Abstract
Environmental stressors undoubtedly influence organismal biology, specifically the endocrine system that, in turn, impact cattle at the systems physiology level. Despite the significant advances in understanding the genetic determinants of the ideal dairy or beef cow, there is a grave lack of understanding of the systems physiology and effects of the environmental stressors that interfere with the endocrine system. This is a major problem because the lack of such knowledge is preventing advances in understanding gene-environment interactions and developing science-based solutions to these challenges. In this review, we synthesize the current knowledge on the nature of the major environmental stressors, such as climate (heat, cold, wind, and humidity), nutrition (feeds, feeding systems, and endocrine disruptors) and management (housing density and conditions, transportation, weaning practices). We summarize the impact of each one of these factors on cattle at the systems level, and provide solutions for the challenges.
Highlights
Systems physiology is a scientific discipline combining theoretical, computational, and experimental studies to increase our understanding of the physiology of living creatures [1]
Homeostasis is essential for cattle to achieve and sustain health and, indirectly, food productions and requires hormones, powerful substances secreted by various organs in the body responsible for stimulating a cell-specific response
This review summarizes the current knowledge of managerial, climatic and nutritional stressors, and in doing so, sheds light on areas that require further study; including the mechanisms that allow stressors to disrupt endocrine function (Figure 1)
Summary
Systems physiology is a scientific discipline combining theoretical, computational, and experimental studies to increase our understanding of the physiology of living creatures [1]. Hormones, and physiological outputs There are a number of climate related stressors such as cold, heat, humidity, rain, ice, and wind that can affect the endocrine system and influence the performance of an animal such as the reproductive system and normal estrous cycle of a cow. Using measurements of feed intake and the effects on differences in endocrine functions as a basis, Holstein cows fed ad libitum under heat stress consumed four pounds less per day compared to their counterparts under thermally comfortable conditions. Temperatures above the THI may affect reproductive cycle, feed intake and growth These are well known side effects, bioinformatics should be used in order to understand the specific mechanisms causing these endocrine dysregulations
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