Transport stress in young cattle from a suckler herd. Effects of acclimatization and intensified human-animal contact on the reactions of animals exposed to transport process - Plasma cortisol, biochemical, hematological variables, minerals and heart

摘要

Eight young cattle, from a suckler herd kept at grass, were stalled three days a week for 90 minutes and exposed to intensified handling by two people. Measurements of blood composition were made and rectal temperatures taken before transport, immediately after transport and on the following day together with long term heart rate recording when the animals were 6 to 8 months old. The mean values of the rectal temperature, plasma cortisol, pO(2), O2CONT, O(2)SAT, O(2)CAP, base excess and HCO3 of animals immediately after transport were different to those before transport and the day after transport. The mean plasma cortisol concentration increased from 3.1 nmol/l (0-9.3 nmol/l) before transport to 31.5 nmol/l (15.2-44.4 nmol/l) immediately after transport and then reduced to 5.3 nmol/l (0-15.4 nmol/l) on the following day. The heart rate was most increased during loading and at the start of the journey. The mean values of the characteristic heart rate values were significantly different at specific periods during the transport process compared to the initial values at stalling. The changes in heart rate and plasma cortisol indicated the relevance of acclimatization of animals to handling and the timely relations of events before and during transport.