Impact of Stress on Health and Final Weight in Fattening Lambs
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...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/8/1274 |
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| author | Teresa Navarro José María González Juan José Ramos María Carmen Marca Lucia Figliola Marta Ruiz de Arcaute Marta Borobia Aurora Ortín |
| author_facet | Teresa Navarro José María González Juan José Ramos María Carmen Marca Lucia Figliola Marta Ruiz de Arcaute Marta Borobia Aurora Ortín |
| author_sort | Teresa Navarro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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%, <i>p</i> > 0.05) and ORC lesions (45.5% vs. 10.7%, <i>p</i> < 0.01), and their average final weight was lower (24.36 kg vs. 27.40 kg, <i>p</i> = 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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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:13:30Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-dfab4393ec764b6e9c53a2338039ec4f2023-11-20T07:58:03ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152020-07-01108127410.3390/ani10081274Impact of Stress on Health and Final Weight in Fattening LambsTeresa Navarro0José María González1Juan José Ramos2María Carmen Marca3Lucia Figliola4Marta Ruiz de Arcaute5Marta Borobia6Aurora Ortín7Departamento de Patología Animal, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Facultad de Veterinaria, C/Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, SpainDepartamento de Patología Animal, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Facultad de Veterinaria, C/Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, SpainDepartamento de Patología Animal, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Facultad de Veterinaria, C/Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, SpainDepartamento de Patología Animal, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Facultad de Veterinaria, C/Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, SpainDepartamento de Patología Animal, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Facultad de Veterinaria, C/Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, SpainDepartamento de Patología Animal, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Facultad de Veterinaria, C/Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, SpainDepartamento de Patología Animal, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Facultad de Veterinaria, C/Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, SpainDepartamento de Patología Animal, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Facultad de Veterinaria, C/Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, SpainIn 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%, <i>p</i> > 0.05) and ORC lesions (45.5% vs. 10.7%, <i>p</i> < 0.01), and their average final weight was lower (24.36 kg vs. 27.40 kg, <i>p</i> = 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/8/1274fattening lambsfeedlotsstresshealth |
| spellingShingle | Teresa Navarro José María González Juan José Ramos María Carmen Marca Lucia Figliola Marta Ruiz de Arcaute Marta Borobia Aurora Ortín Impact of Stress on Health and Final Weight in Fattening Lambs Animals fattening lambs feedlots stress health |
| title | Impact of Stress on Health and Final Weight in Fattening Lambs |
| title_full | Impact of Stress on Health and Final Weight in Fattening Lambs |
| title_fullStr | Impact of Stress on Health and Final Weight in Fattening Lambs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of Stress on Health and Final Weight in Fattening Lambs |
| title_short | Impact of Stress on Health and Final Weight in Fattening Lambs |
| title_sort | impact of stress on health and final weight in fattening lambs |
| topic | fattening lambs feedlots stress health |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/8/1274 |
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