| Popis: |
This experiment evaluated how truck compartment affects ruminal temperature (T rum ) during transit, subsequent performance and morbidity, and whether T rum during transit can predict subsequent health and performance. Four truckloads of heifers (n = 328) were used. Compartments included bottom deck nose, middle, and rear and upper deck nose, middle, and rear. Main effects included level and section. There was a level × section interaction (P rum . For bottom-deck heifers, T rum was greatest (P rum of upper-deck heifers was greatest (P rum (P 0.10). There were level × section interactions (P ≤ 0.02) for morbidity measurements. Within the first 14 d, a greater (P ≤ 0.05) percentage of heifers in the bottom deck nose and upper deck rear were treated for respiratory disease compared with those in the bottom deck rear and upper deck nose. Regression analysis did not suggest a relationship (P ≥ 0.12) between T rum during transit and subsequent health. Treatment frequency and T rum are affected by compartment during transit. Heifers transported in the bottom deck nose had higher T rum during transit and increased subsequent respiratory disease incidence. |
