[Thyroid hormones in cesarean-delivered suckling calves after birth and in the first days of life--maternofetal relations and early postnatal adaptation reactions]. / Schilddrüsenhormone bei schnittentbundenen Saugkälbern nach der Geburt und in den ersten Lebenstagen--Maternofetale Beziehungen und frühe postnatale Adaptationsreaktionen.

Caesarean section delivered suckler calves and their dams from the mother cow herd were used for this investigation. Jugular venous blood samples taken immediately after delivery from the cow and the calf and in the calf at 24 hours and at 48 hours of postnatal age as well were analyzed for T4, FT4, T3 and FT3 by luminescence enzyme immunoassay. Strong correlation between the thyroid hormone values of the cow and those of the calf could be found. Higher thyroid hormone values were measured in calves increasing further at 24 hours of age and then decreasing a little at 48 hours of age with higher values in female than in male calves. A strong correlation existed between T3 and heart rate of the calves.

[Thyroid hormones in dairy calves after birth and in the first days of life. Amplitude of variation, maternal-fetal relationships and reaction patterns specific to the individual]. / Schilddrüsenhormone bei Milchrindkälbern nach ber Geburt und in den ersten Lebenstagen. Variationsbreite, maternofetale Beziehungen und individualspezifische Reaktionsformen.

Dairy calves and their dams from the dairy herd of the institute were used for this investigation. Calvings were watch carefully and jugular venous blood samples taken immediately after delivery from the cow and the calf and in the calf at 24 hours and at 48 hours of postnatal age as well were analyzed for T4, FT4, T3 and FT3 by luminescence enzyme immunoassay (LEIA). Higher thyroid values in calves than in their dams could be found increasing short after birth and reaching their highest level within 24 hours of postnatal life. The individual thyroid hormone values at birth and at 24 hours and at 48 hours of age are well correlated meaning the changes during the first days are specific for each calf. Strong correlation between the thyroid hormone values of the cows and those of the calves could be found. Mean values of thyroid hormones were significantly higher in female than in male calves all time but not different in the dams of these calves.

[Physiological variables in calves and their significance for vitality and growth]. / Physiologische Variablen bei Kälbern und ihre Bedeutung für Vitalität und Wachstum.

Calves from the dairy herd and from the mother cow herd and their dams were investigated just after parturition and the calves at the first two days of life and between fifteen and twenty days and than at ninety days of life as well using whole day heart rate and video recording, results of venous blood sample analysis and body growth and health criteria. The great variation of physiological variables in calves can partly be explained by maturity, degree of adaptation, gender, time of day and the birth course. Relationships between physiological variables and the adaptability, body growth performance and the degree of adaptation to specific rearing condition could be pointed out.

[Adaptation reaction of dairy calves in the first days of life. Effects of type of delivery and individuality of the newborn]. / Anpassungsreaktionen von Milchrindkälbern in den ersten Lebenstagen. Einflüsse durch Geburtsverlauf und individuelle Regelbreite.

Surveying a calving period of tethered dairy cows, newborn dairy calves of different breeds were investigated just after birth and at 24 hours and 48 hours of their postnatal life as well. Blood samples taken by venipuncture in calves were analyzed for acid-base-balance, hemoglobin, catecholamine and cortisol. Comparing the mean values of the newborns from calvings without assistance, with slight pulling and with heavy pulling, differences could be found only in the first hours of postnatal life between some of them without hemoglobin content of the blood that was of individually specificity and all the time lowest in calves delivered by heavy traction. Great scattering of and strong relationship between some of the measured values are assessed on the basis of constitutional features, maturity and adaptability of the calves.

[Reactions of heifers in early pregnancy and their offspring delivered at term by cesarean section and in the first postpartum days in a cow-calf operation]. / Reaktionen frühzeitig trächtiger Jungrinder und ihrer Nachkommen bei termingerechter Schnittentbindung und in den ersten postpartalen Lebenstagen in Mutterkuhhaltung.

In 11 heifers originating from one mother cow herd and in their offspring delivered by cesarean section heart rate recordings were taken during their staying in the calving box and later on in group housing. Heart rate showed a rhythmicity in accordance with behavioural physiological reactions. The mean heart rate of a 24 hour period in an animal was different between and within the newborn and elder animals. The mean heart rate was increasing in the calves during the first days of their postnatal life and decreasing in the mother cows within some days after parturition. Blood samples taken repeatedly in 9 heifers via an indwelling catheter and in their offspring short after birth and at 24 and 48 hours by venipuncture as well were analysed for acid-base status, cortisol, noradrenaline, adrenaline, hemoglobin and lactate. Comparing the results with other investigations can be used for evaluating the strain of delivery by cesarean section for the young and the mother as well as revealing main influences on the reactions of the animals and their individual specificity.

[The hemoglobin concentration in the blood of dairy cattle of different breeds and their offspring during the peripartum period]. / Bemerkungen zur Hämoglobinkonzentration des Blutes bei Milchrinden verschiedener Rassen und bei ihren Nachkommen im peripartalen Zeitraum.

Blood samples taken repeatedly from dairy cows on pasture (50 Holstein-Friesian) and then from 181 cows and their newborn calves within 5 to 10 min after birth were used for measurement of haemoglobin content (Hb). Hb decreased with ongoing lactation and pregnancy, increased several weeks before parturition and reached its highest value shortly after birth. There was some individual, breed and age specificity of Hb in dairy cows. Assisted calvings using marked traction resulted in no difference in Hb values of the cows when compared to other calvings; whereas the calves' Hb values were smaller and the difference between calf Hb and cow Hb was greater. A strong correlation between Hb of the cow and Hb of the newborn calf and the difference Hb calf-Hb cow could be found.