Heart rate and heart rate variability in lambs, measured by biologgers, during transport and its relationship to basal cortisol concentration
In this study, we investigated the relationship between heart rate variability (HRV) and basal cortisol levels in lambs in the course of a short transport event. Fourteen lambs received a subcutaneously implanted biologger that was capable of recording body temperature (T) and HR at one-minute inter...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
|
| Series: | Italian Journal of Animal Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2025.2545373 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849233867575132160 |
|---|---|
| author | Isabella Manenti José A. Abecia Irene Viola Paola Toschi Francisco Canto Silvia Miretti |
| author_facet | Isabella Manenti José A. Abecia Irene Viola Paola Toschi Francisco Canto Silvia Miretti |
| author_sort | Isabella Manenti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this study, we investigated the relationship between heart rate variability (HRV) and basal cortisol levels in lambs in the course of a short transport event. Fourteen lambs received a subcutaneously implanted biologger that was capable of recording body temperature (T) and HR at one-minute intervals. In addition, lambs wore collars that held triaxial accelerometers, which were used to record locomotor activity (LA) before and during transport (73 km). Saliva samples for cortisol measurements were collected 24 h and 4 h before transport and 1 h post-transport. Based on basal cortisol concentrations, lambs were assigned to one of two groups, low cortisol (LC) or high cortisol (HC). HR and HRV were measured at 1 h before, during, and 1 h after transport. Mean HR was similar at all three points, but HRV variables (SDNN and RMSSD) were higher (p < 0.01) during transport than they were 1 h before and 1 h after transport, particularly in the LC group. Accelerometry data revealed that the LC lambs displayed a lower (p < 0.001) LA than did the HC lambs before and during transport. In conclusion, lambs that had lower baseline cortisol levels were better adapted physiologically to the stress of transport, as reflected by their greater HRV response and calmer behaviour, than were those who had higher cortisol levels. Subcutaneous biologgers have been shown to be a powerful tool for detecting subtle physiological responses to stressors, even in situations where traditional markers such as HR or cortisol levels do not vary significantly.HIGHLIGHTS Lambs with lower basal cortisol showed higher HRV and calmer behaviour during transport. Subcutaneous biologgers detected stress responses not seen in HR or cortisol levels alone. High cortisol lambs were more active and less physiologically adapted to transport stress. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cd6f43f1b76b4a51ad5674f00290b79d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1594-4077 1828-051X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Italian Journal of Animal Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-cd6f43f1b76b4a51ad5674f00290b79d2025-08-20T04:03:21ZengTaylor & Francis GroupItalian Journal of Animal Science1594-40771828-051X2025-12-012411774178010.1080/1828051X.2025.25453732545373Heart rate and heart rate variability in lambs, measured by biologgers, during transport and its relationship to basal cortisol concentrationIsabella Manenti0José A. Abecia1Irene Viola2Paola Toschi3Francisco Canto4Silvia Miretti5Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, University of TurinInstituto de Investigación en Ciencias Ambientales de Aragón (IUCA), University of ZaragozaDipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, University of TurinDipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, University of TurinCentro Regional de Investigación Remehue, Instituto de Investigaciones AgropecuariasDipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, University of TurinIn this study, we investigated the relationship between heart rate variability (HRV) and basal cortisol levels in lambs in the course of a short transport event. Fourteen lambs received a subcutaneously implanted biologger that was capable of recording body temperature (T) and HR at one-minute intervals. In addition, lambs wore collars that held triaxial accelerometers, which were used to record locomotor activity (LA) before and during transport (73 km). Saliva samples for cortisol measurements were collected 24 h and 4 h before transport and 1 h post-transport. Based on basal cortisol concentrations, lambs were assigned to one of two groups, low cortisol (LC) or high cortisol (HC). HR and HRV were measured at 1 h before, during, and 1 h after transport. Mean HR was similar at all three points, but HRV variables (SDNN and RMSSD) were higher (p < 0.01) during transport than they were 1 h before and 1 h after transport, particularly in the LC group. Accelerometry data revealed that the LC lambs displayed a lower (p < 0.001) LA than did the HC lambs before and during transport. In conclusion, lambs that had lower baseline cortisol levels were better adapted physiologically to the stress of transport, as reflected by their greater HRV response and calmer behaviour, than were those who had higher cortisol levels. Subcutaneous biologgers have been shown to be a powerful tool for detecting subtle physiological responses to stressors, even in situations where traditional markers such as HR or cortisol levels do not vary significantly.HIGHLIGHTS Lambs with lower basal cortisol showed higher HRV and calmer behaviour during transport. Subcutaneous biologgers detected stress responses not seen in HR or cortisol levels alone. High cortisol lambs were more active and less physiologically adapted to transport stress.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2025.2545373lambsbiologgersaccelerometerheart rate variabilitylocomotor activity |
| spellingShingle | Isabella Manenti José A. Abecia Irene Viola Paola Toschi Francisco Canto Silvia Miretti Heart rate and heart rate variability in lambs, measured by biologgers, during transport and its relationship to basal cortisol concentration Italian Journal of Animal Science lambs biologgers accelerometer heart rate variability locomotor activity |
| title | Heart rate and heart rate variability in lambs, measured by biologgers, during transport and its relationship to basal cortisol concentration |
| title_full | Heart rate and heart rate variability in lambs, measured by biologgers, during transport and its relationship to basal cortisol concentration |
| title_fullStr | Heart rate and heart rate variability in lambs, measured by biologgers, during transport and its relationship to basal cortisol concentration |
| title_full_unstemmed | Heart rate and heart rate variability in lambs, measured by biologgers, during transport and its relationship to basal cortisol concentration |
| title_short | Heart rate and heart rate variability in lambs, measured by biologgers, during transport and its relationship to basal cortisol concentration |
| title_sort | heart rate and heart rate variability in lambs measured by biologgers during transport and its relationship to basal cortisol concentration |
| topic | lambs biologgers accelerometer heart rate variability locomotor activity |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2025.2545373 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT isabellamanenti heartrateandheartratevariabilityinlambsmeasuredbybiologgersduringtransportanditsrelationshiptobasalcortisolconcentration AT joseaabecia heartrateandheartratevariabilityinlambsmeasuredbybiologgersduringtransportanditsrelationshiptobasalcortisolconcentration AT ireneviola heartrateandheartratevariabilityinlambsmeasuredbybiologgersduringtransportanditsrelationshiptobasalcortisolconcentration AT paolatoschi heartrateandheartratevariabilityinlambsmeasuredbybiologgersduringtransportanditsrelationshiptobasalcortisolconcentration AT franciscocanto heartrateandheartratevariabilityinlambsmeasuredbybiologgersduringtransportanditsrelationshiptobasalcortisolconcentration AT silviamiretti heartrateandheartratevariabilityinlambsmeasuredbybiologgersduringtransportanditsrelationshiptobasalcortisolconcentration |