In the normal parturition of cows, the serum cortisol (FK) level was 13.2±6.4 ng/ml (unit omitted hereafter) in the opening (1) stage, 22.9±8.1 in the delivery (2) stage, and 23.2±5.7 in the postpartum (3) stage (especially within 3 hours after delivery). It was significantly higher in stages 2 and 3 than in stage 1 (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in it between stages 2 and 3.
In the abnormal parturition of cows, the serum FK level was 48.2±24.2, 50.2±11.5, and 56.8±14.4 in stages 1, 2, and 3, respectively. There was no significant difference in it between any two stages. These cows showed a significantly higher serum FK level in every stage than those normal in parturition.
The serum FK level of calves immediately after birth was significantly higher than that of the cows normal in parturition in every stage (p<0.01), and than that of those abnormal in parturition in stages 2 and 3 (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in serum FK level between calves normally born and those abnormally born from dairy cows.
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