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Heart Rate and Stress Hormone Responses of Sheep to Road Transport Following Two Different Loading Procedures

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

R F Parrot ,
S J G Hall  and
D M Lloyd
R F Parrot*
Affiliation:
MAFF Welfare and Behaviour Laboratory, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB2 4AT, UK
S J G Hall
Affiliation:
MAFF Welfare and Behaviour Laboratory, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB2 4AT, UK Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, CB3 OES, UK, and now School of Agriculture and Horticulture, De Montfort University, Grantham, Lines NG32 3EP
D M Lloyd
Affiliation:
MAFF Welfare and Behaviour Laboratory, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB2 4AT, UK
*
† Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints
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Abstract

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This study was designed to investigate the physiological responses induced in sheep (n = 18) by two different loading techniques followed by a short road journey. All animals were prepared with venous catheters, to minimize the disturbing effects of blood sampling, and nine sheep were fitted with heart rate monitors. The animals were loaded onto a transport vehicle in groups of three, alternately using a conventional tailgate ramp or a crate raised with a hydraulic lift. When all of the sheep were loaded, they were taken on a journey lasting 195min. Blood samples were collected in the home pen, directly after loading, and at 15min intervals during the journey. Measurements were made of plasma concentrations of Cortisol, prolactin and catecholamines (adrenaline and noradrenaline). The results indicated that heart rate increased during loading, regardless of the method used. No changes in concentrations of Cortisol or the catecholamines were detected, although a small increase in prolactin was noted when animals were loaded using the ramp. During transport, all sheep exhibited increases in plasma Cortisol concentrations which were greatest during the first 2h of the journey. The results suggest that, under the conditions employed in this experiment, the effects of the two loading procedures were similar and that transport appeared to be more stressful than loading.

Keywords

animal welfarehandlingheart rateroad transportsheepstress hormones
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 7 , Issue 3 , August 1998 , pp. 257 - 267
Copyright
© 1998 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

References

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