Relationship between different livestock managements and stress response in dairy ewes

The gradual diffusion of intensive and semi-intensive production systems, especially in dairy sheep breeds, has led to the growing concern of consumers about the life conditions of farmed animals. Space allowance and structures of sheep houses are described as the main potential sources of discom...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: V. Carcangiu, F. Arfuso, S. Luridiana, C. Giannetto, M. Rizzo, P. P. Bini, G. Piccione
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2018-01-01
Series:Archives Animal Breeding
Online Access:https://www.arch-anim-breed.net/61/37/2018/aab-61-37-2018.pdf
id doaj-e11e83b1186847fdace73126ef18289d
record_format Article
spelling doaj-e11e83b1186847fdace73126ef18289d2020-11-25T01:58:52ZengCopernicus PublicationsArchives Animal Breeding0003-94382363-98222018-01-0161374110.5194/aab-61-37-2018Relationship between different livestock managements and stress response in dairy ewesV. Carcangiu0F. Arfuso1S. Luridiana2C. Giannetto3M. Rizzo4P. P. Bini5G. Piccione6Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100, Sassari, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Universitario dell'Annunziata, 98168, Messina, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100, Sassari, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100, Sassari, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Universitario dell'Annunziata, 98168, Messina, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100, Sassari, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Universitario dell'Annunziata, 98168, Messina, ItalyThe gradual diffusion of intensive and semi-intensive production systems, especially in dairy sheep breeds, has led to the growing concern of consumers about the life conditions of farmed animals. Space allowance and structures of sheep houses are described as the main potential sources of discomfort for housed flocks, together with inappropriate milking procedures and human–animal interactions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the structure relative to milking room could represent a stressor in Sarda dairy ewes. Animals were divided into two groups according to their farm of origin. Group A (<i>n</i> = 40) was from a farm whose milking room was an old warehouse with a waiting area limited and located outdoors and at a different level with respect to the milking room. The passageway of the entrance in the milking room was narrow and perpendicular to the milking positioning so the animal must bend 90° to enter in the room. Group B (<i>n</i> = 40) was from a farm whose milking room was wide and modern with a large waiting area located at the same level. From all animals blood samples were collected at <i>T</i><sub>0</sub> (2 h before milking procedure at 06:00), at <i>T</i><sub>1</sub> (immediately after the animals entered the milking room, about 08:00) and at <i>T</i><sub>2</sub> (after milking procedure). In addition plasma cortisol and glucose values were evaluated. Statistical analysis showed significant effect of milking room (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.001) and of sampling time (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05) on cortisol and glucose levels. The results obtained in the present study suggest that, in addition to milking, the characteristics of the room where this procedure occurs represent stressful stimuli that could influence negatively the productivity and welfare of dairy ewes.https://www.arch-anim-breed.net/61/37/2018/aab-61-37-2018.pdf
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author V. Carcangiu
F. Arfuso
S. Luridiana
C. Giannetto
M. Rizzo
P. P. Bini
G. Piccione
spellingShingle V. Carcangiu
F. Arfuso
S. Luridiana
C. Giannetto
M. Rizzo
P. P. Bini
G. Piccione
Relationship between different livestock managements and stress response in dairy ewes
Archives Animal Breeding
author_facet V. Carcangiu
F. Arfuso
S. Luridiana
C. Giannetto
M. Rizzo
P. P. Bini
G. Piccione
author_sort V. Carcangiu
title Relationship between different livestock managements and stress response in dairy ewes
title_short Relationship between different livestock managements and stress response in dairy ewes
title_full Relationship between different livestock managements and stress response in dairy ewes
title_fullStr Relationship between different livestock managements and stress response in dairy ewes
title_full_unstemmed Relationship between different livestock managements and stress response in dairy ewes
title_sort relationship between different livestock managements and stress response in dairy ewes
publisher Copernicus Publications
series Archives Animal Breeding
issn 0003-9438
2363-9822
publishDate 2018-01-01
description The gradual diffusion of intensive and semi-intensive production systems, especially in dairy sheep breeds, has led to the growing concern of consumers about the life conditions of farmed animals. Space allowance and structures of sheep houses are described as the main potential sources of discomfort for housed flocks, together with inappropriate milking procedures and human–animal interactions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the structure relative to milking room could represent a stressor in Sarda dairy ewes. Animals were divided into two groups according to their farm of origin. Group A (<i>n</i> = 40) was from a farm whose milking room was an old warehouse with a waiting area limited and located outdoors and at a different level with respect to the milking room. The passageway of the entrance in the milking room was narrow and perpendicular to the milking positioning so the animal must bend 90° to enter in the room. Group B (<i>n</i> = 40) was from a farm whose milking room was wide and modern with a large waiting area located at the same level. From all animals blood samples were collected at <i>T</i><sub>0</sub> (2 h before milking procedure at 06:00), at <i>T</i><sub>1</sub> (immediately after the animals entered the milking room, about 08:00) and at <i>T</i><sub>2</sub> (after milking procedure). In addition plasma cortisol and glucose values were evaluated. Statistical analysis showed significant effect of milking room (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.001) and of sampling time (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05) on cortisol and glucose levels. The results obtained in the present study suggest that, in addition to milking, the characteristics of the room where this procedure occurs represent stressful stimuli that could influence negatively the productivity and welfare of dairy ewes.
url https://www.arch-anim-breed.net/61/37/2018/aab-61-37-2018.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT vcarcangiu relationshipbetweendifferentlivestockmanagementsandstressresponseindairyewes
AT farfuso relationshipbetweendifferentlivestockmanagementsandstressresponseindairyewes
AT sluridiana relationshipbetweendifferentlivestockmanagementsandstressresponseindairyewes
AT cgiannetto relationshipbetweendifferentlivestockmanagementsandstressresponseindairyewes
AT mrizzo relationshipbetweendifferentlivestockmanagementsandstressresponseindairyewes
AT ppbini relationshipbetweendifferentlivestockmanagementsandstressresponseindairyewes
AT gpiccione relationshipbetweendifferentlivestockmanagementsandstressresponseindairyewes
_version_ 1724967616863272960