Profiles of Cortisol, Triiodothyronine, Thyroxine and Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio as Stress Indicators in Swamp Buffaloes 15 Days Post-Transportation

Abstract

Transportation may cause stress that affects livestock’s health. This research was conducted to observe the effect of transportation on the profiles of blood cortisol, triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) and neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) ratio as stress indicators during 15 days post-transportation. Four females swamp buffaloes, 2-yr-old were used in this research. The animals were transported using an open truck, along 15 kilometers distance for 2 h. During acclimatization, the animals were fed grass twice a day and access to water ad libitum. Blood was collected at the time of arrival and everyday for 15 d post-transportation. Cortisol, T3 and T4 were analyzed using Radioimmunoassay (RIA) method. Blood smears were also prepared and stained with Giemsa for leukocyte differential counts. Results showed a significant relation (P<0.05) between transport and an increase in cortisol and T4 level on day-1 post-transportation compared to the normal levels. The level of T3 was also increased on day-3 post-transportation. Total leukocyte counts were 8.91-18.83×10³/μL. Neutrophil, eosinophil, monocyte, and lymphocyte counts were 4.87-10.41×10³/μL, 0.66-1.75×10³/μL, 0.11-0.58×10³/μL, and 2.98-6.21×10³/μL, respectively. N/L ratio was 1.23-3.49 with >1.5 in average throughout the period of the research. It is concluded that transportation causes stress and therefore changes metabolic process

Effect of posttransportation grazing on the physiological condition and meat quality traits of Black Bengal goats

“…Maheshwari et al. () has also reported a gradually increase in cortisol concentration from day 3 after transportation and the second peak of this hormone on day 4. Higher cortisol level in the PTG2 group of the present study might correspond with the second peak after transportation which reported in buffaloes (Maheshwari et al., ).…”

“…Maheshwari et al. () also showed a significant relationship between transportation and an increase in cortisol level in buffaloes. They demonstrated that cortisol showed the highest elevation on day‐1 after transportation when animals just arrived to the location and fell down to the normal level on day‐2.…”

“…Knowles () demonstrated an alteration in plasma cortisol in response to transportation stress in cattle. Thyroid hormones, namely tri‐iodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), were also found to respond to the transportation stress (D’ Oliveira et al., ; Fazio, Medica, Cravana, & Feriazzo, ; Maheshwari, Yulnawati Esfandiari, Andriyanto Andriani, & Khovifah, ; Mitchell, Hattingh, & Ganhao, ). These findings indicate that the measurement of cortisol and thyroid hormones in the blood stream is effective for the stress assessment of transported animals.…”

“…Knowles (1999) demonstrated an alteration in plasma cortisol in response to transportation stress in cattle. Thyroid hormones, namely tri-iodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), were also found to respond to the transportation stress (D' Oliveira et al, 2014;Fazio, Medica, Cravana, & Feriazzo, 2015;Maheshwari, Yulnawati Esfandiari, Andriyanto Andriani, & Khovifah, 2013;Mitchell, Hattingh, & Ganhao, 1988).…”

Respons Hematologi dan Kimia Darah Domba Lokal Indonesia Terhadap Stres Transportasi Selama 12 Jam (HAEMATOLOGICAL AND BLOOD BIOCHEMICAL RESPONSES TO 12 HOUR TRANSPORTATION STRESS IN IN LOCAL INDONESIAN SHEEP)

“…Transportasi ternak merupakan salah satu penyebab stres pada ternak (Saeb et al, 2010;Astuti et al, 2010) yang dapat mepengaruhi kesehatan ternak (Maheshwari et al, 2013), kesejahteraan hewan dan besaran ongkos ekonomi (Saeb et al, 2010), kualitas karkas (Minka dan Ayo, 2010), morbiditas dan mortalitas ternak (Fazio dan Ferlazzo, 2003). Perubahan kondisi lingkungan pemicu stres selama transportasi tersebut memicu perubahan fisiologis sebagai bentuk adaptasi ternak.…”