Sheep Cortisol ELISA Kit

The present study aims to evaluate beef cattle welfare with an integrated approach as housing conditions and management practices change and to investigate the relationship between the adopted parameters and their applicability. A total of 15 Piemontese breed bulls reared in a tied stall housing system and 15 Piemontese, 15 Blonde d'Aquitaine and 15 cross-breed from Ireland reared in group-pen were considered. A welfare protocol including a checklist and the 'RIBECA' scoring system was prepared for the assessment of animal-based measures and resource-based measures. Blood parameters and hair 20 beta-dihydrocortisol were also analysed. The animal-based score was not significantly different among the farms, while the total welfare score was 'poor' for the animals in the tied stall system, 'fair' for Piemontese cattle in the in pen and Irish cross-breed, and 'very good' for the Blonde d'Aquitaine cattle. Irish cross-breed were the most fearful, with the blood findings also suggesting that these animals showed the worst adaptation, whereas Blonde d'Aquitaine cattle were well adapted. Furthermore, 20 beta-dihydrocortisol was lower (p < .01) in Blonde d'Aquitaine cattle when compared to Piemontese cattle tied and Irish cross-breed. The concordance between haematochemical and hair 20 beta-dihydrocortisol findings observed in the present study suggests that Blonde d'Aquitaine and Piemontese cattle reared in pens were less stressed during their livestock life. Measurements of cortisol metabolites in the hair matrix seem to be a valid diagnostic tool for monitoring animal exposure to situations capable of increasing cortisol levels over time. HIGHLIGHTS Husbandry and management conditions could negatively affect animal welfare. The RIBECA protocol adopted identified some beef cattle welfare critical points. Checking of different blood parameters and hair cortisol metabolites may integrate welfare assessment.

The purpose of this research was to investigate whether an achievement goal theory-based psychological skills training (PST) session would procure protective responses to performance stress in youth athletes. High school sport teams (N = 72 athletes, M-age = 16.08, sd = 1.17) were randomly assigned to either a control group that learned about sport psychology history or a PST session aimed at fostering a greater task orientation and promoting the creation of a caring, task-involving climate among the athletes. Cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) were measured prior to (t = - 50 and 0 min) and following (t = +30, +45, +60 min) a 30-min instructional juggling session with an ego-involving climate (i.e., the performance stressor), along with psychological stress and motivational responses. The PST session helped buffer maladaptive stress responses of participating athletes, with the control group responding with a spike in salivary cortisol and DHEA and reporting more shame, humiliation, cognitive and somatic anxiety, negative affect, demand appraisals, and that they had less control over their own success during the stressor than the athletes in the PST group. The cortisol and DHEA levels of the PST group did not change relative to baseline, and they reported greater social and performance self-esteem. There was a pattern of male athletes responding more adaptively to performance stress than female athletes. Potential explanations and ways to prevent such discrepancies are discussed. These findings suggest achievement goal theory is a fitting framework to work from when seeking to help youth thrive in performance contexts.