PLANT BIOLOGY
ANIMAL BIOLOGY
SUBSCRIPTION
E-SUBSCRIPTION
 
MAP
MAIN PAGE

 

 

 

 

Frolov A.N., Zavyalov O.A., Sleptsov I.I. Association assessment of hair cortisol levels with productive performance and meat qualities in Hereford bulls. Sel'skokhozyaistvennaya Biologiya [Agricultural Biology], 2025,Vol. 60, № 2, p. 319-330.
(how to cite this article)

doi: 10.15389/agrobiology.2025.2.319eng

UDC: 636.2:636.082:577.17

Acknowledgements:
Supported financially from the Russian Science Foundation, project № 24-16-00093

 

ASSOCIATION ASSESSMENT OF HAIR CORTISOL LEVELS WITH PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE AND MEAT QUALITIES IN HEREFORD BULLS

A.N. Frolov✉, O.A. Zavyalov, I.I. Sleptsov

Federal Research Centre of Biological Systems and Agrotechnologies RAS, 29, ul. 9 Yanvarya, Orenburg, 460000, e-mail forleh@mail.ru (✉ corresponding author), oleg-zavyalov83@mail.ru, saas2005@mail.ru

ORCID:
Frolov A.N. orcid.org/0000-0003-4525-2554
Sleptsov I.I. orcid.org/0000-0001-5396-6333
Zavyalov O.A. orcid.org/0000-0003-2033-3956

Final revision received October 29, 2024

Accepted December 03, 2024

Hormones play a crucial role in regulating a variety of physiological processes in farm animals, including metabolism, productive (dairy, meat) and reproductive traits. In this work, for the first time, we detected the association of the cortisol concentration in hair with the productive traits of steers and the qualitative characteristics of beef, including amino acid, fatty acid and mineral composition. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of cortisol concentration in hair as related to the productive and slaughter traits of Hereford bulls, as well as the qualitative characteristics of beef. The research was carried out in 2024 in OOO Agrosakmara and OOO Orenbiv of the Orenburg Province on 18-month-old Hereford bulls (n = 55). Animals were divided into 3 groups according by the cortisol concentration in the hair: group I — up to the 25th percentile (n = 15); group II — in the range of 25-75th percentiles (n = 25); group III — above the 75th percentile (n = 15). The choice of these percentile intervals were previously assessed. Hair samples from the upper part of the withers were taken using a clipper for farm animals, followed by an adjustment of the proximal part in length corresponding to the 15-18-month growth period. Cortisol was extraction using a Constractional Vapor rotary evaporator (Xi'an Heb Biotechnology Co., Ltd., China) and isopropanol and methanol reagents (HPLC grade) as described for humans and monkeys. The concentration of the hormone in hair samples was determined by enzyme immunoassay (an Infinite F200 PRO microplate analyzer, Tecan, Austria) using a cortisol assay kit (OOO Olvex Diagnosticum, Russia). The bulls aged 18 months was slaughtered (OOO Orenbiv, Orenburg Province), The carcasses were assessment by category, class and subclass (State Standard 34120-2017, M., 2018), and after 24 h at 2-4 °С, minced meat and the longissimus dorsi muscle at the 9-11th ribs were sampled from the left half. Estimated parameters in the samples were moisture and dry matter, protein, fat, ash energy value, pH, moisture capacity, amino acid, fatty acid and elemental compositions. The observed range of cortisol concentration in the hair of group I calves varied from 4.39 to 5.28 ng/g, in group II from 5.46 to 9.42 ng/g, in group III from 9.51 to 11.09 ng/g. The bulls of group I surpassed (р ≤ 0.05) their peers of groups II and III in live weight at the age of 15 months by 3.2 and 5.7%, at 18 months by 4.7% and 7.0 %, in the average daily gain from 15 to 18 months by 11.5 and 13.1 %, in the weight of a hot carcass by 5.0 and 8.2 %, in slaughter weight by 4.6 and 7.0%, but were inferior in terms of internal fat weight by 4.5 and 15.3 %, respectively. Group I bulls produced more flesh by 5.25 and 8.47%, and more muscle tissue by 5.3 and 8.84 %, with a decrease in bone weight by 3.20 and 5.94 % and in tendons and ligaments by 4.58 and 7.06 % compared to groups II and III, respectively. As the cortisol concentration in the hair increased, the amount of arginine, phenylalanine, histidine, leucine+isoleucine, methionine, valine, alanine, glycine and tryptophan. High cortisol concentration in the hair was associated with high levels of palmitic, myristic and less linoleic and linolenic fatty acids in the lipids of the longissimus dorsi muscle. The longissimus dorsi muscle of group I bulls was characterized by a high content of essential elements (Ca, Mg, Cu, I, Se, Zn) and less amounts of conditionally essential and toxic elements (Ni, As, Pb). Thus, the cortisol level estimated by its concentration in the hair of Hereford bulls is associated with productive performance, slaughter traits, and quality parameters of beef, namely amino acid, fatty acid and mineral compositions.

