EFFECT OF TRANSPORTATION ON PLASMA-CORTISOL AND PACKED CELL-VOLUME INDIFFERENT GENOTYPES OF SHEEP

Differences in physiological responses to transportation for 45-90 min were investigated using 94 sheep of eight genotypes representing upla nd and lowland types. Fourteen journeys were made and blood samples we re taken before and after each journey to compare pre-and post-transpo rtation plasma cortisol concentration and packed cell volume (haematoc rit; PCV). Overall, during the journeys cortisol concentration increas ed significantly (from 57.3 to 71.3 mmol/l) and PCV declined significa ntly (from 35.1 to 33.9%) but there was considerable individual variat ion. Plasma cortisol concentration in sheep of predominantly upland ge notype showed a greater response than in sheep of predominantly lowlan d genotype. Genotypes compared in this way were Suffolk x blackfaced h ill breed (50% upland genotype) with threequarter-bred Rouge de l'Oues t (25% upland genotype), and Derbyshire Gritstone (100% upland genotyp e) with Suffolk x Rouge de l'Ouest (100% lowland genotype) with furthe r information from Charollais, Suffolk, Jacob x Texel and Manx Loghtan . (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. AU rights reserved.