Influence of short term transportation on the intensity of stress reactions in mares and their foals.

摘要

The aim of this study was to determine the intensity of reaction of the sympatho-adrenal and hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal systems in mares and foals during short term transportation on day 9 following parturition. Five pairs of Polish pony mares in foal heat and their foals were studied. All the animals were transported in a trailer for 20 minutes. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein as follows: 30 minutes before transportation, in the trailer, immediately after the 20-minute-journey and 30 minutes after its conclusion. Transportation on day 9 following parturition seemed to be a stronger stress factor for the mare than for her foal (P<=0.01) and elicited an evident and long-lasting increase of catecholamine and cortisol concentrations in the mares blood. There were no significant changes in adrenaline concentration in the foals either during transportation or afterwards, and only the level of noradrenaline and cortisol increased after transportation concluded. Concentrations of adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol were three times higher in mares than in their foals (P<=0.01).