J Vet Sci.  2006 Jun;7(2):189-192. 10.4142/jvs.2006.7.2.189.

Matricaria chamomilla CH12 decreases handling stress in Nelore calves

Affiliations
  • 1Departamento de Pos-graduacao, Universidade do Oeste Paulista, UNOESTE, Presidente Prudente, SP, CEP 19067-175, Brazil. guga@femanet.com.br
  • 2Departamento de Reproducao Animal e Radiologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinaria e Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, CEP 19067-175, Brazil.
  • 3Departamento de Pos-graduacao em Agronomia, Universidade do Oeste Paulista, UNOESTE, Presidente Prudente, SP, CEP 19067-175, Brazil.
  • 4Secao de Raiva, Instituto Butantan, Sao Paulo, SP, CEP 05503-900, Brazil.

Abstract

Matricaria chamomilla CH12 is a phytotherapeutic or homeopathic product, which has been used to reduce stress. Here, we examined its effect on preventing handling stress in bovines. Sixty Nelore calves were randomly distributed into two equal groups. One group was administered Matricaria chamomilla CH12 in diet and the other the 'control' was not. Animals in both groups were maintained unstressed for 30 days to adjust to the feeding system and pasture, and were then stressed by constraint on the 31th, 38th, 45th and 60th experimental days. Blood samples were taken on these days after animals had been immobilization in a trunk contention for 5 min. Stress was followed by analyzing serum cortisol levels. These peaked on the 45th day and then decreased, but not to baseline, on the 60th day. On the 45th day cortisol levels were significantly lower in animals fed Matricaria chamomilla CH12, suggesting that this product reduces stress. These effects may be a consequence of its inhibiting cortisol production and its calming and anxiolytic effects.

Keyword

bovine; Matricaria chamomilla; cortisol; handling; Nelore calf; stress

MeSH Terms

Animal Feed
Animals
Cattle
Cattle Diseases/*drug therapy
Diet
Matricaria/*chemistry
Plant Preparations/chemistry/*pharmacology
Stress/drug therapy/*veterinary

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Effect of Matricaria Chamomilla CH12 on calf serum cortisol. Mean cortisol levels (±SD) of treated and control groups (30 animals/group). Means with the dotted box are statistically different from each other (p < 0.05). Means with at least common lower case letter are similar within the given group.


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