Feedlot conditions and their influence on blood parameter values in Merino lambs in Extremadura, Spain over a specific time-period

Fernández, Silvina; Galapero, Javier; Rey, J.; Pérez, Carlos J.; Ramos, Alfonso; Gomez, Lourdes

doi:10.12681/jhvms.16063

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…Stress induced during handling, loading and unloading could be the cause of an enhancement of free radical production, which could cause erythrocyte lysis [ 14 ]. Our results contrast with other reports describing lower values of RBC and hematocrit at the end of the fattening than at the beginning [ 9 , 10 ]. However, in these studies, initial samples were collected after the classification and regrouping of the animals, and possible dehydration during long journeys and the first hours in the feedlot could explain these results.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…Diet based on concentrate, ad libitum provided during the whole fattening period, could explain the significant increase in TP observed in both groups at T3 in relation to T2. Other authors also reported significant increases in TP at the end of the feedlot period, which they attributed to protein supplementation due to increasing requirements for growing lambs [ 10 ]. However, TP concentration at T3 was significantly higher in group F than in group C, despite both groups receiving the same type of concentrate.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several studies with lambs have analyzed the effect of transportation [ 4 , 5 , 6 ] and the stay at CC [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ] on some stress markers. However, they did not address all stages of the process, nor did they introduce a control group of animals fattened by the traditional method, which could fail to identify critical points within this production system.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of Stress on Health and Final Weight in Fattening Lambs

Navarro

González

Ramos

et al. 2020

Animals

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In order to determine whether the stress level had any influence on the health and final weight of Rasa Aragonesa fattening lambs, stress markers were measured throughout the fattening period in 80 feedlot lambs (group F) and in 40 lambs finished on the farm of birth (group C). The highest values of the stress indicators—neutrophil-to-lymphocyte-ratio (N/L), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), serum cortisol and fecal cortisol metabolites (FCM)—were recorded after the road transportation of group F to the feedlot. No differences between the groups were identified at the end of the adaptation period, but at the end of the fattening, statistically significant higher values for NEFA and serum cortisol were determined in group F. However, statistically significant differences between the groups were not found in the percentage of lambs with clinical signs of illness and ovine respiratory complex (ORC) lesions or in the final weight of the lambs. Independent of the location at which the lambs were fattened, those with FCM values at the beginning of the study (at the time of weaning) in the highest quartile developed a higher percentage of clinical signs of illness (45.5% vs. 32.1%, p > 0.05) and ORC lesions (45.5% vs. 10.7%, p < 0.01), and their average final weight was lower (24.36 kg vs. 27.40 kg, p = 0.001) than those with values in the lowest quartile. Stress experienced by lambs prior to finishing seems to be relevant for their further development, and FCM concentration at the time of weaning could be used as an indicator of health and productive performance of the lambs during the fattening period, regardless of finishing location.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of Stress on Health and Final Weight in Fattening Lambs

Navarro

González

Ramos

et al. 2020

Animals

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“…In general, the welfare state of animals at the time of arrival at the slaughterhouse will be the cumulative effects of several steps associated with handling, penning, loading and transport to the slaughterhouse (Terlouw et al., 2008 ; Ekiz et al., 2012 ; Fernandez et al., 2018 ).…”

Section: Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Welfare of sheep and goats at slaughter

Nielsen¹,

Álvarez²,

Bicout³

et al. 2021

EFS2

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The killing of sheep and goats for human consumption (slaughtering) can take place in a slaughterhouse or on-farm. The processes of slaughtering that were assessed for welfare, from the arrival of sheep and goats until their death (including slaughtering without stunning), were grouped into three main phases: pre-stunning (including arrival, unloading from the truck, lairage, handling and moving of sheep and goats); stunning (including restraint); and bleeding. Stunning methods were grouped into two categories: mechanical and electrical. Twelve welfare consequences that sheep and goats may experience during slaughter were identified: heat stress, cold stress, fatigue, prolonged thirst, prolonged hunger, impeded movement, restriction of movements, resting problems, social stress, pain, fear and distress. These welfare consequences and their relevant animal-based measures are described in detail in this Scientific Opinion. In total, 40 welfare hazards that could occur during slaughter were identified and characterised, most of them related to stunning and bleeding. Staff were identified as the origin of 39 hazards, which were attributed to the lack of appropriate skill sets needed to perform tasks or to fatigue. Measures to prevent and correct hazards were identified, and structural and managerial measures were identified as those with a crucial role in prevention. Outcome tables linking hazards, welfare consequences, animal-based measures, origin of hazards and preventive and corrective measures were developed for each process. Mitigation measures to minimise welfare consequences are proposed.

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Animal welfare of Lacaune lambs weaned from artificial feeding

Moreno Manrique,

Mínguez Balaguer,

Ibáñez Sanchis

et al. 2024

Front. Vet. Sci.

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IntroductionNowadays, many dairy sheep farms opt for milk replacers after birth. Weaning lambs from milk replacers is expected to be a stressful situation.MethodsWith the aim of researching this practice on the animal behavior, body weight yields, and sanitary status of Lacaune lambs, 60 healthy animals from the same lambing house were employed. Lambs were housed in a pen and had ad libitum access to forage, compound feed, and milk replacers. During a 4 days preexperimental period in which all the animals were fed with milk replacers, behavior, hematologic parameters, body weight and seric and fecal stress indicators were recorded. Later, an experimental period took place in which 20 lambs remained in the same conditions. Another 20 lambs were kept in a separate pen in the same barn under the same conditions, but the artificial milk feeding was interrupted (weaning). The third 20 lambs were weaned and also rehoused in fattening pens. After 4 days, the variables previously recorded in the three groups during the pre-experimental period were recorded again.ResultsResults showed that change of location and change of feed can have different and synergic effects on the behavior of the lambs. Change of feed had not specifically different effect on body weight than change of location. In the other hand, weaning had no significative effects on hematologic parameters and seric and fecal stress indicators.DiscussionWeaning from artificial milk had significative effects on lambs weight and behavior. More research is needed to improve this ethical aspect in ovine production.

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Feedlot conditions and their influence on blood parameter values in Merino lambs in Extremadura, Spain over a specific time-period

Cited by 3 publications

References 15 publications

Impact of Stress on Health and Final Weight in Fattening Lambs

Impact of Stress on Health and Final Weight in Fattening Lambs

Welfare of sheep and goats at slaughter

Animal welfare of Lacaune lambs weaned from artificial feeding

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