprotein.

Figure 2

Serum concentrations of glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), total protein (TP), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvate transaminase (GPT), albumin, and phosphorus in Korean cattle steers over several months. Minimum ambient temperature (MT) is shown in the top-left panel. Values are means+standard error. Mean values with different letters differ significantly (p<0.05).

Figure 3

Serum concentrations of complement factors, the granulocyte: lymphocyte ratio, and monocyte, T cell, and B cell populations in Korean cattle steers over several months. Minimum ambient temperature (MT) is shown in the top-left panel. Values are means+ standard error. Mean values with different letters differ significantly (p<0.05).