Comparing hair cortisol concentrations from various body sites and serum cortisol in Holstein lactating cows and heifers during thermal comfort zone
Measuring cortisol in hair has recently been established as a reliable physiological index to evaluate chronic stress conditions in humans and many animal species. The aim of this study was to determine serum cortisol and the concentrations of hair cortisol from various body sites of lactating Holstein cows and heifers during thermal comfort zone. Forty-seven […]
Salivary cortisol in captive dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)- a non-invasive technique
Dolphins in captivity have to cope with severe changes in their environment. So far, there are few studies on the welfare of these animals under these conditions. The aim of the present study was to find if cortisol was present in the saliva of dolphins and to explore the possibility of performing serial, non-invasive cortisol […]
Assessment of Flooring Renovations on African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) Behavior and Glucocorticoid Response
Captive African (Loxodonta africana) and Asian (Elephas maximus) elephants can experience foot pathologies and arthritis. As a preventative measure against these pathologies and to alleviate the potential discomfort due to concrete substrates, some zoological institutions have renovated elephant housing to increase the amount of natural or shock-absorbent substrates. The objective of this study was to […]
Positive Reinforcement Training for Blood Collection in Grizzly Bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) Results in Undetectable Elevations in Serum Cortisol Levels: A Preliminary Investigation
Training nonhuman animals in captivity for participation in routine husbandry procedures is believed to produce a lower stress environment compared with undergoing a general anesthetic event for the same procedure. This hypothesis rests largely on anecdotal evidence that the captive subjects appear more relaxed with the trained event. Blood markers of physiological stress responses were […]