Keywords: Hereford breed, bulls, cortisol, growth rate, meat productivity, meat quality.

 

REFERENCES

  1. Evans H.C., Briggs E.F., Burnett R.H., Contreras-Correa Z.E., Duvic M.A., Dysart L.M., Gilmore A.A., Messman R.D., Reid D., Rasit Ugur M., Kaya A., Memili E. Harnessing the value of reproductive hormones in cattle production with considerations to animal welfare and human health. Journal of Animal Science, 2022, 100(7): skac177 CrossRef
  2. Burnett T.A., Madureira A.M., Silper B.F., Nadalin A., Tahmasbi A., Veira D.M., Cerri R.L. Short communication: Factors affecting hair cortisol concentrations in lactating dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 2014, 97(12): 7685-7690 CrossRef
  3. Aguiar D., Marques C., Pereira A.C. The importance of monitoring cortisol in the agri-food sector-a systematic review. Metabolites, 2023, 13(6): 692 CrossRef
  4. Ladewig J. Chronic intermittent stress: a model for the study of long-term stressors. In: The biology of animal stress: basic principles and implications for animal welfare. G.P. Moberg, J.A. Mench (eds.). CAB International, Wallingford, UK, 2000: 159-169 CrossRef
  5. Cook C.J., Mellor D.J., Harris P.J., Ingram J.R., Matthews L.R. Hands-on and hands-off measurement of stress. In: The biology of animal stress: basic principles and implications for animal welfare. G.P. Moberg, J.A. Mench (eds.). CAB International, Wallingford, UK, 2000: 123-146 CrossRef
  6. Friend T.H., Polan C.E., Gwazdauskas F.C., Heald C.W. Adrenal glucocorticoid response to exogenous adrenocorticotropin mediated by density and social disruption in lactating cows. J. Dairy Sci., 1977, 60(12): 1958-1963 CrossRef
  7. Friend T.H., Gwazdauskas F.C., Polan C.E. Change in adrenal response from free stall competition. J. Dairy Sci., 1979, 62(5): 768-771 CrossRef
  8. Stafford K.J., Mellor D.J. Dehorning and disbudding distress and its alleviation in calves. The Veterinary Journal, 2005, 169(3): 337-349 CrossRef
  9. Heimbürge S., Kanitz E., Tuchscherer A., Otten W. Within a hair's breadth — Factors influencing hair cortisol levels in pigs and cattle. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 2020, 288: 113359 CrossRef
  10. Abilov A.I., Gudilina A.A., Kombarova N.A., Turbina V.V., Korneenko-Zhilyaev Yu.A. Cortisol as a marker of physiological stress in Bos taurus sires. Sel'skokhozyaistvennaya biologiya [Agricultural Biology], 2024, 59(2): 301-315 CrossRef
  11. Lutz C.K., Tiefenbacher S., Jorgensen M.J., Meyer J.S., Novak M.A. Techniques for collecting saliva from awake, unrestrained, adult monkeys for cortisol assay. Am. J. Primatol., 2000, 52(2): 93-99 CrossRef
  12. Möstl E., Maggs J.L., Schrötter G., Besenfelder U., Palme R. Measurement of cortisol metabolites in faeces of ruminants. Vet. Res. Commun., 2002, 26(2): 127-139 CrossRef
  13. Greff M.J.E., Levine J.M., Abuzgaia A.M., Elzagallaai A.A., Rieder M.J., van Uum S.H.M. Hair cortisol analysis: An update on methodological considerations and clinical applications. Clinical Biochemistry, 2019, 63: 1-9 CrossRef
