Discussion: Implications of the stress syndrome to animal performance and health.

Similarities of blood metabolic and immunologic reactions that occur in cattle exposed to heat stress, other chronic stress-inducing environmental factors, and administration of pituitary, adrenal, and thyroid hormones have been described. Chronic stress can predispose cattle to both metabolic and infectious diseases. Improved characterization of endocrine, metabolic, and immunologic relationships offers promising means for studying effects of various treatment regimens on animal health, production, and reproduction.