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1.
Ninety-six pure-bred Large White pigs weighing 80 to 100 kg were either not transported or transported for eight, 16 or 24 hours, and then either slaughtered immediately on arrival at the abattoir or kept in lairage for six hours before being slaughtered. The pigs travelling for eight, 16 or 24 hours lost 2.2, 2.0 and 4.3 per cent of liveweight, respectively, and the pigs travelling for 24 hours lost 2.6 per cent of hot carcase weight Both liveweight and hot carcase weight recovered during the lairage period although there was a net liveweight loss in comparison with the control animals. Only transport for 24 hours led to losses in carcase weight The concentration of non-esterified fatty acids increased with the time spent travelling. The concentrations of cortisol, creatine phosphokinase and lactate were all low in comparison with the levels found in commercially slaughtered animals. Plasma albumin and protein concentrations indicated that the animals were becoming dehydrated during the longer journeys. The animals lay down for most of the journey and appeared to be asleep. During the period in lairage, the animals transported for eight hours had two distinct periods of feeding and drinking but spent most of the time lying down, but those transported for 16 and 24 hours showed far more eating and drinking activity. All the groups appeared tired, but the urge to eat of the groups transported for 16 hours, and especially 24 hours appeared to be more important. There were behavioural and the physiological differences between the transported groups and the controls. Six hours in lairage with access to food and water allowed most of the physiological parameters to return to pretransport levels.  相似文献   

2.
The effects of food withdrawal for 30 hours and transport for up to 12 hours on 5- to 10-day-old calves were determined by monitoring plasma concentrations of glucose, beta-hydroxybutyrate, urea, lactate and creatine phosphokinase. In addition gamma-glutamyl transferase activity, packed cell volume, total plasma protein concentration, bodyweight and rectal temperature were recorded. Food withdrawal for 30 hours caused hypoglycemia but calves maintained normothermia and although their beta-hydroxybutyrate level increased indicating lipid mobilisation, the changes in blood urea level were minimal indicating low amino acid catabolism. When calves were transported for 12 hours in addition to having food withdrawn for 30 hours, they remained normoglycemic for six hours longer than non-transported calves, probably due to an effect of muscular activity during bracing against truck movements. Stocking calves at a lower density during transport apparently had a beneficial effect, as calves were able to lie down throughout the journey and therefore produced a similar metabolic profile to resting, non-transported animals. Transport and food withdrawal had no obvious effects on calf hydration. The results of this study suggest that food withdrawal for up to 30 hours and transport for up to 12 hours had no detrimental effects on the metabolism of healthy and clinically normal calves. With correct feeding regimes and transport protocols, welfare compromise in young, healthy calves being transported for up to 12 hours can be minimised when they are slaughtered within 30 hours of the start of transport.  相似文献   

3.
Comparisons were made of the behaviour, physiology and meat quality of 24-week-old male veal calves (mean live weight 234 kg) that were slaughtered either at the veal unit (the control group) or following 3 h transportation at space allowances of either 0.7 or 0.95 m2 calf−1 and 1.5 h of lairage. Compared with nontransported calves, transported calves had a greater heart rate during the journey and during lairage; greater plasma cortisol concentration immediately after the journey, but not after 1.5 h of lairage; and greater plasma creatine kinase activity immediately after the journey and after 1.5 h of lairage. The transported calves did not lie down during the journey. There was no effect of space allowance on either the heart rate or frequency of potentially traumatic events during the journey or the plasma cortisol concentration and plasma creatine kinase activity sampled after the journey. There was no effect of transport on either carcase bruising or muscle pH 24 h after slaughter. Although compared with ‘on-farm’ slaughter, the transport and handling associated with the journey to the slaughterhouse were stressful to the calves; there were no adverse effects of transport on either carcase bruising or meat quality.  相似文献   

4.
The objective of this study was to determine the effect of two transport journeys (3 and 16 h) and four lairage times at the abattoir (3, 6, 12 and 24 h) on some stress indicators in steers to validate the current Chilean legislation of a minimum lairage period of 12 h for cattle arriving at abattoirs.The study was carried out twice, 80 steers in the winter and 80 in the summer of 1999. Forty steers were transported for 3 h and 40 for 16 h. At arrival in the slaughterhouse, the 40 transported steers were randomly divided in four lairage groups. Blood samples were collected before loading at arrival at the slaughterhouse and at slaughter during exsanguination.Mixed models were used to determine the associations between the stress indicators and the independent variables while correcting for the repeated observations on animals. Lairage increased plasma cortisol and PCV values independent of the transport duration. Glucose concentrations in steers transported for 16 h further increased after 3 and 6 h of lairage but decreased after 12 and 24 h of lairage. In steers transported for 3 h, glucose concentrations only increased after 24 h of lairage. After 24 h of lairage, the steers transported for 16 h had increased βHB concentrations compared with those transported for 3 h. Plasma CK activity was increased in steers after transport but was not affected by lairage. The study shows that there is no beneficial effect on the welfare of the animals by a long lairage time at the abattoir.  相似文献   

