Investigating the impact of preslaughter handling intensity on goats: a study on behavior, physiology, blood enzymes, and hormonal responses

Abdullah N Al-Owaimer; Gamaleldin M Suliman; Mohsen M Alobre; Ayman A Swelum; Mohammed A Al-Badwi; Hani Ba-Awadh; Awis Qurni Sazili; Pavan Kumar; Ubedullah Kaka

doi:10.3389/fvets.2024.1381806

Investigating the impact of preslaughter handling intensity on goats: a study on behavior, physiology, blood enzymes, and hormonal responses

Front Vet Sci. 2024 May 2:11:1381806. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1381806. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Abdullah N Al-Owaimer¹, Gamaleldin M Suliman¹, Mohsen M Alobre¹, Ayman A Swelum¹, Mohammed A Al-Badwi¹, Hani Ba-Awadh¹, Awis Qurni Sazili², Pavan Kumar³, Ubedullah Kaka^{2

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Animal Production, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
² Halal Products Research Institute, Putra Infoport, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
³ Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
⁴ Department of Companion Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

Abstract

Introduction: The present study evaluated the effect of preslaughter stress intensities on the behavioral, physiological, blood biochemicals, and hormonal responses in goats.

Methods: Twenty-seven intact male goats (Ardi breed, 10 months of age, 27 kg liveweight) were divided into three treatment groups viz., the control (C) group, ear pulling (EP) group, and leg pulling (LP) group. Various behavioral, physiological, blood biochemical and hormonal responses were recorded before and after handling.

Results and discussion: The EP and LP goats had a higher frequency and intensity of vocalization as compared to control goats. The preslaughter handling stress intensities had a significant effect on the before and after handling values of heart rate, respiration rate, rectal temperature, and ear temperature. Further, among groups, the glucose value increased significantly upon preslaughter handling as compared to the baseline value. The LP goats had significantly higher after-handling value for lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as compared to the before-handling value. The catecholamines (adrenaline and noradrenaline) and β-endorphin concentrations increased significantly upon preslaughter handling. The higher physiological, behavioral, blood biochemical, and hormonal response indicated higher preslaughter stress in EP and LP goats. Both levels of intensity revealed unfavorable responses in goats that may adversely affect animal welfare and meat quality. Thus, to ensure minimal adverse effects on behavior, physiology, blood enzymes, and hormonal responses, it is recommended to follow animal welfare principles when implementing preslaughter handling practices.

Keywords: Ardi goat; animal welfare; catecholamines; preslaughter handling; stress.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. The authors extend their appreciation to the Agency for Research and Innovation in the Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia for funding this research through the project No. (IFKSUDR-F139).