Hair cortisol levels were determined in 85 multiparous lactating Italian Friesian dairy cows. The animals were clinically healthy and had not undergone social group changes within the past 3 months. Hair cortisol data were stratified into 14 frequency classes. Data showed a strongly positive asymmetric distribution. In 50% of the animals, cortisol levels were below 3.29 pg/mg while in 33% hair cortisol levels were concentrated in the hair cortisol class 2-2.99 pg/mg. This range of values was suggested as the representative class of hair cortisol levels in healthy animals. Hair cortisol analysis could be a valid, interesting and useful tool for monitoring HPA activity in healthy dairy cows.
Individual hair cortisol as a tool for monitoring hpa activity in healthy dairy cows.
PERIC, Tanja;MONTILLO, Marta;COMIN, Antonella;ZUFFERLI, Valentina;PRANDI, Alberto
2012-01-01
Abstract
Hair cortisol levels were determined in 85 multiparous lactating Italian Friesian dairy cows. The animals were clinically healthy and had not undergone social group changes within the past 3 months. Hair cortisol data were stratified into 14 frequency classes. Data showed a strongly positive asymmetric distribution. In 50% of the animals, cortisol levels were below 3.29 pg/mg while in 33% hair cortisol levels were concentrated in the hair cortisol class 2-2.99 pg/mg. This range of values was suggested as the representative class of hair cortisol levels in healthy animals. Hair cortisol analysis could be a valid, interesting and useful tool for monitoring HPA activity in healthy dairy cows.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
