Stress in farm animals

Question 1

What is stress?

Answer 1

• A response to adverse stimuli
• Non-specific response of the body to any demand
  (Rostagno, 2009)

Question 2

What is a stressor?

Answer 2

An Agent that produces stress at any time (Rosagno, 2009)

Question 3

Name 3 types of stressors

Answer 3

• Physical
• Psychological
• Cardiovascular

Question 4

Give an example of a psychological stressor?

Answer 4

Fear, anxiety, exposure to novelty

Question 5

Give an example of a physical stressor

Answer 5

A psychological component e.g. pain, shock, immobilisation

Question 6

Give an example of a cardiovascular stressor

Answer 6

Exercise, heat exposure

Question 7

What is the difference between acute and chronic stress?

Answer 7

Acute stress responses are adaptive and chronic stress responses are maladaptive

Question 8

Give 3 responses to chronic stress?

Answer 8

• Growth suprpression (stunted growth)
• Immunosuppression (partial or imcomplete growth of the immune system
• Reproductive dysfunction

Question 9

Why would you reduce stress?

Answer 9

• Health
• Fitness
• Ethics

Question 10

Stress and weight gain is not ideal for beef cattle. Why?

Answer 10

Weight loss due to stress in not regained (Campbell et el, 2001)

Question 11

Why do beef farmers not like heat stress?

Answer 11

Extreme weather impacts survival (Mader, 2012)

Question 12

Farmers prefer a good temperamnt in beef cattle. why?

Answer 12

Calmer cattle = better meat

Question 13

Farmers prefer a good temperament in beef cattle. why?

Answer 13

Calmer cattle = better meat

King et el, 2006

Question 14

What does socail stress and immunity cause?

Answer 14

Immunosupression

Question 15

How can the environment reduce stress in production animals?

Answer 15

• Lower stress systems
• Reduce group size
• Choice - in or out