Stress responses induced by loading density during road transport in the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius)

In the farm animals, pre-slaughter period, from the handling on the farm or at the market, to bleeding, is a stressful step, during which these animals are subjected to various stressors capable of influencing their well-being, and consequently to alter the quality of their meat. The intensity of stress depends on several external factors, such as distance and conditions of transport, climate change, the nature of the journey and the vehicle used, etc... Our research aims to study the effect of loading density on certain hematological, biochemical and hematological parameters in the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius). Sixteen male animals belonging to the municipal slaughterhouse of Casablanca (west of Morocco) were divided into two groups of 8 camels to study the effect of 2 loading densities: 2-3.6 m2 per animal (Group I) and 1.44-1.80m2 per animal (Group II). Hematocrit (Htc), Neutrophile:Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Hemolysis (H%) and biochemical parameters [glucose (Glu), cholesterol (CT), triglyceride (TG), total protein (TP), urea, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (Pi) and magnesium (Mg)] were analyzed in our laboratory at the Ben M'Sik Faculty of Sciences in Casablanca, Morocco, while the hormones [cortisol (COR), triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4)] were analyzed by radioimmunology at the National Center of Energy, Sciences and Nuclear Techniques of Maâmoura (located 35 Km from Rabat). In Groups I and II, H%, NLR and plasma levels of Glu, COR, T3 and T4 showed a significant increase (P<0.05) at the end of transport just after unloading by comparison to those measured before loading and transport. All these parameters were significantly (P<0.05) higher in Group II than those observed in Group I. However, in both groups, Hct, TP, urea, creatinine, ASAT, ALAT, CT, TG, Ca, Pi and Mg measured before and after transport, showed no significant variations, and were not influenced by the loading density. An increase of the loading density (1camel/1.44-1.80m2) during road transport is considered as a stressful factor that could alter the welfare of the dromedary camel.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Farh, Mohamed, Lemrhamed, Abdelilah, Riad, Fouad, El Abbadi, Najia, Elhassane, Tahri, Faye, Bernard, El Khasmi, Mohammed
Format:	conference_item biblioteca
Language:	eng
Published:	Selçuk Belediyesi Selçuk Efes Kent Belleği Yayınları
Online Access:	http://agritrop.cirad.fr/594885/ http://agritrop.cirad.fr/594885/1/ID594885.pdf
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