In this study the effects of blood sampling, transportation and slaughter
on certain blood variables (sodium, potasium, chloride, glucose,
lactates, lipids, proteins, colloidal osmotic pressure, cortisol, ACTH,
T3, TSH, osmolality etc.) of cattle were investigated.
The experimental animals, crossbreed (Brahman, Afrikander and Hereford)
heifers and oxen obtained from Kanhym Estates, Middelburg,
were unaccustomed to handling. One group of animals was subjected
to the stress of sampling with restraint, a second group was sampled
with restraint after transportation and a third group had blood taken
after slaughter at the Kanhym abattoir at Balfour. Control blood
samples were obtained from Friesland dairy cows accustomed to
handling and blood sampling and from crossbreed oxen unaware of
the sampling procedure. Both control and experiment groups were
studied in the same season. (April and May, 1984).
Results were analysed and compared statistically. The blood cortisol,
ACTH, lactates and glucose were significantly higher in the experimental
groups than in the control group. Cortisol and ACTH values were
significantly higher, and the lactate and glucose values significantly
lower in the group subjected to the stress of sampling with restraint
than in the other two experimental groups.
Therefore, if the variables measured are an assessment of stress and
change because of stress, then the animals investigated experienced
stress. In addition, cattle unaccustomed to handling perceive the
slaughtering process as less stressful than blood sampling in a crush
(based on cortisol and ACTH results).
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:wits/oai:wiredspace.wits.ac.za:10539/20118 |
| Date | 01 April 1986 |
| Creators | Riekert, Sydney Peter |
| Publisher | University of the Witwatersrand |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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