Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-gq7q9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-19T05:56:35.295Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Plasma β-endorphin and cortisol concentrations in lambs after handling, transport and slaughter

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

D. P. Fordham ,
G. A. Lincoln ,
E. Ssewannyana  and
R. G. Rodway
D. P. Fordham
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT
G. A. Lincoln
Affiliation:
MRC Reproductive Biology Unit, Edinburgh EH3 9EW
E. Ssewannyana
Affiliation:
MRC Reproductive Biology Unit, Edinburgh EH3 9EW
R. G. Rodway
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT
Get access

Abstract

The effects of the routine stressful stimuli of handling, transport and slaughter on the plasma concentrations of cortisol and β-endorphin have been studied in lambs. Blood samples were obtained from group 1 lambs after rounding up, after transport and at slaughter. Group 2 lambs were treated similarly except that blood was collected only at slaughter. Group 3 lambs served as controls and were blood sampled twice daily for 5 days to accustom them to handling before being slaughtered. Plasma cortisol and β-endorphin concentrations were increased above control levels by rounding up and transport, and were further increased at slaughter. Group 3 lambs, however, had very much lower β-endorphin levels at slaughter than the other two groups, although their cortisol levels were similar, β-endorphin concentrations declined during the 5-day blood sampling period in group 3 animals but cortisol levels were unchanged. The results suggest that although levels of both hormones are increased by stress, they are not necessarily released concomitantly.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 49 , Issue 1 , August 1989 , pp. 103 - 107
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1989

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Barnett, J. L., Winfield, C. G., Cronin, G. M., Hemsworth, P. H. and Dewar, A. M. 1985. The effect of individual and group housing on behavioural and physiological responses related to the welfare of pregnant pigs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 14: 149–161.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clarke, I. J., Clements, J. A., Cummins, J. T., Dench, J. and Funder, J. W. 1984. Immunoreactive ACTH and β-endorphin secretion in the hypothalamo-pituitary disconnected ewe. 3rd Joint Meeting of the British Endocrine Societies, Edinburgh, Abstr. 30.Google Scholar
Ebling, F. J. P. and Lincoln, G. A. 1987. β-endorphin secretion in rams related to season and photoperiod. Endocrinology 120: 809–818.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Guillemin, R., Vargo, T., Rossier, J., Minick, S., Ling, N., Rivier, C., Vale, W. and Bloom, F. 1977. β-endorphin and adrenocorticotrophin are secreted concomitantly by the pituitary gland. Science, Washington 197: 1367–1369.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jephcott, E. H., McMillen, I. C., Rushen, J., Hargreaves, A. and Thorburn, G. D. 1986. Effect of electroimmobilisation on ovine plasma concentrations of β-endorphin/β-lipotrophin, cortisol and prolactin. Research in Veterinary Science 41: 371–377.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jephcott, E. H., McMillen, I. C., Rushen, J. and Thorburn, G. D. 1987. A comparison of the effects of electroimmobilization and/or shearing procedures on ovine plasma concentrations of β-endorphin/β-lipotrophin and cortisol. Research in Veterinary Science 43: 97–100.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kent, J. E. and Ewbank, R. 1986. The effect of road transportation on the blood constituents and behaviour of calves. III. Three months old. British Veterinary Journal 142: 326–335.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kilgour, R. and Langen, H. de. 1970. Stress in sheep resulting from management practices. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 30: 65–76.Google Scholar
Leshin, L. A. and Malven, P. V. 1984. Radioimmunoassay for β-endorphin/β-lipotrophin in unextracted plasma from sheep. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 1: 175–188.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moberg, G. P., Anderson, C. O. and Underwood, T. R. 1980. Ontogeny of the adrenal and behavioural responses of lambs to emotional stress. Journal of Animal Science 51: 138–142.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Owen, P. C., Smith, R., Green, D. and Falconer, L. 1984. Effect of hypoglycemic stress on plasma and cerebrospinal fluid immunoreactive β-endorphin in conscious sheep. Neuroscience Letters 49: 1–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pearson, A. J., Kilgour, R., Langen, H. de and Payne, E. 1977. Hormonal responses of lambs to trucking, handling and electric stunning. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 37: 243–248.Google Scholar
Shutt, D. A., Fell, L. R., Connell, R., Bell, A. K., Wallace, C. A. and Smith, A. I. 1987. Stress- induced changes in plasma concentrations of immunoreactive β-endorphin and cortisol in response to routine surgical procedures in lambs. Australian Journal of Biological Science 40: 97–103.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thomas, K. M. and Rodway, R. G. 1983. Effect of trenbolone acetate on adrenal function and hepatic enzyme activities in female rats. Journal of Endocrinology 98: 121–127.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wiepkema, P. R. 1987. Behavioural aspects of stress. In Biology of Stress in Farm Animals: an Integral Approach (ed. Wiepkema, P. R. and Adrichem, P. W. M. van), pp. 113–133. Martinus Nijhoff, Dordrecht.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Winer, B. J. 1971.Statistical Principles in Experimental Design. 2nd ed. McGraw Hill, New York.Google Scholar