The Effects of Sea and Road Transport on Physiological and Electroencephalographic Responses in Brahman Crossbred Heifers

SIMPLE SUMMARY: This study investigated the effect of sea and road transport on the physiological response of cattle. The animals were transported by sea (14 d) from Darwin Port, Australia, to Pasir Gudang Port, Johor, Malaysia. Thereafter, the animals were road transported (330 km) from Pasir Gudang Port to Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). From the results of the various blood stress indicators and brain activity of the animals, both sea and road journeys were found to be stressful to the animals. However, the animals recovered from the stressful transport journeys following 4 and 7 days post-transport. ABSTRACT: 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.