The Effects of Vehicle Type, Transport Duration and Pre-Transport Feeding on the Welfare of Sheep Transported in Low Temperatures.

ABSTRACT: Low temperatures can provide a risk to the welfare of sheep during transport because of increased ventilation chilling the sheep, and we examined the importance of three factors-covering the vehicle, duration of transport, and feeding prior to transport-on the welfare of sixty transported 4-month-old Dorper × Mongolian female sheep in a cold climate. Sheep in a covered vehicle had greater increases in head and ear temperatures than those in an open vehicle. Sheep transported for 2 h increased their leg temperatures, whereas those transported for 1 h had reduced leg temperatures. Increases in non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the blood samples during the long transport suggested that sheep had more muscular and metabolic activity, compromising their well-b

SUBMITTER: Carnovale F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8227339 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature