Study of stress in dairy cattle during student practical training on a farm

We investigated changes in cortisol (COR) concentration, which is well known as an index of stress in the serum of dairy cattle. The COR concentrations in serum obtained from dairy cattle were collected during practical training of first-year students on a farm attached to the Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University. Mean COR concentration in serum determined after practical training was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than that in serum collected before training. Discriminant analysis was used to classify the relation between COR concentration of serum collected before and after practical training. In conclusion, the data was bipartite according to the percentage of rise (rise rate) of COR concentration. Although the percentage of the rise was more than 300% in the high-rise-rate group, there was a significant negative correlation (P < 0.05) between age and COR concertation. It was thought that the high-rise-rate group has a chance to decrease stress after more experience. In contrast, the low-rise-rate group included 3 cattle indicating high COR concentration before and after practical training. Those 3 cattle were thought to be stressed easily. It is suggested that there was individual difference to stress.