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Investigations of cortisol with and without ACTH challenge in different body secretions and blood of dairy cows
Project
Project code: FLI-ITT-08-PZ 01-2013
Contract period: 01.04.2013
- 30.04.2015
Purpose of research: Applied research
In this project the measurement of cortisol concentration in different body secretions and the blood of dairy cows is validated. In both untreated dairy cows and after an ACTH challenge cortisol concentrations are analyzed in milk, feaces, urine, saliva and blood. Samples are taken in short intervals enabling the analysis of temporal relationships of cortisol titres between the different media. After extraction cortisol concentrations are analyzed using ELISA.
As a result of this project, it can be summarized that the ACTH challenge test is suitable for triggering further cortisol release in animals already stressed. The animals were tethered during this project for a period of 14 days, which is considered a stressor. The curve of cortisol concentration during the ACTH challenge could be determined in the body fluids faeces, saliva and blood. Thus, the ELISA kit turned out to be suitable for this approach. In the urine and in the milk, however, no comprehensible or circadian cortisol course could be found. Presumably, the problem lies in the fact that the milk and urine samples had to be acidified for preservation, but the antibodies of the ELISA work in a neutral range. It was not possible to adjust the pH before examining the samples. For the future, another method of detection must be established for the analysis of milk and urine samples for their cortisol content.
Section overview
Subjects
- Animal health
- Biotechnology
Framework programme
Funding programme
Excutive institution
FLI - Institute for Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry (FLI - ITT)
