Acute Phase Protein Response during Road Transportation and Lairage in Slaughterhouse in Feedlot Beef Cattle

Abstract

The effects of transport for 5 hr by road and lairage for 48 hr on acute phase protein in Limousine feedlot beef cattle (n=10, 14–16 months old, body weight 620 ± 70 kg.) were examined. Blood was collected at before, immediately, 12, 24, 48 hr after the initiation of transportation. Serum was collected for the assay of haptoglobin (Hp) and serum amyloid A (SAA), plasma for the assay of fibrinogen (Fb), and white blood cell count (WBC) were determined in whole blood at each time point. A significant effect of experimental conditions on Hp, SAA and WBC was observed. In particular, this effect was found 24 hr after the transport for HP and SAA, and after 48 hr for WBC. The application of linear regression model showed a high correlation between WBC and Hp, and SAA. Lairage in slaughterhouse represent a stressful condition that can compromise the animal welfare and the meat quality. Monitoring of SAA with the highest sensitivity and specificity, could be a useful marker of welfare condition in this period.