Thermogenesis and some rearing strategies of dairy calves at low temperature – a review

Abstract

An efficient management of the newborn dairy calf around birth results in reduced rearing costs and increased future milk yield. To maintain young calves healthy and maximize performance and profit it is important to create an environment that maintain low levels of stress. Low environment temperature directly affects newborn and young calves’ performance, health and survival due hypothermia. For that reason, the adaptation of the dairy calf to the cold environment is important, with body responses of primary importance. However, some strategies may also be adopted to reduce cold stress induced by heat loss. There are several ways to aid the young calf in low environmental temperature, starting immediately after birth with colostrum feeding. Besides that, factors such as adequate housing, management and nutrition, result in significantly decrease morbidity and mortality, and similar growth rates as calves in the zone of thermoneutrality. The calf physiology adaptation to cope with cold stress and the positive effect of feeding systems, resulting in greater heat production, health, and performance will be approach in this literature review.

Keywords

• cold temperature
• thermogenesis
• management
• feeding strategies