# Assessing Physiological and Behavioral Stress Parameters in Trained Goats During Repeated Blood Sampling

## TL;DR

This study found that trained goats showed less stress during repeated blood sampling due to positive training and gentle handling.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates that goats trained with positive reinforcement show improved voluntary behavior during repeated blood sampling without increased stress.

## Key findings

- Serum cortisol levels and eye temperature did not increase over time during repeated blood sampling.
- Goats approached the blood sampling area faster and more voluntarily as the study progressed.
- Positive training and gentle handling reduced stress and improved animal cooperation.

## Abstract

Blood sampling is a common procedure in veterinary care and animal research, but it can cause stress due to accompanying handling and pain. When animals repeatedly experience this procedure, stress may increase if they anticipate discomfort or decrease if they become accustomed to the routine or receive positive training. This study describes how repeated blood sampling affects stress parameters in goats that were trained to cooperate and handled gently. Eight dairy goats had blood drawn once a week for over four months. The stress parameters were assessed by measuring changes in serum cortisol concentrations, eye temperature, and behavior. The results showed that serum cortisol levels and eye temperature did not increase over time. However, the goats approached the blood sampling area faster and more voluntarily as the study progressed. In this study, repeated blood sampling did not affect stress response in goats. This information is valuable for improving animal welfare in research and veterinary care, showing that careful handling and positive training can help reduce the negative impact of routine procedures on animals’ well-being.

Blood sampling by venipuncture is a routine procedure used in animal experiments and veterinary diagnostics. It can cause stress due to restraint and pain associated with penetration of the skin by a needle. When stressful procedures are repeated, stress can increase through anticipation after negative experiences or decrease due to habituation and/or positive reinforcement. The aim of this study was to describe the reaction to repeated blood sampling on the affective state of the animals. We wanted to observe how repeated blood sampling would affect stress parameters in goats that underwent an intensive cooperative vet care training protocol and were managed with a focus on gentle handling. Eight dairy goats underwent weekly blood sampling over a four-month period as part of a transfer study. Stress parameters were assessed using serum cortisol concentration, temperature changes in the inner corner of the eye measured by infrared thermography, and an ethogram showing voluntary and aversive behavior. Neither the serum cortisol concentration nor the eye temperature changed significantly over time during blood sampling. However, the ethogram showed that the goats approached the blood sampling position significantly faster and more voluntarily. In this study, we did not observe changes within the measured physiological stress parameters due to repeated blood sampling over three months. However, the voluntary behavior of the trained goats increased over time as a result of positive reinforcement training and habituation.