5.
Physiological and behavioural field studies on long distance road transport of 116 heifers, 135 bulls and 64 steers in 10 goose-necked double decked semitrailers from northern Germany to mediteranean ports showed different impacts of handling during pre-transport (i.e. collection of animals, weighing, loading), transport journey itself and post transport handling (i.e. lairage time) on coping strategies of the different categories of cattle. It was found loss of body weight in steers (-6.65%) coming from pasture was higher compared to bulls (-4.6%) during transport, but they recovered during lairage time in a better way. All categories of cattle showed catabolic energy metabolism during transport, but only in bulls and to a farer extent in heifers this leads to a tendency of a ketotic metabolism during second parts of transport and lairage time. During whole transport time no more than 20% of bulls and steers were laying down, and less than 5% were feeding during driving intervals. In all parts of transport general stress parameters like heart rate (with exception to steers) and cortisol were elevated as a part of adaptation to the transport environment, but indicating high physical and emotional loads on the animals with no resting possibilities. In this context animals have to be prepared carefully to be transported, i.e. in reference to energy and fluid balance, and to be feed in sufficient time intervals (breaks) and lengths to maintain fundamental behavioural and physiological needs of the animals during transport. The lairage facilities are very important for the bulls and in the case of heifers the feeding regime during lairage time must be improved to ensure the possibility for a real resting and recovery of the animals after transport.  相似文献   

6.
Time in lairage needed by pigs to recover from the stress of transport.   总被引：6，自引：0，他引：6  
Two experiments were carried out in which a total of 602 pigs were slaughtered after being held in lairage for periods ranging from less than one hour to 21 hours. In the first experiment the pigs were handled under ideal conditions and slaughtered at the University of Bristol slaughterhouse; in the second the pigs were killed at a commercial plant. Blood samples collected at exsanguination were analysed for indices of stress. There were no consistent effects of time in lairage on the levels of lactate and creatine phosphokinase. Plasma cortisol and beta-endorphin levels were reduced by lairage for three hours or more in the first experiment and cortisol was reduced by lairage for two hours or more in the second; beta-endorphin was not measured in the second experiment. A period of rest in lairage allowed the pigs to recover from transport and the associated handling and the recovery appeared to be complete within two to three hours.  相似文献   

7.
Changes in physiological and behavioral responses of goats to road transportation have been demonstrated, but effects of lairage and grazing on transported goats and the role of ascorbic acid (AA) on the effects have not been elucidated. The aims of the experiment were to investigate physiological, behavioral, lairage and grazing responses of goats transported by road and administered with AA. Experimental goats (n = 20) were administered with AA, whereas control goats (n = 20) were given sterile water before transportation by road for 12 hours. The goats were either grazed or held in lairage after the transportation. Excitability scores, grazing time, liveweight, and activities of serum enzymes were evaluated in goats that were grazed and those kept in lairage. The results obtained post-transportation showed that 12 hours of road transportation and lairage was stressful to the goats, and it decreased (P < 0.05) their excitability scores, grazing time, and liveweight. The activities of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and creatine phosphate kinase rose after the transportation, especially in the control goats, kept in lairage. Overall, the results showed that extensively raised goats, transported for 12 hours during the hot-dry season, require a lairage period of 7-11 days for their metabolism, behavior, and liveweights to return to baseline values. Goats that were allowed to graze after transportation required 3 days to return to baseline values, but those administered with AA before transportation and grazed after transportation required only 2 days to recover. The results demonstrated that keeping goats in the lairage after transportation was not beneficial. In conclusion, AA administration ameliorated stress because of transportation by road, and post-transportation grazing facilitated the recovery of the goats from the stress.  相似文献   

