Comparison of plasma and hair cortisol concentrations in hair sheep ewes and lambs in response to weaning with or without fence line contact

• Published in: Journal of animal science 2016-02, Vol.94, p.35-35
• Main Authors: Godfrey, R W, Ruggiero, J A, Lakos, S A, Lockwood, S A, Kattesh, H G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cortisol; Cortisone; Hair; Hormones; Line contact; Ovis aries; Plasma; Sheep; Weaning
• ISSN: 0021-8812; 1525-3163
• DOI: 10.2527/ssasas2015-071

An abstract of a study by Godfrey et al evaluating the impact of weaning on plasma and hair cortisol concentrations of St. Croix White hair sheep is presented. Plasma cortisol of ewes was not different (P > 0.10) between treatments but decreased between d 2 and 3 in fence line contact (FL) (P < 0.03) and no fence line contact (NFL) ewes (P < 0.04). On d 28 FL ewes had greater (P < 0.05) cortisol concentrations than NFL ewes. Ewe hair cortisol was not different between treatments or day (P > 0.10). Plasma cortisol of lambs was not different (P > 0.10) between treatments but increased between d 2 and 3 in FL lambs (P < 0.04) and d 1 and 3 in NFL lambs (P < 0.02). Lamb hair cortisol increased between d 1 and 28 in all lambs (P < 0.002). Hair cortisol was not correlated with plasma cortisol in ewes or lambs (P > 0.10). Ewe plasma cortisol concentration decreased as lamb plasma cortisol increased during the weaning process, regardless of proximity to the ewe, indicating that the lambs may be experiencing more stress at weaning than the ewes.