# Protein Fractions as Indicators of Stress in Alpacas

## TL;DR

This study explores how blood protein levels in alpacas change after shearing, suggesting they can indicate stress and adaptation.

## Contribution

The study introduces blood protein fractions as novel stress indicators in alpacas, beyond traditional measures like cortisol or behavior.

## Key findings

- Total protein and α1- and ß1-globulin levels significantly decreased five days after shearing.
- Shearing induced adaptive physiological responses linked to thermoregulatory needs.
- Protein fractions offer a new way to assess alpaca welfare during stress.

## Abstract

As an adaptive mechanism, stress response to shearing can evoke a series of changes in animals’ biological functioning, including alterations in behavioral and hormonal reactions as well as protein metabolism. The level of knowledge about alpaca stress indicators, other than behavior, cortisol, or heart rate, is still limited. The use of alternative stress indicators can provide a broader insight into an alpaca’s adaptation and welfare level. The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of blood protein fractions and total protein as indicators of alpacas’ stress response to shearing procedures. In Poland, twenty adult Huacaya alpacas were examined. There were four sampling days: three days before shearing, the shearing day, and the fifth and tenth days after shearing. Total protein, albumin, and globulin levels were determined. The total protein and protein fractions can be used to determine the stress response in alpacas, particularly α1- and ß1-globulins, whose levels were significantly lower on the fifth day after shearing compared to the level before shearing. Shearing induced adaptive responses in alpacas. The physiological reaction of sheared alpacas can be connected to their fleece removal and the need for thermoregulatory adaptation.

Shearing can cause a stress response in alpacas with consequences including behavioral, neuroendocrine, and metabolic changes to maintain homeostasis. The use of alternative stress indicators, other than the most common, such as behavior, cortisol, or heart rate, can give a broader insight into the alpaca’s adaptive mechanisms and welfare level. Protein fractions are one of these indicators. A few studies have examined protein fractions as stress indicators in other animal species, showing both acute and long-term changes in the levels of these indicators. The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of using blood protein fractions and total protein as indicators of alpacas’ stress response to shearing procedures. It was hypothesized that the total protein and protein fraction levels would change after shearing. In this study in Poland, 20 Huacaya alpacas were examined. Blood samples were taken four times: three days before shearing, on the shearing day, and the fifth and tenth days after shearing. The total protein levels, albumin, and globulins were compared on individual days of the study. The level of total proteins and α1- and ß1-globulins decreased significantly on the fifth day after shearing, compared to the levels three days before shearing. Shearing alpacas induced adaptive responses. The physiological reaction of sheared alpacas can be connected to their fleece removal and the need for thermoregulatory adaptation.