8.
Seventeen newborn Holstein-Friesian bull calves were cold-stressed by total body immersion in water at 15 to 17 degrees C until the core body temperature was lowered by 10 degrees C. Nine additional calves (noncold-stressed) were immersed in water at 35 to 37 degrees C. Eight of the cold-stressed calves were euthanatized soon after removal from the water while the others (n=9) were allowed to recover in a cold room at 4 degrees C for 72 hours. Noncold-stressed calves were kept at 25 degrees C for 72 hours. Sympathoadrenal an adrenal hormonal responses of calves were determined by analysis of plasma for glucose, corticosteroids, and catecholamines. Plasma concentration of glucose and corticosteroids rapidly increased in cold-stressed calves soon after immersion and remained higher (P less than of equal to 0.05) than concentrations in noncold-stressed calves during immersion and most of recovery. There was a threefold increase (P less than or equal to 0.05) in concentration of catecholamines in plasma of cold-stressed calves and only a slight increase in noncold-stressed calves during immersion. Catecholamine concentrations remained elevated in cold-stressed calves during most of recovery. Results provide direct evidence that sympathoadrenal and adrenal hormonal responses to cold are well developed in newborn calves and that changes in concentrations of glucose, corticosteroids, and catecholamines in plasma of these animals are sensitive indicators of their ability to respond to cold stress.  相似文献   

9.
The concentration of serum proteins and plasma fibrinogen were determined in 151 normal and 49 diarrheic calves at intervals from birth to ten days of age. There were significant differences in the concentrations of the various serum proteins in normal calves when the results were analysed at six age intervals. There was no significant relationship between the concentration of the various proteins and the season of the year.

Of the diarrheic calves, those that died had significantly lower gamma globulin concentrations than the other calves. Severely diarrheic and dehydrated calves had significantly increased serum albumin and alpha glabulin concentrations and decreased gamma globulin concentrations. No significant variation occurred in total serum protein concentration. Plasma fibrinogen concentrations were similar in normal and diarrheic calves.

  相似文献   

10.
Steers representative of the most common type, weight and conformation slaughtered in Chile were transported for either three or 16 hours and held in lairage for three, six, 12 or 24 hours. Measurements of liveweight, carcase weight, and the postmortem pH and colour of muscle were made to assess the economic and welfare effects of the different transport and lairage times. Compared with the short journey, the longer journey was associated with a mean (se) reduction in liveweight of 8.5 (2.8) kg, and there was a further decrease of 0.42 (0.18) kg for every hour that the animals were kept in lairage after 16 hours of transport, an increase in final muscle pH, a decrease in muscle luminosity and an increase in the proportion of carcases downgraded because they were classified as 'dark cutting The carcase weights also tended to be lower after the longer journey and after longer periods in lairage.  相似文献   

11.
1. Poultry are usually transported in crates which provide the birds with very limited space. Slaughter transport of male turkeys is often carried out using crates that are 40?cm or less in height where it is not possible for them to stand up. There is little information on how this physical restriction over many hours affects the birds.

2. The aim of the study was to compare the welfare of male turkeys transported in crates 40?cm and 55?cm in height. Observations on the birds’ behaviour during lairage, carcass damage and meat quality were carried out after four commercial slaughter transport journeys.

3. Birds in 40?cm crates panted more and lay down more than birds in 55?cm crates during lairage. A large percentage of the carcasses had some damage. Significantly more birds from the 55?cm crates had scratches on their backs than birds from the 40?cm crates. There was no significant difference in meat quality between birds transported in the two crate heights.

4. Both positive and negative effects of increased crate height were established and there is no evidence from this study that merely increasing crate height improves turkey welfare. Other solutions should therefore be sought in order to improve the welfare of birds during transport.  相似文献   

12.
Background: Plasma transfusions have been used clinically in the management of neonates with failure of passive transfer. No studies have evaluated the effect of IV serum transfusions on serum IgG concentrations in dairy calves with inadequate transfer of passive immunity.
Hypothesis: A commercially available serum product will increase serum immunoglobulin concentration in calves with inadequate transfer of colostral immunoglobulins.
Animals: Thirty-two Jersey and Jersey-Holstein cross calves with inadequate colostral transfer of immunoglobulins (serum total protein <5.0 g/L).
Methods: Thirty-two calves were randomly assigned to either control (n = 15) or treated (n = 17) groups. Treated calves received 0.5 L of a pooled serum product IV. Serum IgG concentrations before and after serum transfusion were determined by radial immunodiffusion.
Results: Serum protein concentrations increased from time 0 to 72 hours in both control and transfused calves and the difference was significant between the control and treatment groups ( P < .001). Mean pre- and posttreatment serum IgG concentrations in control and transfused calves did not differ significantly. Median serum IgG concentrations decreased from 0 to 72 hours by 70 mg/dL in control calves and increased over the same time interval in transfused calves by 210 mg/dL. The difference was significant between groups ( P < .001). The percentage of calves that had failure of immunoglobulin transfer 72 hours after serum transfusion was 82.4%.
Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Serum administration at the dosage reported did not provide adequate serum IgG concentrations in neonatal calves with inadequate transfer of colostral immunoglobulins.  相似文献   

