Physiological and electroencephalographic changes in goats subjected to transportation, lairage, and slaughter

This preliminary trial investigated the effect of transportation and lairage periods on physiological parameters of goats subjected to slaughter. Nine male Boer cross goats aged 8–12 months were transported for 6 h and kept at lairage for 3, 6, or 16 h (n = 3). Blood samples were collected at pre‐ (pre‐T) and post‐transportation (post‐T), and post‐slaughter (post‐S) for determination of hematological parameters, serum enzyme, protein, and cortisol concentrations. Electroencephalogram readings were taken at pre‐T, post‐T, pre‐slaughter (pre‐S), and post‐S to determine the median frequency (F50) and total power (Ptot) values. At post‐T, there were manifestations of stress leukogram; increase in hematocrit, total protein, and muscle enzyme concentrations; and decrease in Ptot (p