Physiological effects of repeated transport in pregnant goats and their offspring

Abstract

-Although pregnant farm animals can encounter different stressors on numerous occasions, studies on the physiological effects of repeated stress during gestation on females and their offspring are quite recent and still scarce. The present experiment was performed to study the effects of repeated transportations on some physiological parameters in pregnant goats and to determine whether repeated exposure to prenatal stress resulted in alterations in the hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenocortical (HPA) axis and the sympatho-adrenomedullary (SAM) system of their offspring. Twenty-six goats were assigned to one of two treatments during the last five weeks of gestation: 9 series of 55 min of transport (n = 13) or no transport (n = 13). During transport, the goats were physically and visually isolated from their congeners. Transport in isolation induced a large increase in plasma concentrations of cortisol, glucose and non-esterified fatty acids, which confirms that it is a very stressful situation for goats. Moreover, the goats did not become accustomed to the stressor. Gestation length, birth weight, litter weight and growth of the kids were not modified by treatment. Cortisol concentrations tended to be higher in prenatally stressed kids than in control kids 1 h after birth (P < 0.10) and the opposite was observed at 48 h of age (P < 0.10). Indeed, the decrease in cortisol concentrations between 1 and 48 h was greater in prenatally stressed kids than in control kids (time × treatment interaction, P < 0.01). The effect of prenatal stress on the HPA axis did not persist, since in older kids cortisol concentrations were not modified by treatment. At one month of age, prenatally stressed kids showed a higher medulla weight (P < 0.05) and tended to show a higher phenylethanolamine N-methyl transferase activity (P < 0.10) than control kids. Therefore, repeated transport in isolation is an important stressor in pregnant goats and can affect the HPA axis and the SAM system of their offspring. Résumé -Effets physiologiques de transports répétés pendant la gestation chez la chèvre et le jeune chevreau. Alors que les animaux d'élevage rencontrent fréquemment des agents stressants pendant leur gestation, ce sujet a reçu peu d'attention. Nous avons étudié les effets de transports répé-tés sur certains paramètres physiologiques de chèvres gestantes et tenté de déterminer si l'exposition répétée à un stress prénatal entraîne des altérations de l'axe corticotrope et du système catécholami-nergique de leurs chevreaux. Vingt-six chèvres ont été réparties dans deux traitements pendant les 5 dernières semaines de gestation : 9 transports de 55 min en étant physiquement et visuellement isolées de leurs congénères (n = 13) ou absence de transport (n = 13). Le transport en isolement a induit une augmentation importante des concentrations plasmatiques en cortisol, glucose et acides gras non-estérifiés, ce qui confirme que c'est un agent stressant important pour la chèvre. De plus, les chè-vres ne se sont pas habituées au traitement. L...

Physiological and metabolic responses of gestating Brahman cows to repeated transportation12

“…Higher ambient temperatures are known to increase both the amount of BW loss and shrink of transported animals (Coffey et al, 2001). Whereas other studies observed increased NEFA concentrations following TRANS (Duvaux-Ponter et al, 2003;Earley et al, 2010), the NEFA concentrations in the current study remained relatively stable. This may be due to the longer duration of TRANS utilized by Earley et al (2010) and the isolation from conspecifics in the goats used by Duvaux-Ponter et al (2003).…”

“…In contrast, when pregnant goats were repeatedly transported they failed to habituate (Duvaux-Ponter et al, 2003). This may have been due to their isolation from conspecifics during transportation, as isolation is an additional stressor (Duvaux-Ponter et al, 2003). However, the current data demonstrate temperament inhibits the ability of cattle to habituate to a transportation stressor.…”

“…Over time, both groups of animals habituated to the stressor, as evidenced by their decreased cortisol responses (Roussel et al, 2006). In contrast, when pregnant goats were repeatedly transported they failed to habituate (Duvaux-Ponter et al, 2003). This may have been due to their isolation from conspecifics during transportation, as isolation is an additional stressor (Duvaux-Ponter et al, 2003).…”

Scientific Opinion Concerning the Welfare of Animals during Transport

“…Transport in isolation from other goats induced large increases in cortisol, glucose and non-esterified fatty acids (Duvaux-Ponter et al, 2003;Kannan et al, 2002). There was a greater elevation of cortisol concentrations when goats were not able to maintain visual contact with other animals and the longer they remained in isolation, the greater the emotional stress (Richardson, 2002).…”

“…Goats are very gregarious, prefer to stay close together, and individuals are rarely seen apart from the group (Ross and Berg, 1956). Transport in isolation from other goats induced large increases in cortisol, glucose and non-esterified fatty acids (Duvaux-Ponter et al, 2003;Kannan et al, 2002).…”