Vanil-mandelic acid as indicator of acute stress in cows at slaughter

The creatinine corrected urinary concentrations of vanil-mandelic acid (VMA ) in Iii Holstein x Zebu and Holstein cows were measured before and after s laughter with either captive bolt gun (CBG) or severing the spinal cord (SS C). Basal urinary concentrations of VMA were higher in Holstein cows than i n F-1 Holstein x Zebu cows (6.99 and 1.69 mg VMA/g creatinine, respectively ). Slaughtering with SSC induced a statistically significant greater increm ent in VMA concentrations than the observed corresponding value with CBG. H owever, the percent change from basal to post-mortem concentrations of VMA was greater in Holstein x Zebu cows.