Transportation of young beef bulls alters circulating physiological parameters that may be effective biomarkers of stress.

Transportation causes stress in cattle that may alter numerous physiological variables with a negative impact on production and health. The objectives of the current study were to investigate the physiological effects of truck transportation and to characterize a pattern of phenotypes in the circulation that may aid in the early identification of stress-susceptible animals that often succumb to severe respiratory disease. Thirty-six young beef bulls (Aberdeen Angus, n = 12; Friesian, n = 12; and Belgian Blue x Friesian, n = 12) were subjected to a 9-h truck transportation by road. Blood (10 mL) was collected at -24, 0, 4.5, 9.75, 14.25, 24, and 48 h relative to the initiation of transportation (0 h). Plasma was collected for the assay of various metabolic, inflammatory, and steroid variables, and total leukocyte counts were determined in whole blood at each time point. Body weight and rectal temperature were recorded at -24, 9.75, and 48 h. Transportation decreased measures of protein metabolism in the plasma, including albumin (P = 0.002), globulin (P < 0.001), urea (P = 0.006), and total protein (P < 0.001), and increased creatine kinase (P < 0.001). The energy substrate beta-hydroxybutyrate was not changed (P = 0.27). Acute phase proteins haptoglobin and fibrinogen were both decreased (P < 0.001), whereas total leukocyte counts were elevated (P = 0.002). Circulating steroid concentrations were altered, because a classical acute increase in plasma cortisol was observed with the onset of transit (P < 0.001), in association with a decrease in dehydroepiandrosterone (P = 0.07), resulting in a profound increase in cortisol:dehydroepiandrosterone ratio (P < 0.001). Plasma testosterone was decreased, whereas plasma progesterone was increased (P < 0.001) in association with the increase in cortisol (P < 0.001). There was also an effect of breed for all variables except plasma urea, creatine kinase, and testosterone, perhaps indicating that a genetic component contributed to the physiological response to transportation stress, although without any clear trend. Taken together, this profile of physiological variables in the circulation of transportation-stressed bulls may aid in the future detection of disease-susceptible cattle after transportation. Further research to validate these potential biomarkers is necessary.

Transportation stress in young bulls alters expression of neutrophil genes important for the regulation of apoptosis, tissue remodeling, margination, and anti-bacterial function.

The transportation of beef cattle results in a stress response that is associated with increased susceptibility and severity of respiratory diseases, presumably due to an alteration in immune function. Neutrophils are phagocytic immune cells important in lung defense and are also targets of the stress response. The objective of this study was to determine if a 9h transportation of young bulls by road induced changes in the expression of candidate genes known to be important in neutrophil-mediated defense and inflammation in the lung. These neutrophil genes encompassed functions of apoptosis (A1 and Fas), tissue remodeling (MMP-9), vascular margination (L-selectin), bacterial killing (BPI), and wound healing (betaglycan), as well as responsiveness of the cells to stress-induced increases in glucocorticoid hormones (GRalpha). To explore gene expression changes, blood was collected, plasma harvested, and neutrophils isolated from six Belgian Blue x Friesian bulls (231+/-7.0 kg in weight; 282+/-4 days of age) at -24, 0, 4.5, 9.75, 14.25, 24, and 48h relative to commencement of a 9h road transportation by truck. Plasma cortisol concentrations were elevated at 4.5 and 9.75h, peaking at 50.64+/-4.46 ng/mL (P<0.0001) and confirming that the animals experienced stress. Blood neutrophil count was elevated between 4.5 and 14.25h (P<0.0001), reaching a peak that was over 3-fold higher than the -24h concentration. Neutrophil Fas gene expression was acutely down-regulated (P=0.02) by transportation stress, while expressions of MMP-9, l-selectin, and BPI were profoundly up-regulated (P=0.003, 0.002, and <0.001 respectively). However, no changes in neutrophil expressions of betaglycan, GRalpha, and A1 were detected. It is concluded that a 9h transportation of young bulls induces a gene expression signature in blood neutrophils that increases their circulating numbers and may enhance their pro-inflammatory and anti-bacterial potential.