**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE TRANSPORTATION OF YOUNG CALVES CAUSES STRESS THAT CAN COMPROMISE HOW THEIR IMMUNE SYSTEM FUNCTIONS, WHICH LEADS TO SICKNESS AND THE SUBSEQUENT USE OF ANTIBIOTICS TO TREAT THEM, AND IN SOME INSTANCES DEATH. THE AGE OF CALVES WHEN TRANSPORTED COULD DETERMINE HOW WELL THEY FARE. HOWEVER, INFORMATIONON WHAT THE IDEAL AGE TO TRANSPORT CALVES IS, IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE NUMEROUS NEGATIVE HEALTH AND WELFARE OUTCOMES, IS STILL LACKING. THEREFORE, OUR LONG-TERM GOAL IS TO DEVELOP MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES THAT EFFECTIVELY REDUCE SICKNESS AND THE USE OF ANTIBIOTICS, AND DEATH IN YOUNG CALVES, BY IMPROVING THEIR WELFARE AND HEALTH STATUS WHEN THEY ARE TRANSPORTED. OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF TRANSPORTING DAIRY CALVES THAT ARE EITHER 2, 4, 8 OR 14-DAY OLD IN SUMMER OR WINTER ON INDICATORS OF HEALTH AND WELFARE THAT INCLUDE BLOOD METABOLITES, CALF BEHAVIOR, AND GROWTH PERFORMANCE. WE EXPECT TO HELP ESTABLISH MANAGEMENT APPROACHES THAT LIMIT THE OCCURRENCE AND SEVERITY OF SICKNESS AND ANTIBIOTIC USE, AND DEATH IN TRANSPORTED CALVES, ON DAIRY FARMS. WE ANTICIPATE GAINING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW AGE INFLUENCES HOW CALVES FARE WHEN TRANSPORTED, AND THIS WILL ENABLE US TO COME UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DAIRY PRODUCERS ON THE IDEAL AGE TO TRANSPORT THEIR CALVES TO LIMIT THE NEGATIVE HEALTH AND WELFARE OUTCOMES.