Physiological and behavioural responses to short-haul transport by stock trailer in finished steers

2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 291-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. Booth-McLean ◽  
K. S. Schwartzkopf-Genswein ◽  
F. A. Brown ◽  
C. L. Holmes ◽  
A. L. Schaefer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Plasma Cortisol ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Cortisol Concentration ◽  
Physiological Data ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Plasma Cortisol Concentration ◽  
A Value ◽  
Radio Transmitters

Nineteen British cross-bred steers (623 ± 10.6 kg) were transported in groups of four or five for 3 h and returned to their home pens. Jugular cannulas, heart rate (HR; BPM) monitors and radio transmitters were used to non-invasively collect physiological data. Heart rate (n = 13) was lower during highway travel (83.5 ± 3.15, P > 0.05) compared with pre-loading (118.9 ± 3.19, P < 0.01) and off-loading (97.5 ± 4.47) but was not different from travel in town (88.8 ± 2.90). Plasma cortisol concentration (µg dL-1, n = 16) increased from pre-loading (1.87 ± 0.28) to off-loading (3.10 ± 0.28, P < 0.02) and decreased to 1.16 ± 0.28 µg dL-1 by 1 h after off-loading (P < 0.001), a value not different from pre-loading levels. Body temperature measured at offloading was 0.19°C higher (P < 0.001) than at pre-loading. No differences in the time spent eating and ruminating were observed when compared between a 1-h period 1 d prior to transport and the same time of day post-transport (P > 0.50). Increases in HR (P < 0.01) and lying time (P < 0.001) post-transport compared with the days prior suggest cattle experienced some fatigue. Mild, short-term stress responses were observed in finished steers exposed to 3 h of transportation. Key words: Cortisol, heart rate, hematocrit, behaviour, steers, transportation

Effect of space allowance during transport on the behavioural and physiological responses of lambs during and after transport

1996 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 461-477 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. S. Cockram ◽  
J. E. Kent ◽  
P. J. Goddard ◽  
N. K. Waran ◽  
I. M. McGilp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Plasma Cortisol ◽  
Physiological Responses ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Cortisol Concentration ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Median Frequency ◽  
Stress Injury ◽  
Plasma Cortisol Concentration ◽  
Total Plasma Protein

AbstractThere is limited information on the behavioural and physiological responses of sheep to the components of road transport. Behavioural observations and physiological measurements of ‘stress’, injury and dehydration were made on weaned lambs (35 kg) before, during and after either stationary confinement or transport for 22 h at four space allowances (0·22, 0·27, 0·31 and 0·41 m2 per sheep). Two groups were not loaded (a control group with access to food and water, and a group with no food and no water for 12 h). During the confinement and transport period, the proportion of scans spent lying and the proportion of scans spent ruminating was significantly less than that before treatment (P < 0·01). After 3 h of transport, the proportion of scans spent lying was significantly less at the 0·22 m2 per sheep space allowance than at the other space allowances. The proportion of scans spent lying down was only significantly greater during confinement compared with transport at the 0·22 m2 per sheep space allowance and during the first 6 h at the 0·31 m2 per sheep space allowance. During transport, the heart rate and plasma cortisol concentration were greater than during stationary confinement (P < 0·05), indicating that some aspect of the journey was acting as a stressor. During transport the frequency of losses of balance and the frequency of slips was less at the 0·22 m2 per sheep space allowance than at the 0·27 and 0·41 m2 per sheep space allowances. However, there was no effect of space allowance on either plasma cortisol concentration or biochemical measures of injury. The median frequency of potentially traumatic events during transport was <5 per h and there was little evidence to suggest that increasing space allowance increased the risk of traumatic injury. During the first 12 h after treatment, the proportion of scans spent eating was greater and the proportion of scans spent lying were less than those spent before treatment (P < 0·001). Post-treatment, water intake and packed cell volume were greater in transported sheep than in control sheep (P < 0·05). However, there was no significant effect of 12 h without water on total plasma protein concentration and plasma vasopressin concentration (P > 0·05). Under the conditions of this study, sheep with a live weight of 35 kg can be transported for 12 h at space allowances of between 0·22 and 0·41 m2 per sheep without showing major physiological changes indicative of injury and dehydration. However, the sheep appeared to be hungry after 12 h without food and showed a cortisol and heart rate response to transport, indicating that some aspect of transport was acting as a stressor. A space allowance of 0·22 m2 per sheep cannot be recommended for 35 kg sheep as there is insufficient space for most of the sheep to lie down during transport. Whereas a space allowance of at least 0·27 m2 per sheep does allow most sheep sufficient space to lie down.

