Physiological Responses, Blood Profile and Performance of Local Beef Cattle to Short Period of Road Transport

Edit Lesa Aditia, R Priyanto, L Abdullah, Panca Dewi Maha Rani Karti, Wasmen Manalu

Abstract

Transporting livestock poses a risk to animal performance and welfare. The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of short transport periods on physiological responses, blood profile and performance during recondition period of local beef cattle. A total of 16 bulls consisting of eight Ongole Grade (PO) and local crossbred (SL) were used in this study. Parameters observed were weight loss, rectal temperature, respiratory rate, panting score, glucose, creatinine, packed cell volume/PCV, hemoglobin (Hb), erythrocyte, leucocyte, and leucocyte differentiation, as well as data for performance during recondition period namely feed consumption and conversion, average daily gain and final weight after reconditioning. Data for body weight loss, physiological parameters, and blood profile were analyzed with analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measurement. Whereas data for performance during recondition was analyzed by analysis of covariance with initial weight post transportation as covariable. Results showed that PO cattle have significantly higher (P<0.05) glucose and PCV concentrations during pre-transportation than SL cattle due to the more excited character of PO cattle. Glucose and PCV of PO and SL cattle were significantly decreased (P<0.05) during post transportation. It might be that cattle were exhausted due to transport , change in energy utilization, and fluid balance changes during and after transport. However, the concentration of glucose and PCV were similar for both breeds during post transportation. In addition, short periods of road transport increase neutrophil: lymphocyte ratio. Furthermore, PO cattle have better performance during recondition period compared to SL cattle. Final weight, average daily gain, feed consumption and dry matter intake after 10 days of recondition for PO cattle was significantly higher (P<0.05) compared to SL cattle.

Keywords

Blood Profile; Physiological Responses; Local Beef Cattle; Transportation

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