Van De Water G, Heylen T, Swinnen K, Geers R
Laboratory for Quality Care in Animal Production, Zootechnical Centre, Department of Animal Production, K. U.Leuven.
Dtsch Tierarztl Wochenschr. 2003 Mar;110(3):111-4.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the heart rate, body temperature, saliva cortisol levels and behaviour of young calves during transport simulation, and to define comfort conditions for calves related to the frequency and acceleration of vibration. Calves with an average age of 22 days were vibrated in the vertical direction for 2 hours at 2, 4, 8 and 12 Hz, in combination with root mean square (RMS) acceleration magnitudes 1 or 3 m/s2. Welfare and stress were quantified by measuring changes of heart rate, body temperature, cortisol concentration in saliva and behaviour. Treatments with acceleration 3 m/s2 had the largest impact on the animals. Stress response was larger in combination with 2 Hz, especially during the first hour of the experiment. Treatment 12 Hz in combination with acceleration 3 m/s2 had initially no influence on the animals, but towards the end of the treatment the calves started to express a stress response. From these results we can conclude that certain vibrations are stressful for calves and those can impair the welfare during transport.
本研究的目的是评估运输模拟过程中小牛的心率、体温、唾液皮质醇水平和行为，并确定与振动频率和加速度相关的小牛舒适条件。平均年龄为22天的小牛在垂直方向上以2、4、8和12赫兹振动2小时，结合均方根（RMS）加速度幅值1或3米/秒²。通过测量心率、体温、唾液皮质醇浓度和行为的变化来量化福利和应激。加速度为3米/秒²的处理对动物的影响最大。与2赫兹结合时应激反应更大，尤其是在实验的第一个小时。12赫兹与加速度3米/秒²结合的处理最初对动物没有影响，但在处理接近尾声时，小牛开始表现出应激反应。从这些结果我们可以得出结论，某些振动对小牛具有应激性，并且这些振动会在运输过程中损害福利。
