Effects of Short-term Acute Heat Stress on Physiological Responses and Heat Shock Proteins of Hanwoo Steer (Korean Cattle)

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of heat stress on the status of physiological responses, blood parameter, serum T3 and cortisol, and heat shock proteins (HSP 27, 70, and 90) of Hanwoo cattle. Six Hanwoo steers (242.8 ± 7.2 kg of BW) were housed in the climate-controlled respiration chambers. The experiment consisted of 7 days (control; 0 day) at thermoneutral (air temperature (Ta) of 15oC and relative humidity (RH) of 60%; temperature-humidity index (THI) = 64), and by 3 and 6 days (treatment groups) at heat stress (Ta of 35oC and RH of 60%; THI = 87). Body temperature of each parts (frank, rump, perineum and foot) and rectal temperature elevated in heat stress groups (3 days and 6 days) than the control group (0 day). Respiration rates increased in 3 days and 6 days (88.5 ± 0.96 bpm and 86.3 ± 0.63 bpm, respectively) from 0 days (39.5 ± 0.65 bpm). Feed intake significantly decreased in heat stress groups (3 days and 6 days, 3.7 ± 0.14 kg and 4.0 ± 0.15 kg, respectively) than the control group (0 day, 5.0 ± 0.00 kg). In addition, final BW significantly decreased in heat stress groups (3 days and 6 days, 211.8 ± 4.75 kg and 215.5 ± 3.50 kg, respectively) than the control group (0 day, 240.0 ± 25.00 kg). However, heat stress has no significant effect on blood parameter, serum T3 and cortisol. Nevertheless, heat stress increased HSPs mRNA expression in liver tissue, and serum concentration of HSPs. Despite Hanwoo cattle may have high adaptive ability to heat stress, our results suggested that heat stress directly effect on body temperature and respiration rate as well as serum and tissue HSPs. Therefore, we are recommended that HSPs could be the most appropriate indicators of Hanwoo cattle response to heat stress.