Effects of changing housing on physiology of calves

Holstein bull calves were assigned to be reared in either a stall until 47 d of age, then moved to a hutch; a hutch until 47 d, then moved to a stall; or an elevated pen. Jugular blood samples were obtained at 42, 49, and 56 d of age. Two trials were run during the fall of successive years with 5 to 7 calves per treatment per trial. Stalls were .56 X 1.2 m with elevated wooden slotted floors. Pens were 1.2 X 1.5 m with elevated wooden slotted floors and were located in the same open front building as the stalls. Hutches were 1.2 X 1.2 X 2.4 m long, and calves were restrained with a collar and 2.4-m chain. Calves were placed on treatment between 12 to 24 h after parturition. A treatment by day interaction for triiodothyronine, thyroxine, and adrenocorticotrophic hormone-induced cortisol release indicated that conditions responsible for treatment effects were largely reversed 9 d after moving from stalls to hutches or hutches to stalls.