PSVIII-B-8 - Effects of Habituation to Livestock Trailer and Extended Transportation on Plasma Metabolomic Profiles in Goats

Abstract: Goats raised for meat production are often transported long distances. Twelve-month-old male Spanish goats were used to determine the effects of habituation to trailers on plasma metabolomic profiles when transported for long periods. In a split-plot design, 168 goats were separated into two treatment (TRT; whole plot) groups and maintained on two different paddocks. Concentrate supplement was fed to one group inside two livestock trailers (habituated group, H), while the other group received the same quantity of concentrate, but not inside the trailers (non-habituated, NH). Goats were subjected to a 10-hour transportation stress in 4 replicates (n = 21 goats/replicate/TRT) after 4 weeks of habituation period. Blood samples were collected prior to loading (Preload), 20 min after loading (0 h), and at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 h of transportation (Time; subplot). A targeted quantitative metabolomics approach was employed to analyze the samples using a combination of direct injection mass spectrometry with a reverse-phase LC–MS/MS custom assay. The data were analyzed using R software. Several amino acids (alanine, serine, glycine, histidine, glutamate, trans-hydroxyproline, asparagine, threonine, methylhistidine, ornithine, proline, leucine, tryptophan) were higher (P < 0.05) in the H group compared to the NH group. Five diacylphosphotidyl cholines, 10 lysophosphotidyl cholines, and several other sphingomyelins were higher (P < 0.05) in the NH group compared to the H group. Butyric acid, propionic acid, alpha-ketoglutaric acid, and beta-hydroxybutyric acid concentrations were lower (P < 0.05) in the NH goats compared to the H goats. In general, amino acid concentrations decreased and acylcarnitine levels increased with transportation time (P < 0.05). Habituation to trailers can be beneficial in enhancing stress coping abilities in goats due to higher concentrations of metabolites that support energy homeostasis and antioxidant activities. Fatty acid metabolism may be the main energy pathway in goats during long-distance transportation.