The Effects of Stocking Density and Distances on Electroencephalographic Changes and Cortisol as Welfare Indicators in Brahman Crossbred Cattle

Ahmed A. Abubakar, Idrus Zulkifli, Yong M. Goh, Ubedullah Kaka, Azad B. Sabow, Elmutaz A. Awad, Jurhamid C. Imlan, Azalea H. Othman, Razlina Raghazli, Helen Mitin, Awis Q. Sazili
2021 Animals  
The objective of the current study was to investigate the effects of stocking density and distances on electroencephalographic changes and cortisol as welfare indicators in Brahman crossbred cattle. Sixty Brahman crossbred heifers were subjected to road transport from a cattle feedlot farm located in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang to a commercial ruminant abattoir in Shah Alam, Selangor. Animals were assigned to long (850 km) and short (450 km) distances and high (600 sqm), medium
more » ... sqm), and low (200 sqm) stocking densities. Results revealed that the intensity of cortisol responses and EEG parameters (such as alpha <0.001, beta < 0.001, delta < 0.001, theta < 0.001, MF < 0.001 and Ptot < 0.001) increased significantly. Long-distance transport also resulted in significantly more intense (<0.001) responses to nociception during slaughter than animals that had been transported over a shorter distance, as indicated by EEG and cortisol.
doi:10.3390/ani11102895 pmid:34679916 pmcid:PMC8532656 fatcat:jvkqr43i3jaifofjxqvz2zk4ly