The influence of slaughter on blood composition in cattle

[摘要] In this study the effects of blood sampling, transportation and slaughteron certain blood variables (sodium, potasium, chloride, glucose,lactates, lipids, proteins, colloidal osmotic pressure, cortisol, ACTH,T3, TSH, osmolality etc.) of cattle were investigated.The experimental animals, crossbreed (Brahman, Afrikander and Hereford)heifers and oxen obtained from Kanhym Estates, Middelburg,were unaccustomed to handling. One group of animals was subjectedto the stress of sampling with restraint, a second group was sampledwith restraint after transportation and a third group had blood takenafter slaughter at the Kanhym abattoir at Balfour. Control bloodsamples were obtained from Friesland dairy cows accustomed tohandling and blood sampling and from crossbreed oxen unaware ofthe sampling procedure. Both control and experiment groups werestudied in the same season. (April and May, 1984).Results were analysed and compared statistically. The blood cortisol,ACTH, lactates and glucose were significantly higher in the experimentalgroups than in the control group. Cortisol and ACTH values weresignificantly higher, and the lactate and glucose values significantlylower in the group subjected to the stress of sampling with restraintthan in the other two experimental groups.Therefore, if the variables measured are an assessment of stress andchange because of stress, then the animals investigated experiencedstress. In addition, cattle unaccustomed to handling perceive theslaughtering process as less stressful than blood sampling in a crush(based on cortisol and ACTH results).

[发布机构] University of the Witwatersrand