Relative telomere length in dairy calves and dams undergoing two different methods of weaning and separation after three months of contact.

ABSTRACT: Telomere length (i.e., the length of the repeated sequences of DNA at the end of chromosomes) is a promising indicator of overall stress. Our study aimed to compare the effects of a stress-inducing separation process between dams and their calves, with either a gradual or a nose-flap separation method after a three-months dam-calf contact since calving, on relative telomere length (RTL). Due to their nature, the nose-flap and gradual separation method have different effects on behaviour, stress hormone levels and physical development during and after dam-calf separation, which requires an overall measure of the weaning and separation stress during both procedures. We also investigated correlations between behavioural and other physiological stress indicators on RTL. We found no significant

SUBMITTER: Sirovnik J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11913301 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature