Our data support the findings of Brickner et al. (2007), who
demonstrated that NEFA concentrations in non-lactating dairy
cows increased in proportion to their level of excitement during
‘lock-up’ and blood-sampling. In contrast to that study however,
we only focused on one 20 min interval to assess the impact of
handling procedures. This interval was selected as it reflected routine
protocols used at our research facility and we did not aim to
replicate the multiple sampling procedure of Brickner et al. (2007).
Acute stress responses initiated by handling and restraining result
in activation of the sympathetic-adrenal medullary axis and
the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal cortex axis. Activation of the
former leads to an immediate rise in catecholamine concentrations,
whereas activation of the latter results in a more gradual rise
in ACTH and cortisol concentrations that peak by 10–20 min (Lay
et al., 1992). During stress, metabolic fuel availability is increased
due to glycogenolysis induced by catecholamine secretion, gluconeogenesis
induced by cortisol, and NEFA mobilisation due to the activation of lipase by both hormones