Effects of pre-haul management and transport duration on beef calf performance and welfare

Behavioural and physiological indicators of stress as well as growth performance, and morbidity rates were assessed in 174 steer calves (220±37kg) for 30 days after transport from ranch-to-feedlot. The calves were conditioned (C) or not (NC), and subjected to short- (2.7h, S) or long-hauling duration (15h, L), yielding treatments CS, CL, NCS and NCL. Upon arrival at the feedlot, calves were randomly assigned to 16 pens (four pens per treatment, one of which was equipped with a radio frequency identification system for continual monitoring of individual bunk attendance (15 calves)). As part of the NC treatment calves were also exposed to a short (2h) transport 24h after their initial arrival to the feedlot. All calves were fed a barley silage/barley grain-based starter ration and weighed every 7 days. Cortisol concentrations were higher in NC compared to C calves regardless of transport distance (P