DEVELOPMENT OF A HAPTOGLOBIN ASSAY TO ASSESS THE STRESS RESPONSE IN CATTLE

摘要

Livestock production practices expose animals to a number of stressors. The response of livestock to stressors can lead to reduced disease resistance, due to immunosuppression, and reduced growth, due to altered priorities for utilisation of nutrients. Hormones and mediators released from the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, the sympathetic nervous system and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 initiate the adaptive response in the host. During this response, acute phase proteins, most notably serum amyloid A, C-reactive protein and haptoglobin are produced. In pigs, haptoglobin levels have been found to be inversely related to growth rates (Eurell et al. 1992). Selective production of acute phase proteins differs between species. Haptoglobin is a major acute phase protein in cattle and is considered a good candidate for monitoring stress responses in this species. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of haptoglobin as an indicator of the host response to production stressors including weaning, transport and feedlot finishing.