dc.contributor.author |
O’Neill, H.A.
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Einkamerer, O.B.
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Elago, B.T.
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Ganswindt, Andre
|
|
dc.date.accessioned |
2021-08-05T05:47:43Z |
|
dc.date.available |
2021-08-05T05:47:43Z |
|
dc.date.issued |
2020 |
|
dc.description.abstract |
The objective of this study was to determine whether various sources of roughage in nutritionally
balanced feedlot diets would evoke a stress response in sheep. A nutritional stress response test was
performed on 20 ewes, randomly divided into four treatment groups with 5 ewes per group. Ewes were kept
individually in metabolic crates for thirty days. Rations were balanced nutritionally, and various sources of
roughage were included; T1: alfalfa hay, T2: maize stover, T3: soya hulls; and T4: Eragrostis tef. Faeces was
removed manually from the caudal rectum of each ewe at 05h00 and 19h00. Samples were frozen at -20°C
until analyses. A total of 520 faecal samples were analysed to determine the concentrations of faecal
glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCM) by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). These concentrations were expressed as
mass/g dry weight (ng/g DW). Baseline values were determined, and those greater than the mean plus 2
standard deviations were removed. Baseline values were compared between the groups with one-way
ANOVA analysis. The average concentrations of fGCM were 178.77 ± 21.7 in the morning and 183.2 ± 14.4
in the evening. Sheep fed T4 had significantly higher fGCM concentrations in both morning (302.0 ± 86.1
ng/g DW) and evening (237.0 ± 48.1 ng/g DW) compared with the other treatment groups. Thus, fGCM
concentrations in sheep were related to the source of roughage, and Eragrostis tef caused a stress
response. |
en_ZA |
dc.description.department |
Mammal Research Institute |
en_ZA |
dc.description.department |
Zoology and Entomology |
en_ZA |
dc.description.librarian |
pm2021 |
en_ZA |
dc.description.uri |
https://www.sasas.co.za/resources/sa-journal-animal-science |
en_ZA |
dc.identifier.citation |
O’Neill, H.A., Einkamerer, O.B., Elago, B.T. & Ganswindt, A. 2020, 'Concentrations of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites in South African Mutton Merino sheep fed various sources of roughage', South African Journal of Animal Science, vol. 50, no. 4, pp. 501-506. |
en_ZA |
dc.identifier.issn |
0375-1589 (print) |
|
dc.identifier.issn |
2221-4062 (online) |
|
dc.identifier.other |
10.4314/sajas.v50i4.2 |
|
dc.identifier.uri |
http://hdl.handle.net/2263/81156 |
|
dc.language.iso |
en |
en_ZA |
dc.publisher |
South African Journal of Animal Sciences |
en_ZA |
dc.rights |
Copyright resides with the authors in terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 South African License. |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Animal welfare |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Cortisol |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Dietary fibre |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Selective grazer |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Roughage |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Feedlot diets |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Stress response |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Sheep |
en_ZA |
dc.title |
Concentrations of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites in South African mutton merino sheep fed various sources of roughage |
en_ZA |
dc.type |
Article |
en_ZA |