Response of Slovak Spotted cattle to stresses evoked by physical stimuli and the administration of pharmaceutical agents

Nine bulls of the Spotted Slovak breed were exposed to different stressful stimuli. The stimuli used were noise, electric shock and the administration of insulin, adrenocorticotrophic hormone and the sedative xylazine (Rompun). The levels of glucocorticoids, free fatty acids and glucose were determined in blood samples obtained through a permanent, indwelling, jugular cannula. It was found that insulin, adrenocorticotrophic hormone and electric shock evoked significant increases in the concentration of glucocorticoids in the blood. Noise did not affect the blood level of glucocorticoids. The stimuli did not induce any change in the blood levels of free fatty acids. Blood glucose levels were increased following insulin, adrenocorticotrophic hormone, electric shock and xylazine but not following noise. Insulin, as expected, decreased the concentration of glucose in the blood.