Performance and blood chemistry in lambs following fasting and transport

Abstract

Thirty-six 5-month-old Dorset ram lambs (28·7 kg) were used to investigate the effects of fasting and transport on performance and selected blood parameters. Three treatment groups (no. = 12) were: (1) control-food and water, without transport; (2) fasting for 72 h, without transport; and (3) transport in a trailer to a nearby auction-barn, then driven 8 h/day for 3 days without food or water for a total of 72 h. Lambs were given a total mixed diet containing 163 g/kg crude protein throughout the 28-day post-transport period. Both fasted and transported lambs consumed less food than the control group during the first 7 days post treatment (P < 0·05). Water intake was similar for all treatment groups on the 1st day post transport, after which both fasted and transport lambs drank less ivater than control lambs during the following 6 days (P < 0·05). Live-weight loss after the 3-day fast and transport period and subsequent body-weight gain during the 28-day realimentation period differed across all treatment groups (P < 0·05 and P < 0·09; (1) 1% and 305 g, (2) 14·8% and 343 g, and (3) 20·0% and 390 g, respectively, though control lambs had the highest weight gains over the 32-day experimental period. Plasma urea nitrogen was lower in both fasted and transported lambs on days 6, 7 and 11 compared with control lambs (P < 0·05). Plasma glucose concentrations on days 4 and 5 were lower in transported lambs than in fasted lambs, and highest in control lambs (P < 0·05); glucose concentration levels remained lower in both fasted and transported lambs than in control lambs on days 6 and 7 (P < 0·05). Plasma cortisol concentrations were highest in transported lambs during the 3-day transport period and for 2 days immediately following transport (P < 0·05). Effects of the 72 h fast were exacerbated by auction barn activity and subsequent transport, and compensatory gains by fasted and transport lambs were incomplete within the 28-day post transport period.

Effects of weaning and 48 h transport by road and ferry on some blood indicators of welfare in lambs

“…This is an indicator of prolonged lack of food (Horton et al, 1996;Knowles et al, 1996), or indeed starvation, in which functional body tissue is being utilised (Broom and Fraser, 2007). Knowles et al (1993Knowles et al ( , 1995Knowles et al ( , 1998 transported lambs for 9, 14 and 24 h and ewes for 24 h and found that after each journey there was an increase in the plasma concentration of β-hydroxybutyrate.…”

Metabolic response of early-lactating cows exposed to transport and high altitude grazing conditions

“…The transport effects on plasma glucose reported from other studies are highly controversial (reviewed by Horton et al, 1996), maybe due to differences in road construction and mode of driving. The response in lactate and NEFA resembled the kind and speed of alteration found in cows subjected to draught work (Zerbini et al, 1995).…”

Current practices on sheep and beef farms in New Zealand for depriving sheep of feed prior to transport for slaughter

“…Metabolic changes may be exaggerated by the additional energy demands during transportation associated with maintaining posture in a moving vehicle and thermoregulation in unfavourable conditions (Lawrence et al 2004). Some studies that have separated the effects of fasting alone from the combined effects of fasting and transport in lambs have generally been unable to demonstrate that transport is a significant additional stressor (Warriss et al 1990;Knowles et al 1995;Broom et al 1996), while others suggest transport exacerbates the fasting liveweight loss (Thompson et al 1987;Horton et al 1996).…”