Kannan Govind, Batchu Phaneendra, Naldurtiker Aditya, Dykes Gregory S, Gurrapu Priyanka, Kouakou Brou, Terrill Thomas H, McCommon George W
Agricultural Research Station, Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, GA 31030, USA.
Animals (Basel). 2023 Mar 29;13(7):1191. doi: 10.3390/ani13071191.
This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of habituation to livestock trailers on stress responses in goats transported for long periods. Intact male Spanish goats (12-month old; BW = 31.6 ± 0.34 kg; N = 168) were separated into two treatment (TRT) groups and maintained on two different paddocks. Concentrate supplement was fed to one group inside two livestock trailers (5.0 × 2.3 m each; habituated group, H), while the other group received the concentrate supplement, but not inside the trailers (non-habituated, NH). After 4 weeks of habituation period, goats were subjected to a 10-h transportation stress in four replicates ( = 21 goats/replicate/TRT). Blood samples were collected by a trained individual by jugular venipuncture into vacutainer tubes before loading (Preload), 20 min after loading (0 h), and at 2-h intervals thereafter (Time) for analysis of stress responses. There was a tendency for a TRT effect ( < 0.1) on tyramine and metanephrine concentrations. Phenylethylamine and 5-methoxytryptamine concentrations were significantly greater ( < 0.05) in the H group compared to the NH group. Both dopamine and 5-methoxytryptamine concentrations decreased ( < 0.05) with transportation time; however, TRT × Time interaction effects were not significant. Habituation to trailers may be beneficial in mood and energy stabilization in goats during long-distance transportation.
本实验旨在确定适应牲畜拖车对长时间运输山羊应激反应的影响。将成年雄性西班牙山羊（12月龄；体重=31.6±0.34千克；n=168）分为两个处理组，分别饲养在两个不同的围场。一组在两辆牲畜拖车（每辆5.0×2.3米）内补饲精料（适应组，H），另一组接受精料补饲，但不在拖车内（非适应组，NH）。经过4周的适应期后，山羊进行4次重复的10小时运输应激试验（每组每次重复21只山羊）。在装羊前（装羊前）、装羊后20分钟（0小时）以及此后每隔2小时（时间），由经过培训的人员通过颈静脉穿刺采集血样至真空采血管中，用于分析应激反应。酪胺和间甲肾上腺素浓度存在处理组效应趋势（P<0.1）。与非适应组相比，适应组的苯乙胺和5-甲氧基色胺浓度显著更高（P<0.05）。多巴胺和5-甲氧基色胺浓度均随运输时间降低（P<0.05）；然而，处理组×时间的交互作用不显著。适应拖车可能有助于山羊在长途运输期间稳定情绪和能量。