  14. Sato M., Sasaki M., Shima T., Ikegami R., Sato D., Ochi G. Hair cortisol is a physiological indicator of training stress for female footballers. Eur. J. Appl. Physiol., 2024, 124(12): 3719-3728 CrossRef
  15. Gaultney W., O'Brien J.R., Heierle J., Battison E.A.J., Wilson A., Rovnaghi C., Anand K.J.S., Holley A. Hair cortisol sampling as a measure of physiological stress in youth with acute musculoskeletal pain. Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2024, 20: 100267 CrossRef
  16. Miroshnikov S.A., Zavyalov O.A., Frolov A.N., Bolodurina I.P., Kalashnikov V.V., Grabeklis A.R., Tinkov A.A., Skalny A.V. The reference intervals of hair trace element content in hereford cows and heifers (Bos taurus). Biol. Trace Elem. Res., 2017, 180(1): 56-62 CrossRef
  17. Kalashnikov A.P., Fisinin V.I., Shcheglov V.V., Pervov N.G., Kleymenov N.I., Strekozov N.I., Kal’nitskiy B.D., Egorov I.A., Makhaev E.A., Dvalishvili V.G., Kalashnikov V.V., Vladimirov V.L., Gruzdev N.V., Mysik A.T., Balakirev N.A., Fitsev A.I., Kirilov M.P., Krokhina V.A., Naumenko P.A., Vorob’eva S.V. Trukhachev V.I., Zlydnev N.Z., Sviridova T.M., Levakhin G.I., Galiev B.Kh., Arilov A.N., Bugdaev I.E., Memedeykin V.G., Ugadchikov S.T., Aleksandrova V.S., Kladovshchikov V.F., Ismailov I.S., Levakhin V.I. Normy i ratsiony kormleniya sel’skokhozyaystvennykh zhivotnykh. (3-e izdanie pererabotannoe i dopolnennoe) [Norms and rations for feeding farm animals. (3rd edition revised and supplemented)]. Moscow, 2003 (in Russ.).
  18. Miroshnikov S., Kharlamov A., Zavyalov O., Frolov A., Bolodurina I., Arapova O., Duskaev G. Method of sampling beef cattle hair for assessment of elemental profile. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 2015, 14(9): 632-636 CrossRef
  19. Meyer J., Novak M., Hamel A., Rosenberg K. Extraction and analysis of cortisol from human and monkey hair. J. Vis. Exp., 2014, 83: e50882 CrossRef
  20. Otten W., Heimbürge S., Tuchscherer A., Kanitz E. Hair cortisol concentration in postpartum dairy cows and its association with parameters of milk production. Domestic Animal Endocrinology, 2023, 84-85: 106792 CrossRef
  21. Braun U., Wiest A., Lutz T., Riond B., Stirn M., Hilbe M., Baumgartner M.R., Binz T.M. Hair cortisol concentration in veal calves reared under two different welfare production labels. Research in Veterinary Science, 2019, 123: 286-292 CrossRef
  22. Braun U., Michel N., Baumgartner M.R., Hässig M., Binz T.M. Cortisol concentration of regrown hair and hair from a previously unshorn area in dairy cows. Research in Veterinary Science, 2017, 114: 412-415 CrossRef
  23. Yoshioka G., Imaeda N., Ohtani T., Hayashi K. Effects of cortisol on muscle proteolysis and meat quality in piglets. Meat Science, 2005, 71(3): 590-593 CrossRef
  24. Tarantola M., Biasato I., Biasibetti E., Biagini D., Capra P., Guarda F., Leporati M., Malfatto V., Cavallarin L., Miniscalco B., Mioletti S., Vincenti M., Gastaldo A., Capucchio M. Beef cattle welfare assessment: use of resource and animal-based indicators, blood parameters and hair 20β-dihydrocortisol. Italian Journal of Animal Science, 2020, 19(1): 341-350 CrossRef