Intrauterine growth restriction delays surfactant protein maturation in the sheep fetus

2010 ◽  
Vol 298 (4) ◽  
pp. L575-L583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Orgeig ◽  
Tamara A. Crittenden ◽  
Ceilidh Marchant ◽  
I. Caroline McMillen ◽  
Janna L. Morrison
Keyword(s):  
Mrna Expression ◽  
Plasma Cortisol ◽  
Surfactant Protein ◽  
Cortisol Concentration ◽  
Plasma Catecholamine ◽  
Fetal Sheep ◽  
C Protein ◽  
Intrauterine Growth ◽  
Plasma Cortisol Concentration ◽  
The Impact

Pulmonary surfactant is synthesized by type II alveolar epithelial cells to regulate the surface tension at the air-liquid interface of the air-breathing lung. Developmental maturation of the surfactant system is controlled by many factors including oxygen, glucose, catecholamines, and cortisol. The intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR) fetus is hypoxemic and hypoglycemic, with elevated plasma catecholamine and cortisol concentrations. The impact of IUGR on surfactant maturation is unclear. Here we investigate the expression of surfactant protein (SP) A, B, and C in lung tissue of fetal sheep at 133 and 141 days of gestation (term 150 ± 3 days) from control and carunclectomized Merino ewes. Placentally restricted (PR) fetuses had a body weight <2 SD from the mean of control fetuses and a mean gestational PaO2<17 mmHg. PR fetuses had reduced absolute, but not relative, lung weight, decreased plasma glucose concentration, and increased plasma cortisol concentration. Lung SP-A, -B, and -C protein and mRNA expression was reduced in PR compared with control fetuses at both ages. SP-B and -C but not SP-A mRNA expression and SP-A but not SP-B or -C protein expression increased with gestational age. Mean gestational PaO2was positively correlated with SP-A, -B, and -C protein and SP-B and -C mRNA expression in the younger cohort. SP-A and -B gene expression was inversely related to plasma cortisol concentration. Placental restriction, leading to chronic hypoxemia and hypercortisolemia in the carunclectomy model, results in significant inhibition of surfactant maturation. These data suggest that IUGR fetuses are at significant risk of lung complications, especially if born prematurely.

Heart rate responses and plasma cortisol concentrations in ewes: comparison between cervical and laparoscopic intrauterine insemination and their associated handling procedures

1998 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 383-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Khalid ◽  
W. Haresign ◽  
D. G. Bradley
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Plasma Cortisol ◽  
Intrauterine Insemination ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Cortisol Responses ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Pre Treatment ◽  
Mean Heart Rate

