Pilot study demonstrates non-invasive wool cortisol and testosterone profiling across staple segments in merino rams, indicating potential for retrospective livestock welfare monitoring.
Non-invasive hormone assessment is growing in interest as producers and livestock researchers seek new methods to assess animal welfare. Non-invasive wool assessment offers long-term, historic reflections of hormone concentration at the scale of weeks and months - and are not limited by sampling stress - thus making wool an appropriate tissue for long-term hormone analysis. This pilot study quantified cortisol and testosterone concentrations of ram fleece and determined if there is a significant difference between segments of the sample staple, and whether there is a correlation between hormones. Cortisol is a glucocorticoid produced within the adrenal glands and secreted in anticipation of or in response to a stressor. Testosterone is an androgen mainly synthesised within the testes of males and responsible for several critical functions including regulation of muscle growth, libido and spermatogenesis.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Fox et al. (2024) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: