An immunological approach to the evaluation of welfare in Holstein Frisian cattle

Clinical immunological and haematological parameters, along with clinical conditions and growth rate, were studied in 413 male Holstein Frisian calves introduced into a large centre for genetic selection in different seasons of the year. Abnormalities were revealed by the laboratory tests in the great majority of calves after transportation stress, a general tendency to the restoration of physiological values being evident thereafter. Laboratory parameters were highly correlated with disease conditions: with three exceptions only, animals showed altered laboratory parameters some days before the occurrence of clinical symptoms. Eighteen per cent of animals showed altered laboratory parameters with no obvious clinical signs of disease; yet they experienced a reduced weight gain. Results suggest that clinical immunological and haematological parameters could be the foundation of a new, large-scale, robust approach to the control of welfare in cattle, which should be integrated preferably by a further range of records and measures.