Interactions between Temperament, Stress, and Immune Function in Cattle

N C Burdick,J A Carroll,T H Welsh,R D Randel

doi:10.1155/2011/373197

N C Burdick, J A Carroll + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/373197

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Abstract

The detrimental effects caused by stressors encountered by animals during routine handling can pose economic problems for the livestock industry due to increased costs ultimately borne by the producer and the consumer. Stress adversely affects key physiological processes of the reproductive and immune systems. In recent years stress responsiveness has been associated with cattle behavior, specifically temperament. Cattle with more excitable temperaments, as measured by chute score, pen score, and exit velocity (flight speed), exhibit greater basal concentrations of glucocorticoids and catecholamines. Similar to stressed cattle, more temperamental cattle (i.e., cattle exhibiting greater exit velocity or pen and chute scores) have poorer growth performance, carcass characteristics, and immune responses. Thus, understanding the interrelationship of stress and temperament can help in the development of selection and management practices that reduce the negative influence of temperament on growth and productivity of cattle. This paper discusses the relationship between stress and temperament and the developing evidence of an effect of temperament on immune function of cattle that have been handled or restrained. Specifically, the paper discusses different methodologies used to measure temperament, including chute score, pen score, and exit velocity, and discusses the reaction of cattle to different stressors including handling and restraint.

Highlights

The detrimental effects caused by stressors encountered by animals during routine handling can pose economic problems for the livestock industry due to increased costs borne by both the producer and the consumer
Glucocorticoid resistance may be beneficial in mice that are more aggressive, as this allows wounds to heal more quickly in the presence of greater concentrations of glucocorticoids. In cattle it remains unclear whether the greater basal concentrations of glucocorticoids and catecholamines, characteristic of temperamental cattle, are immunosuppressive, or whether, in response to specific challenges, stress hormones can be beneficial
In the past decade there has been a great increase in the study of temperament and its effect on calf health and growth

Summary

Introduction

The detrimental effects caused by stressors encountered by animals during routine handling can pose economic problems for the livestock industry due to increased costs borne by both the producer and the consumer. Many factors contribute to whether an animal perceives situations as stressful, including development history and prior experience [12] Based on these factors, the animal’s response to a stressor can be beneficial or harmful. The stress response to handling during management procedures may be harmful, as it may cause the animal to injure itself or a worker, and the elevated stress hormones may inhibit physiological systems such as reproduction and immunity. Both Le Neindre et al [13] and Grandin [14] state that both genetic characteristics and prior experience influence how animals react to humans. More temperamental cattle may be better suited for environments where handling is limited, while calmer cattle may be better suited for operations wherein intensive handling is an aspect of the production system

Primer on Stress Biology

Temperament

Findings

Conclusion