Warriss P D, Brown S N, Knowles T G, Kestin S C, Edwards J E, Dolan S K, Phillips A J
Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford.
Vet Rec. 1995 Apr 1;136(13):319-23. doi: 10.1136/vr.136.13.319.
Twenty-four castrated male cattle aged between 12 and 18 months were transported by road for five, 10 or 15 hours, over distances of 286, 536 and 738 km. Half the animals were of Hereford x Friesian breeding and half of 'continental' type. The animals transported for five hours lost 4.6 per cent of their bodyweight, those transported for 10 hours lost 6.5 per cent and those transported for 15 hours lost 7.0 per cent; recovery to pre-transport values took five days. There was little evidence from changes in blood composition that a 15-hour journey was more stressful than a 10-hour journey. The cortisol concentrations were increased by the stresses of loading and the first part of the journey but then recovered as the journey continued. Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) activities increased progressively with the longer journeys and CPK, urea, albumin and osmolality levels recovered more slowly after the longer journeys. Increases in free fatty acids, beta-hydroxybutyrate and urea concentrations and the continued increase in urea levels after the end of the journeys suggested that the animals' normal pattern of feeding was disrupted. Increases in albumin, total plasma protein and osmolality indicated slight dehydration during transit which was quickly rectified by access to water. The two breed types responded similarly to transport, except that the increases in CPK were greater in the continental breeds, possibly as a result of their greater muscularity or greater sensitivity to stress. Based on the physiological measurements made and the subjective observations of behaviour a 15-hour transport period under good conditions is not unacceptable from the viewpoint of animal welfare.
24头12至18个月大的去势公牛通过公路运输，运输时长分别为5、10或15小时，运输距离分别为286、536和738公里。这些动物一半是赫里福德牛与弗里斯兰牛的杂交品种，另一半是“大陆型”品种。运输5小时的动物体重减轻了4.6%，运输10小时的动物体重减轻了6.5%，运输15小时的动物体重减轻了7.0%；体重恢复到运输前水平需要五天时间。从血液成分变化来看，几乎没有证据表明15小时的旅程比10小时的旅程压力更大。皮质醇浓度因装载压力和旅程的第一阶段而升高，但随后随着旅程的继续而恢复。肌酸磷酸激酶（CPK）活性随着旅程变长而逐渐增加，较长旅程后CPK、尿素、白蛋白和渗透压水平恢复得更慢。游离脂肪酸、β-羟基丁酸和尿素浓度的增加以及旅程结束后尿素水平的持续上升表明动物的正常进食模式受到了干扰。白蛋白、总血浆蛋白和渗透压的增加表明运输过程中出现了轻微脱水，通过饮水可迅速纠正。这两种品种类型对运输的反应相似，只是大陆型品种的CPK增加幅度更大，这可能是由于它们肌肉更发达或对应激更敏感。根据所做的生理测量和对行为的主观观察，从动物福利的角度来看，在良好条件下15小时的运输时长是可以接受的。