13.
Long distance transportation of weaned piglets (Sus scrofa) is increasingly common in the united states and may result in delayed eating, drinking, or normal social behaviors. A potential solution is a mid-journey rest (lairage). The objective of this study was to determine if a lairage altered behavior after a 16-h transport. Pigs that weighed approximately 18 kg each (n = 894) were housed in 16 pens with 8 pens per treatment. Lairaged pigs were transported for 8 h and given an 8-h rest with food and water, whereas control pigs were transported continuously for 16 h. The heaviest, the lightest, and 2 average-BW pigs relative to the average weight of the pen were observed by video recording for 24 h immediately before and after transport, and during d 6 and 13 after transport. Postures (lying, sitting, and standing) were recorded using 10-min-interval scan sampling, and behavioral categories included inactivity, activities (eating, drinking, alert, manipulating pen, rooting, and walking) and social interactions (aggression, belly nosing, playing, tail biting, and positive social behaviors). In both treatments, sitting occurred most before transport (P < 0.01) than at other times, but did not differ between treatments. Standing increased (time effect; P < 0.01) for both treatments immediately after transport through d 6, but returned to pre-transport values by d 13. In contrast, lying decreased (time effect; P < 0.01) after transport, but returned to above pre-transport values by d 13. Time effects were evident for activity (P < 0.01), pen manipulation (P = 0.05), rooting (P < 0.01), initiation of belly-nosing (P = 0.01), and receiving belly-nosing (P = 0.03); however, initiation of aggression did not differ for day (P = 0.19) or treatment (P = 0.56). Lairaged pigs initiated more (P = 0.05) play than continuously transported pigs, but no differences (P = 0.84) were seen in receipt of play behavior. Pigs that were to be transported for 16 h continuously walked less pre-transport, walked more post-transport (treatment × time interaction; P = 0.02), and drank less pre-transport, but drank more on all days post-transport compared with the lairage group (treatment × time interaction; P = 0.001). This study indicated that extended transport without lairage alters some swine behaviors relevant to production (water consumption) and demonstrated that a long-duration transport, regardless of the mid-journey lairage treatment, affects a number of behaviors up to 13 d after transportation.  相似文献   

14.
AIM: To determine the welfare of calves arriving at a slaughter plant by assessing their physical state and plasma biochemical profile. METHODS: Calves (n=7,169) aged 4-10 days, were examined immediately after they were unloaded from trucks (n=20) and categorised on physical grounds as being in an 'unacceptable', 'marginal' or 'acceptable' state. 'Unacceptable' calves were lying down, unable to walk, extremely weak or seriously injured. 'Marginal' calves had a wet umbilicus, were hollow sided, apparently immature, or weak and slow and unsteady on their feet. 'Acceptable' calves were strong, walked freely, round-sided, bright and alert and had a dry umbilicus. After unloading, 27 'unacceptable', 306 'marginal' and 289 'acceptable' calves were weighed, examined clinically and a blood sample was taken from each. A second blood sample was taken from 118 of these calves, 12-15 hours later. The packed cell volume (PCV) and plasma concentrations of glucose, beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), total plasma proteins (TPP), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), urea, creatine kinase (CK) and lactate were measured. RESULTS: Only 27 of the 7,169 calves examined (0.4%) were categorised as being in an 'unacceptable' state on arrival and these were euthanased shortly after unloading. Generally, the plasma biochemical profiles of the 'acceptable' calves were similar to those of 'marginal' animals. However the glucose concentration of 'marginal' calves was lower than that of 'acceptable' calves, suggesting that they had lower energy reserves. After 12-15 h in lairage, plasma glucose concentration decreased and the BHB concentration increased in both 'acceptable' and 'marginal' calves compared with concentrations measured on arrival. CONCLUSIONS: The percentage of calves presented for slaughter in an 'unacceptable' state was small (0.4%). However, 4% of calves were classified as 'marginal' and failed to meet all the requirements of the code of recommendations and minimum standards governing the welfare of young calves in New Zealand. The categorisation of calves by a physical assessment was supported by results of plasma biochemistry. As a result, plasma biochemical profiles are considered unnecessary for making decisions regarding the welfare status of calves arriving at a slaughter plant; an assessment of their physical state is sufficient.  相似文献   

