Physiological and behavioural responses to short-haul transport by stock trailer in finished steers

Abstract

Nineteen British cross-bred steers (623 ± 10.6 kg) were transported in groups of four or five for 3 h and returned to their home pens. Jugular cannulas, heart rate (HR; BPM) monitors and radio transmitters were used to non-invasively collect physiological data. Heart rate (n = 13) was lower during highway travel (83.5 ± 3.15, P > 0.05) compared with pre-loading (118.9 ± 3.19, P < 0.01) and off-loading (97.5 ± 4.47) but was not different from travel in town (88.8 ± 2.90). Plasma cortisol concentration (µg dL-1, n = 16) increased from pre-loading (1.87 ± 0.28) to off-loading (3.10 ± 0.28, P < 0.02) and decreased to 1.16 ± 0.28 µg dL-1 by 1 h after off-loading (P < 0.001), a value not different from pre-loading levels. Body temperature measured at offloading was 0.19°C higher (P < 0.001) than at pre-loading. No differences in the time spent eating and ruminating were observed when compared between a 1-h period 1 d prior to transport and the same time of day post-transport (P > 0.50). Increases in HR (P < 0.01) and lying time (P < 0.001) post-transport compared with the days prior suggest cattle experienced some fatigue. Mild, short-term stress responses were observed in finished steers exposed to 3 h of transportation. Key words: Cortisol, heart rate, hematocrit, behaviour, steers, transportation