Effects on cattle of transport by road for up to 15 hours

Abstract

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.

Physiological response and carcass and meat quality of suckling lambs in relation to transport time and stocking density during transport by road

“…In our study, CK was similar between transport times, suggesting that minimal muscle trauma had occurred during transport and handling and that the experiment was carried out in good conditions. Furthermore, Warriss et al (1995) showed in cattle that plasma CK activity increased commensurate with journey duration, suggesting that maintenance of posture in the moving vehicle is physically demanding. Whereas, Warriss et al (1995) studied transport length up to 15 h, the 5 h transport time in the present experiment may not be long enough to increase plasma CK activity or because the stress response of lambs differed to cattle.…”

“…Furthermore, Warriss et al (1995) showed in cattle that plasma CK activity increased commensurate with journey duration, suggesting that maintenance of posture in the moving vehicle is physically demanding. Whereas, Warriss et al (1995) studied transport length up to 15 h, the 5 h transport time in the present experiment may not be long enough to increase plasma CK activity or because the stress response of lambs differed to cattle. Cockram et al (1999) observed no significant differences in CK activity in lambs transported for 15 h compared to non-transported lambs, because in the transported lambs, the number of potentially traumatic events was low.…”

Invited review: Relationship between cattle transport, immunity and respiratory disease

“…In young and older cattle, cortisol concentration is reported to increase following loading, during the first part of a journey and after unloading (Warriss et al, 1995;Knowles, 1999). Furthermore, Warriss et al (1995) reported that while plasma cortisol concentrations increased in cattle following loading, values returned to normal as the journey continued. In contrast, Tarrant et al (1992) and Dixit et al (2001) reported that for cattle, the actual journey was more stressful than loading and unloading.…”

“…Extensively raised animals exhibit more psychological or fear stress during loading and unloading compared with more intensively reared animals (Grandin, 1997). In young and older cattle, cortisol concentration is reported to increase following loading, during the first part of a journey and after unloading (Warriss et al, 1995;Knowles, 1999). Furthermore, Warriss et al (1995) reported that while plasma cortisol concentrations increased in cattle following loading, values returned to normal as the journey continued.…”

“…Circulating cortisol as an indicator of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation is the most commonly utilised measurement, and increases have been observed in nearly all transportation studies of cattle as compared with pre-transportation concentrations or those obtained from non-transported counterparts (Simensen et al, 1980;Murata et al, 1987;Warriss et al, 1995;Arthington et al, 2003;Odore et al, 2004;Buckham Sporer et al, 2007;Gupta et al, 2007;Schwartzkopf-Genswein et al, 2012). The magnitude of the cortisol response has been related to the pre-transport rearing conditions (farm facility and market), age of cattle transported, loading, duration of the journey, unloading and post-transport lairage conditions.…”