We use cookies on our website. Some are necessary for the operation of the website. You can also allow cookies for statistical purposes. You can adjust the data protection settings or agree to all cookies directly.
Data Protection Declaration
Imprint
Collaborative project: Development and validation of a method for the determination of glucocorticoids in hair and feathers as a biological indicator for retrospective non-invasive monitoring of animal welfare in different livestock species. Subproject 1 (RETROCORT)
Project
Project code: 2817901415
Contract period: 01.10.2016
- 31.12.2020
Budget: 192,056 Euro
Purpose of research: Inventory & Assessment
"In a joint project of the FBN Dummerstorf and the FLI Celle, the applicability of cortisol concentrations in hair samples from cattle and pigs and of corticosterone concentrations in feathers from chickens and turkeys as an indicator of stress was investigated. Protocols for the respective detection methods were developed. Subsequent studies identified various stress-unrelated factors influencing glucocorticoid concentrations in hair and feathers, such as the age of the animals, the body region, and the colour and segment of the sample. It could be shown that contamination of hairs or feathers with urine, faeces or saliva, causes uptake of external glucocorticoids. In addition, experimental stress models prove that long-term stress increases glucocorticoid concentrations in hair and feathers. Thus, it has been shown that the analysis of glucocorticoids in hair and feathers can be an appropriate method for detecting long-term stress and therefore an important component in the assessment of animal welfare, provided that the non-stress influencing factors are standardized and contamination effects are avoided."
Section overview
Subjects
- Animal Husbandry
- Animal health
- Biotechnology
