Todd S E, Mellor D J, Stafford K J, Gregory N G, Bruce R A, Ward R N
Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Res Vet Sci. 2000 Apr;68(2):125-34. doi: 10.1053/rvsc.1999.0345.
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 When calves were transported for 12 hours in addition to having food withdrawn for 30 hours, they remained normoglycemic for six hours longer than non-transported calves, probably due to an effect of muscular activity during bracing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.
通过监测5至10日龄犊牛血浆中葡萄糖、β-羟基丁酸、尿素、乳酸和肌酸磷酸激酶的浓度，确定禁食30小时和长达12小时的运输对犊牛的影响。此外，还记录了γ-谷氨酰转移酶活性、红细胞压积、血浆总蛋白浓度、体重和直肠温度。禁食30小时导致低血糖，但犊牛保持正常体温，尽管它们的β-羟基丁酸水平升高表明脂肪动员，但血尿素水平变化最小，表明氨基酸分解代谢较低。当犊牛在禁食30小时的基础上再运输12小时时，它们的血糖正常时间比未运输的犊牛长6小时，这可能是由于在抵抗卡车运动时肌肉活动的影响。运输过程中以较低密度饲养犊牛显然有有益效果，因为犊牛在整个旅程中都能躺下，因此产生的代谢特征与休息的、未运输的动物相似。运输和禁食对犊牛的水合作用没有明显影响。本研究结果表明，禁食长达３０小时和运输长达１２小时对健康且临床正常的犊牛代谢没有不利影响。采用正确的饲养方案和运输规程，在运输开始后３０小时内屠宰时，运输长达１２小时的健康幼犊的福利受损情况可降至最低。
