Physiological responses of sheep during long road journeys involving ferrycrossings

With a view to comparing previous findings from experimental journeys, with observations during commercial transport of sheep, hormonal and other phys iological data were gathered during three long journeys (866 to 1178 km), a ll of which involved a sea crossing (1 h 45 min to 8 h 55 min). One was a c ommercial journey from the United Kingdom to continental Europe and the oth er two, which were simulated commercial journeys under the control of the i nvestigators, were from it Scottish island to Cambridge. In all journeys th ere was a break in lairage (duration 13 to 24 h). The stocking rate on the commercial journey (0.17 m(2) per sheep for shorn sheep of 35 to 37 kg body weight) was less generous than previously used in experimental journeys. I n all journeys there was an apparent increase in plasma concentration of co rtisol soon after lending and commencement of travel, with subsequent decli ne. Transient increases in beta-endorphin and prolactin were also observed but changes in creatine kinase were not obvious. Haematocrit showed slight evidence of a decline during the journeys. These findings are generally sim ilar to those obtained in experimental journeys and there teas no evidence of a hormonal response to sea conditions during the ferry crossings. When t ransport was resumed after a period of rest with food and water off the veh icle, the physiological responses were less marked than they had been durin g the first stage of the journey. Under the circumstances observed, long jo urneys of the type commonly practised commercially probably do not of thems elves pose a major welfare challenge.