›› 2018, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (5): 1234-1240.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2018.05.014

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Effects of Long-distance Transportation Stress on the Body Weight, Blood Biochemical Indexes and Cytokine Contents of Simmental Cattle

LI Yan1, GAO Yanxia2, XU Limin3, LIU Bo4, LI Yunqi2, LI Jianguo2, CAO Yufeng2   

  1. 1. College of Veterinary Medicine, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071001, China;
    2. College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071001, China;
    3. Longhua County Bureau of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Chengde 068150, China;
    4. Hengshui Bureau of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Hengshui 053000, China
  • Received:2017-11-17 Online:2018-05-20 Published:2018-05-19

Abstract:

In order to investigate the effects of long-distance transportation stress on body weight,blood biochemical indexes and cytokine contents of Simmental cattle.12 head of (292.1±38.2)kg average body weight of Simmental cattle were transported for 36 h and 1 450 km at 30℃ of maximum air temperature by open-topped truck.Blood samples from jugular vein were collected for the determination of the blood biochemical indexes and body weight was measured before and after transportation.The results showed as follows:①The body weight of Simmental cattle was extremely significantly decreased from 292.1 kg to 262.8 kg after transport for 36 h and 1 450 km (P<0.01),of which the lossing was 10.03% of the original body weight.②Transportation stress significantly increased the serum cortisol level (P<0.05),extremely significantly elevated the serum glucose level (P<0.01),and they was decreased to the original level at 7 to 14 d after transportation.But transportation stress did not significantly affect the blood cholesterol level (P>0.05).③Transportation stress extremely significantly increased the serum C-reactive protein content (P<0.01).The contents of serum IL-6,IFN-γ and TNF-α were significantly increased after transportation (P<0.05),and they was decreased to the original level at 7 to 14 d after transportation.But the content of IL-1β in serum was not significantly affected (P>0.05).In conclusion,long-distance transportation could significantly decrease the body weight and inhibit the body immune function of Simmental cattle.It was necessary for Simmental cattle to have the recovery period of 14 days after long-distance transportation.

Key words: transportation stress; Simmental cattle; body weight; cortisol; glucose; cytokines

CLC Number: