Abstract
The study objectives were to determine the effect of oral hydration therapy and bovine respiratory disease (BRD) on rumination behavior, rumen pH, and rumen temperature. A random subset of high risk, auction-sourced bulls from 3 truckload blocks (initial BW=188.9 ± 19.1 kg) were fitted with a collar containing a 3-axis accelerometer to quantify rumination time and activity index (n=58), and administered a rumen pH and temperature data logging bolus (n=33). At arrival, subset calves (n = 2/pen) were balanced across treatment pens (n=15/treatment; n=10 animals/pen) and randomized to receive 0.57 L water/45.4 kg BW from a modified oral drenching apparatus (H2O) or no water administration (CON). Standard arrival processing procedures were implemented and bulls were surgically castrated. Modified-live virus respiratory vaccination was delayed until day 28. Daily rumen temperature was altered (P=0.04) such that peak rumen temperature occurred earlier for H2O; whereas, CON had increased (P≤0.01) rumen temperature following delayed vaccination on day 28. Technicians assigned a clinical illness score (CIS) daily; calves with CIS ≥2 and rectal temperature ≥40°C were considered a bovine respiratory disease case (BRD) and treated with an antimicrobial. The fixed effect of BRD cases vs. non-treated cohorts (RCON) was determined retrospectively using data from the accelerometer collar (n= 19 vs. 29) and rumen bolus (n= 12 vs. 21). Calves diagnosed with BRD had decreased (P<0.01) rumination time between 2000 and 0400 hours, greater (P<0.01) rumen temperature until delayed vaccination on day 28, greater (P<0.01) hourly rumen temperature between 0900 and 0300, transiently decreased (P=0.04) activity index between day 9 and 32, decreased (P<0.01) activity index between 0800 and 2000, and altered (P<0.01) rumen pH. Earlier peak rumen temperature observed in H2O may indicate physiological modification enabling a more pronounced inflammatory response. Differences in rumination behavior and activity index are potential tools for early BRD detection.
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