The Effects of Sea and Road Transport on Physiological and Electroencephalographic Responses in Brahman Crossbred Heifers
Idrus Zulkifli,
Ahmed A. Abubakar,
Awis Q. Sazili,
Yong M. Goh,
Jurhamid C. Imlan,
Ubedullah Kaka,
Azad B. Sabow,
Elmutaz A. Awad,
Azalea H. Othman,
Razlina Raghazali,
Clive J.C. Phillips,
Hassan N. Quaza Nizamuddin,
Helen Mitin
Affiliations
Idrus Zulkifli
Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
Ahmed A. Abubakar
Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
Awis Q. Sazili
Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
Yong M. Goh
Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
Jurhamid C. Imlan
Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
Ubedullah Kaka
Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
Azad B. Sabow
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
Elmutaz A. Awad
Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
Azalea H. Othman
Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
Razlina Raghazali
Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
Clive J.C. Phillips
Building 8143, Centre of Animal Welfare and Ethics (CAWE), School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland 4343, Australia
Hassan N. Quaza Nizamuddin
Department of Veterinary Services, Wisma Tani, Blok Podium, Lot 4G1, No. 28, Persiaran Perdana, Presint 4, Federal Government Administrative Centre, Putrajaya 62630, Malaysia
Helen Mitin
Department of Veterinary Services, Wisma Tani, Blok Podium, Lot 4G1, No. 28, Persiaran Perdana, Presint 4, Federal Government Administrative Centre, Putrajaya 62630, Malaysia
The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effects of sea and road transport on the acute phase proteins (APP), cortisol, metabolic, haematological and electroencephalographic (EEG) responses of Brahman crossbred heifers. Sixty Brahman crossbred heifers were subjected to 14 d of transportation by sea from Darwin Port, Australia, to Pasir Gudang Port, Johor, Malaysia, and 330 km of road transportation. Results revealed that the intensity of response for most blood biochemical parameters increased significantly and were different from the baseline values taken while the animals were in Darwin Port, Australia. Haematological results obtained also revealed a significant increase and were different from the baseline values. Cortisol and APP (bovine alpha 1-acid glycoprotein and serum amyloid-A) values increased significantly and were different from the baseline values. Haematological parameters, APP, cortisol and EEG data (alpha, beta, delta and theta waves, total power and median frequency) decreased significantly following 4 and 7 days post-transport, suggesting a recovery of the animals from the stressfulness of transport. In conclusion, the current results revealed that the concentrations of biochemical and haematological parameters, cortisol, APP and EEG data were affected by both sea and road transport as evidenced by the significant changes recorded from the parameters above.
