Modelling the Dynamic Response of Cattle Heart Rate During Loading for Transport

摘要: Researchers in animal welfare and transport use heart rate (HR) as an important parameter to describe animal response to emotional and physical stresses. This study examined the dynamic HR response in cows to stress-inducing factors during loading for transport. The simulation model was developed using Powersim software via application of exponential function to describe the pattern of HR signals during loading. The model was tested on HR value data of 18 cattle (11 heifers aged 14-16 months and 7 cows aged 2-3 years) and it described the HR profile well. The mean coefficient of determination, R2, was found to be 0.89 + 0.06. The HR rose exponentially from its mean resting value to a peak value (about 1.9 times the value at resting level) and then declined, during a recovery period, to the post-stress level (about 1.15 times the value at resting level). The mean HR at resting condition, peak, and after …