15.
The effect of a novel lairage environment on the ability of sheep to recover from 16 h of transport was investigated. Sheep were transported from grass paddocks to either novel outside paddocks or inside pens, and housed groups were transported to either familiar or novel inside pens. During transport, sheep from outside paddocks lay down less than those from inside pens. In sheep transported to inside pens, those from outside paddocks spent more time lying and spent less time eating; hay and water intakes during the first 12 h post-transport were lower than those previously kept inside. There was no obvious effect of a novel environment post-transport on blood biochemistry, suggesting that the lower post-transport feed and water intakes in a novel environment did not have a significant effect on the ability of the sheep to recover from the feed and water deprivation associated with transport.  相似文献   

16.
宰前休息方式对猪福利、血液成分及肉质的影响   总被引：6，自引：0，他引：6  
选取体质量约为100 kg、氟烷基因型为NN的长×大二元杂交猪60头,随机分为3组:不休息组,休息3 h组,休息3 h+玩具组,公母各半.根据评分标准分别记录休息过程中猪的精神状况.放血时收集血样,用于分析血浆中皮质醇、促肾上腺皮质激素(ACTH)浓度,乳酸脱氢酶、肌酸激酶活性,乳酸、血糖浓度;添加EDTA-K<,2>抗凝剂的血样用于血细胞分析.同时在放血时,测定血温.屠宰后.测定背最长肌24 h滴水损失;背最长肌(LM)、半膜肌(SM)45 min以及24 h的pH、色值、导电率.结果表明:①休息3 h+玩具组在3个时间段的精神评分要极显著高于休息3 h组,随着时间的延长猪都表现出趋于平静的趋势;②休息3 h+玩具组和休息组3 h组在皮质醇、促肾上腺皮质激素要显著低于不休组(P<0.05),相反乳酸脱氢酶、肌酸激酶要显著高于不休息组(P<0.05),而休息3h+玩具组与休息3 h组差别不显著(P<0.05);③3个休息处理组在肉质指标上没有出现显著差别(P<0.05);④休息3 h+玩具组、休息3 h组在红细胞数(RBC)、血红蛋白含量(HGB)均要显著低于不休息组(P<0.05);休息3h+玩具组在白细胞数(WBC)上显著高于不休组(P<0.05);休息3 h组的淋巴细胞绝对值(W-SCC)显著高于不休息组(P<0.05);而休息3 h+玩具组与休息3 h组在所有的免疫指标上都没有显著差异(P>0.05).根据上述的结果显示,宰前一定要让猪有一个休息的过程,这种措施能有效缓解猪的应激,并能恢复其免疫能力;在休息的过程中,添加部分福利玩具,至少对猪的精神状态有明显的好处.  相似文献   

17.
The effects of coliform endotoxin (E) and recombinant bovine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) were compared with respect to clinical signs of disease and changes in plasma metabolite and pituitary and pancreatic hormone concentrations in calves. In addition, changes in plasma TNF concentration during each challenge exposure were quantitated by use of radioimmunoassay. Healthy Holstein bull calves with mean body weight of 90 kg were each given, in order, on different days, saline solution (5.0 ml, IV, day 1, n = 4), E (type 055:B5, 1.0 micrograms/kg of body weight IV, day 2, n = 4) and TNF (5.0 micrograms/kg IV, day 9, n = 3). Jugular venous blood samples, rectal temperature reading, and PCV were obtained at hourly intervals before (2 hours) and after challenge exposure. The PCV increased (P less than 0.05) after E and TNF administrations for the first 5 hours, then returned to normal in calves given E, but decreased and remained low in calves given TNF through 24 hours. Plasma triglyceride and nonesterified free fatty acids concentrations were increased through 10 hours (P less than 0.05) after E administration, whereas triglyceride and nonesterified free fatty acids concentrations were not significantly affected by TNF administration. Increase in blood glucose concentration at 1 hour after administration of E and TNF was followed by prolonged hypoglycemia that lasted through 6 hours. Changes in plasma insulin concentration paralleled the observed changes in glucose concentration, initially increased at 2 hours after E and TNF (P less than 0.05) administrations, but then tended to decrease below control values thereafter.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)  相似文献   

