The Effects of Transport Stress on Certain Welfare Parameters and Behaviours in Red Karaman,Imroz, Sakız and Karakul Rams

Year 2012, Volume: 38 Issue: 1, 15 - 28, 01.11.2011

Bülent Ekiz , Elif Ergül Ekiz Hülya Yalçıntan , Ömür Koçak , Alper Yılmaz , Halil Güneş

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A total of thirty two rams from Red Karaman, Imroz, Sakız and Karakul breeds were used to investigate the influence of transport stress on certain hematological and biochemical stress indicators, and on individual, feeding, eliminative and abnormal behaviours during the 2 h resting period. Three blood samples were taken from each animal at home pen, at immediately after transport and after the two hours resting period. Breed had no significant influence on PCV and N:L ratio. However, Imroz rams had higher WBC count than Sakız and Karakul rams, and Red Karaman rams had higher Hb level than Karakul rams. Transportation stress usually caused an increase in hematological parameters. Plasma cortisol concentration increased after transport stress in rams from all breeds. While plasma cortisol concentration returned to initial level after the 2 h resting period in Imroz and Karakul rams, it did not decrease to its initial level in Red Karaman and Sakız rams. The effect of breed, as a main effect, on plasma CK, LDH and glucose levels was not significant. However, Imroz rams had higher plasma total protein concentration than that of Sakız rams. Breed × sampling time had significant influence on CK level. While the effect of sampling time on CK was significant for Red Karaman and Sakız rams, sampling time had no influence on CK for Imroz and Karakul breeds. Significant increase in CK level was observed immediately after transport in Sakız rams, and after the 2 h lairage period in Red Karaman rams. Percentages of lying, standing, idling and investigation behaviours were affected by breed of ram. While Imroz rams exhibited the highest lying behaviour, Red Karaman rams had highest mean for percentage of investigation behaviour. Red Karaman rams also exhibited highest frequencies of vocalisation and ‘butting other animals' behaviour. In conclusion, from animal welfare point of view, breed differences in stress responses should be considered in the planning of transportation and lairage procedures.

Key Words: Breed effect, transport stress, welfare, behaviour

 

 

ÖZET

 

MORKARAMAN, İMROZ, SAKIZ VE KARAGÜL KOÇLARDA TRANSPORT STRESİNİN
BAZI REFAH PARAMETRELERİ VE DAVRANIŞLAR ÜZERİNE ETKİSİ

 

Transport stresinin hematolojik ve biyokimyasal stres göstergeleri ile taşıma sonrası iki saatlik dinlenme süresince bireysel, beslenme, boşaltım ve anormal davranışlar üzerine etkisinin incelendiği çalışmada, Morkaraman, İmroz, Sakız ve Karagül ırklarından toplam otuz iki koç kullanılmıştır. Her hayvandan bulunduğu bölmede, transporttan hemen sonra ve iki saatlik dinlenme periyodu sonrası olmak üzere toplam üç kez kan alınmıştır. PVC ve N:L oranı üzerine ırkın etkisi önemsiz bulunmuştur. Bununla beraber, WBC sayısı bakımından İmroz koçların, Sakız ve Karagül koçlardan daha yüksek değerlere sahip olduğu; Morkaraman koçların ise Hb düzeyinin Karagül koçlardan daha yüksek olduğu gözlenmiştir. Transport stresi genellikle hematolojik parametrelerin artmasına neden olmuştur. Çalışmada, transport sonrası tüm koçlarda plazma kortizol konsantrasyonunda artma olmuştur. İki saatlik dinlenme periyodunun ardından plazma kortizol seviyesi İmroz ve Karagül koçlarda transport öncesi düzeyine geri dönerken, Morkaraman ve Sakız koçların plazma kortizol düzeylerinde düşme gerçekleşmemiştir. Plazma CK, LDH ve glikoz seviyesi üzerine ırkın etkisi önemsiz bulunmuştur. Bununla beraber İmroz koçların plazma total protein konsantrasyonunun Sakız koçlardan daha yüksek olduğu gözlenmiştir. Irk × örnek alma zamanının CK seviyesi üzerine etkisi önemli bulunmuştur. Örnek alma zamanının CK seviyesi üzerine etkisi Morkaraman ve Sakız koçlarda önemli, İmroz ve Karagül koçlarda ise önemsiz bulunmuştur. Sakız koçlarda transporttan hemen sonra, Morkaraman koçlarda ise iki saatlik dinlenme periyodunun ardından CK seviyesinde önemli bir artış olduğu gözlenmiştir. Yatma, ayakta durma ve araştırma davranışları oranları üzerine ırkın etkisi önemsiz bulunmuştur. Yatma davranışını en sık İmroz koçlar sergilerken, araştırma davranışını en sık Morkaraman koçlar sergilemişlerdir. Ayrıca Morkaraman koçlarda vokalizasyon ve diğer hayvanlara toslama davranışının daha fazla olduğu gözlenmiştir. Sonuç olarak, hayvan refahı bakış açısıyla, transport ve kesim öncesi dinlendirme prosedürlerinin planlanmasında farklı ırkların stres yanıtlarının da farklı olduğu göz önünde bulundurulmalıdır.

Anahtar Kelimeler: Irk etkisi, transport stresi, refah, davranış

Keywords

Irk etkisi, transport stresi, refah, davranış

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