The stress that is experienced by cattle due to transportation will impact on the decreased quality and quantity of meat.
“Transportation stress can be harmful as it affects blood draw, drip loss, colour and quality of the meat,” said Rusyda Nurshitaningrum, Veterinary Medicine student of UGM at Monday (22/7) at UGM.
Seeing this condition, Rusyda and fellow students Desqi Vigia Anggis D and Nuruh Mahbubah conducted research to find a solution to the problem. Under the supervision of Dr. drh. Claude Mona Airin, M.P. in Student Creativity Programme 2019 funded by Higher Education Ministry, they added seaweed (Sargassum sp.) as anti-stress to transported goats.
“Sargassum sp. has alkaloid, flavonoid, saponin, tannin, and steroid compounds that showed anti-stress activities in some research,” she said.
Besides, Sargassum sp. contains sulfated polysaccharide in the cell walls called as Fucoidan. This is known to have immunomodulator activities that can increase the ability to destroy microbes.
The student research showed that the goat treated with Sargassum sp. has more reduced cortisol level. Besides, N/L ratio has the lowest rate, the lowest glucose level increase, and lower weight decrease.
“The result proved that Sargassum sp. extract is effective as anti-stress drugs in transported goat,” she explained.