AbstractThis study consisted of two experiments. In experiment 1, stress responses of sheep which were restrained either in a laparoscopy cradle or a roll-over cradle were compared. The results of this experiment indicated that restraint in roll-over cradle is less (P < 0·05) stressful than that in a laparoscopy cradle when assessed in terms of the elevation and duration of both the mean heart rate and plasma cortisol responses. Experiment 2 compared the stress responses of sheep subjected to restraint in a laparoscopy cradle, restraint in a laparoscopy cradle with intrauterine artificial insemination (AI) by laparoscopy, minimal restraint with cervical AI or restraint in a roll-over cradle plus foot-trimming. All treatments resulted in significant elevations in both heart rate and plasma cortisol concentrations (F < 0·001). The peak heart rate was significantly (P < 0·05) higher in ewes subjected to cervical AI than in those subjected to intrauterine insemination, with other treatments intermediate. The peak cortisol response did not differ among different treatments. The duration over which both the mean heart rate and -plasma cortisol concentrations remained significantly elevated above pre-treatment concentrations did not differ among treatment groups. The results of this study suggest that while restraint using a laparoscopy cradle is more stressful than that using a rollover cradle, the stress inflicted by intrauterine insemination by laparoscopy itself is no greater than that due to restraint using the laparoscopy cradle alone, cervical AI or the management practice offoot-trimming using a rollover cradle.

ANTIDIURETIC HORMONE AND CORTICOTROPHIN RELEASE IN MAN

1960 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. SHUSTER
Keyword(s):  
Antidiuretic Hormone ◽  
Plasma Cortisol ◽  
Cortisol Concentration ◽  
Release Factor ◽  
Similar Increase ◽  
Rapid Infusion ◽  
Experimental Procedure ◽  
Plasma Cortisol Concentration ◽  
Corticotrophin Release Factor ◽  
Patients With Diabetes

SUMMARY Plasma cortisol concentrations increased after injections of nicotine. This increase was variable and was no greater than that seen after substitution of normal saline for nicotine. Plasma cortisol concentrations did not increase after nicotine in patients with hypopituitarism and after inhibition of corticotrophin release with triamcinolone. It is concluded that the increased plasma cortisol concentration after injection of nicotine was due to non-specific pituitary stimulation associated with the experimental procedure and not due to any direct effect of the nicotine. Nicotine resulted in a similar increase in plasma cortisol in four patients with diabetes insipidus. Neither rapid infusion of hypertonic mannitol nor ingestion of ethanol had a consistent effect on the plasma cortisol concentration. It is therefore concluded that the antidiuretic hormone is not the 'corticotrophin release factor' in man.

Seasonal variation in plasma cortisol concentration during pregnancy and the puerperium

1980 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 587-588 ◽  
Author(s):  
JUDITH M. BAKER ◽  
SHEILA L. HANDLEY ◽  
GILL WALDRON ◽  
T. LESLIE DUNN
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Plasma Cortisol ◽  
Cortisol Concentration ◽  
Plasma Cortisol Concentration

PLASMA CONCENTRATIONS OF CORTISOL IN HYPOPHYSECTOMIZED AND SODIUM CHLORIDE-ADAPTED GOLDFISH (CARASSIUS AURATUS L.)

1974 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 377-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
JACQUELINE PORTHÉ-NIBELLE ◽  
BRAHIM LAHLOU
Keyword(s):  
Sodium Chloride ◽  
Fresh Water ◽  
Plasma Cortisol ◽  
Carassius Auratus ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Cortisol Concentration ◽  
Control Fish ◽  
Chloride Solutions ◽  
Sodium Chloride Solutions ◽  
Plasma Cortisol Concentration

SUMMARY Plasma cortisol concentrations, measured by competitive protein-binding, were examined in intact and hypophysectomized goldfish (Carassius auratus L.) adapted to fresh water or to 210 mm-sodium chloride solutions. The mean plasma cortisol concentration of freshwater-adapted fish (6·6 ± 1·8 (s.e.m.) μg/100 ml plasma) increased after stress and intraperitoneal injections of mammalian corticotrophin. Hypophysectomy resulted in a reduction in plasma cortisol concentration to about 2 μg/100 ml plasma. Transfer of fish to sodium chloride solutions caused rapid, but transitory increases in the plasma cortisol concentrations in intact, but not in hypophysectomized fish. After 3 days in the sodium chloride solution the cortisol levels were similar to those of control fish kept in fresh water. The plasma concentrations of this corticosteroid in goldfish appear to be unrelated to external salinity, although a 'mineralocorticoid' action of the hormone cannot be excluded.

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