Endocrine, metabolic and hematological changes associated with reduced growth performance during chronic pneumonia in calves: a case study.

A veal calf with chronic pneumonia was characterized by reduced weight gain, feed intake and increased feed/gain ratio. Concentrations of hemoglobin, packed cell volume, red blood cell number and blood plasma levels of iron, albumin, urea, glucose, insulin, insulin-like growth factor-I and triiodothyronine were decreased, while plasma levels of total protein, immunoglobulin G and nonesterified fatty acids were increased. White blood cell number, blood plasma concentrations of triglycerides, growth hormone, cortisol and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were not changed. Hematological, metabolic and endocrine changes were interpreted as expressions of reduced energy and protein intake and of nutrient partitioning which contributed to reduced growth performance.