18.
Information on the effect of road transportation conditions and lairage times on the meat quality of pork under South African conditions is very sparse. In this investigation, the effects of 2 road conditions (rough road with frequent stops - A; smooth road, few stops - B) and 2 lairage holding periods (2 h and 24 h) on the physical meat quality attributes of commercially produced pigs during summer (ambient temperatures > 30 degrees C) in the Western Cape (South Africa) were investigated. Pig meat from pigs transported on a road that caused more stress (A), had lower pH 45 (measured 45 min post mortem) values after 2 h lairage than pigs transported over a smoother road. Pigs B had a lower muscle pH 24 (measured 24 h post mortem) than group A, indicating that they had more glycogen reserves available for post mortem glycolysis. Road conditions A were more stressful resulting in a higher incidence of PSE pork, as shown by the percentage drip loss and the L* values. When the lairage period was increased to 24 h prior to slaughter, pigs transported under road conditions A had time to replenish their energy reserves and the pH 45, drip loss and L* values were within an acceptable range. However, pigs transported under road conditions B had lower pH 45 and higher pH 24 values, indicating that the lairage period was too long and that energy reserves were depleted in order to adapt to the stressful conditions. Results from this investigation indicate that improvement of the transport/road conditions will result in better pork quality.  相似文献   

19.
The relationships between farmers' behavior toward veal calves, calves' responses to handling and transport, and veal meat quality were assessed. Two groups of 10 veal units were selected based on previous observed farmers' behavior toward the calves: one group consisted of farmers who had shown predominantly "positive" behavior toward the calves, and the other group of farmers had shown predominantly "negative" behavior. Calves were observed for their reactions to people at the unit, and 20 calves per veal unit were transported either directly to the slaughterhouse or subjected to additional transport consisting of a supplementary 20-min transport with additional unloading and loading. The effort needed to load the calves onto the truck and their behavior during loading was observed. During loading and unloading, and during lairage at the slaughterhouse, potentially traumatic incidents (falling down, hits against structures, slips) were recorded, and heart rate and cortisol measurements were taken. Carcasses were evaluated on their weight, color, conformation, pH, and bruise level. A meat sample was taken from the longissimus thoracis muscle for physical, chemical, and sensory analysis. Calves originating from "positive behavior" units showed fewer fear responses to people at the veal unit, needed less effort to be loaded to the truck, had lower heart rates during loading and unloading, and had fewer incidents at the slaughterhouse than calves from "negative behavior" units (P < 0.05). Carcasses from calves from "positive behavior" units were paler, and analyses of the meat sample revealed lower pH, moisture level, and redness compared to carcasses from calves from "negative behavior" units (P < 0.05). Additional transport led to a lower cortisol level after transport and to higher carcass pH values at slaughter compared to direct transport (P < 0.05) but did not affect meat quality. We concluded that farmers' positive behavior toward veal calves during rearing is likely to reduce the emotional responses of calves to handling and transport and to lead to fewer incidents, compared to negative behavior. This reduction of calves' emotional responses seems to be the reason for improved veal meat color.  相似文献   

20.
Plasma fibrinogen concentration was measured in beef calves at various points within the system presently used to assemble, market and transport calves from one production point to another in order to determine the effect of the stresses encountered. A short haul of 160 km immediately after weaning did not significantly elevate fibrinogen concentration above the pretransit values. Yearling steers transported 400 km and confined in unfamiliar surroundings for 15 h did have an elevated (P less than 0.01) concentration of fibrinogen, but this increase was not significantly different from that of steers which were confined but not transported, thus confinement may be a significant portion of the stress associated with transit. The change in plasma fibrinogen concentration during assembly and transit was dependent upon the farm from which the calves originated. The magnitude of the change in fibrinogen concentration as a result of assembly and transit varied between the years studied. In one year pretransit assembly for ten days resulted in a higher fibrinogen concentration before and after transit than assembly for four days, but no difference was noted between the two groups in the second year. Bovine plasma fibrinogen concentration does increase in response to the stresses associated with assembly and transit. The stress of fasting and housing in unfamiliar surroundings also increase bovine plasma fibrinogen concentration and are present in the assembly and transit system. These two stresses may account for a majority of the stress associated with marketing and transit. The response of beef calves to the marketing and transit system varied between years.  相似文献   

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