BIOCHEMICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES IN DAIRY COWS AFTER TRANSRECTAL EXAMINATION

Abstract

The evaluation of physiological stress indicators provides valuable insights into the stress responses of dairy cows subjected to routine handling procedures such as transrectal examination. This study investigated changes in cortisol levels, heart rate, and rectal temperature in dairy cows with different behavioral profiles following transrectal examination. All measured indicators showed significant increases after the procedure, except the temperature, indicating a clear physiological stress response. The average cortisol level is 2.30±0.26 U/ml, and after the rectal examination it is 2.45±0.34 U/ml. The level of white blood cells increases by 0.7%, the levels of ALAT increase by 7.33* U/ml, the levels of ASAT by 15.67* U/ml, the levels of glucose increase by 0.63 U/ml. From the physical indicators – the systole increases by 12.5*mm/Hg, the diastole – 3.33*mm/Hg, the pulse increases by an average of 10.84 beats/min. The average temperature before the rectal examination is 37.7°C, after the rectal examination it drops to 36.93°C. The results can contribute to refining handling practices to improve animal welfare.