Effects of diet enrichment with glucose and casein on blood cortisol concentration of calves in early postnatal period.

The studies were carried out on 30 calves from the 4th to the 25th day of life, divided in three groups; control, glucose and casein. The glucose group was fed a diet containing 25% more glucose than the control. The increased dietary glucose supply decreased cortisol concentration in blood serum. The casein group was fed a diet containing 25% more protein-casein-than the control. The increased dietary casein supply increased the blood serum cortisol concentration. The changes discussed were observed not only during the period of diet application, but also a few days following the termination of the diet.