  25. Artemova E.V. Ozhirenie i metabolizm, 2017, 14(2): 48-52 CrossRef (in Russ.).
  26. Tchernof A., Després J.P. Pathophysiology of human visceral obesity: an update. Physiological Reviews, 2013, 93(1): 359-404 CrossRef
  27. Yener S., Baris M., Peker A., Demir O., Ozgen B., Secil M. Autonomous cortisol secretion in adrenal incidentalomas and increased visceral fat accumulation during follow-up. Clin. Endocrinol. (Oxf.), 2017, 87(5): 425-432 CrossRef
  28. Foury A., Devillers N., Sanchez M.P., Griffon H., Le Roy P., Mormède P. Stress hormones, carcass composition and meat quality in Large White ½ Duroc pigs. Meat Science, 2005, 69(4): 703-707 CrossRef
  29. Muchenje V., Dzama K., Chimonyo M., Strydom P.E., Raats J.G. Relationship between pre-slaughter stress responsiveness and beef quality in three cattle breeds. Meat Science, 2009, 81(4): 653-657 CrossRef
  30. Chulayo A.Y., Bradley G., Muchenje V. Effects of transport distance, lairage time and stunning efficiency on cortisol, glucose, HSPA1A and how they relate with meat quality in cattle. Meat Science, 2016, 117: 89-96 CrossRef
  31. Del Campo Gigena M., Soares de Lima J.M., Brito G., Manteca X., Hernández P., Montossi F. Effect of finishing diet and lairage time on steers welfare in Uruguay. Animals, 2021, 11(5): 1329 CrossRef
  32. Ariyoshi Y., Plager J.E. Relationships between the influence of cortisol on tissue amino acid accumulation and amino acid incorporation in protein, and the cortisol inhibition of substrate metabolism. Endocrinology, 1970, 86(5): 996-1003 CrossRef
  33. Baran D.T., Peck W.A., Frengley P.A., Lichtman M.A. Cortisol-induced inhibition of amino acid transport in thymic lymphocytes: kinetic parameters; relation to ATP levels and protein synthesis; and specificity. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) —Biomembranes, 1973, 307(3): 627-639 CrossRef
  34. Zdanowska-Sąsiadek Ż., Michalczuk M., Marcinkowska-Lesiak M., Damaziak K. Factors determining the sensory quality of poultry meat. Bromatologia i Chemia Toksykologiczna, 2013, XLVI(3): 344-353.
  35. Orkusz A. Factors affecting the quality of gallinaceous poultry meat. A review. Nauki Inżynierskie i Technologie, 2015, 1: 47-60.
  36. Jachimowicz K., Winiarska-Mieczan A., Tomaszewska E. The impact of herbal additives for poultry feed on the fatty acid profile of meat. Animals, 2022, 12(9): 1054 CrossRef
  37. Morais J.B.S., Cruz K.J.C., de Oliveira A.R.S., Cardoso B.E.P., da Silva Dias T.M., de Sousa Melo S.R., Dos Santos L.R., Severo J.S., de Freitas S.T., Henriques G.S., da Silva M.T.B., Oliveira F.E., do Nascimento Marreiro D. Association between parameters of cortisol metabolism, biomarkers of minerals (zinc, selenium, and magnesium), and insulin resistance and oxidative stress in women with obesity. Biol. Trace Elem. Res., 2023, 201(12): 5677-5691 CrossRef
  38. Wang S.M., He Y., Zhu M.T., Tao B., Zhao H.Y., Sun L.H., Liu J.M. The associations of serum osteocalcin and cortisol levels with the psychological performance in primary hyperparathyroidism patients. Front. Endocrinol., 2021, 12: 692722 CrossRef

 

back

 


CONTENTS

 

Full article PDF (Rus)