Stress management in livestock

Abstract

A method for minimising or preventing the induction of stress-related or stress-induced inappetance or inanition in an animal selected for a marketing or management practice.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for the treatment or preparation of an animal prior to subjecting the animal to a marketing or management practice, thereby minimizing or preventing the induction of stress or anxiety-related inanition in the animal during, or at completion of, the practice, the method including the step of administering a formulation including bromide to an animal selected for the marketing or management practice in an amount effective for preventing the animal from reducing feed intake. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the animal does not have stress or anxiety-related inanition at the time of administration of the formulation. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the feed intake of the animal or the growth performance of the animal up to the time of administration of the formulation has been normal. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the animal does not suffer grass toxicosis at the time of administration of the formulation. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the animal does not have a movement disorder at the time of administration of the formulation. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the animal is a ruminant animal. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the ruminant animal is ovine or bovine. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the marketing or management practice is a husbandry practice. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the husbandry practice is mulesing, castration, tail docking or marking. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the husbandry practice is dehorning. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the marketing or management practice is animal transport. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the marketing or management practice is introduction of the animal into a feedlot. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the introduction of the animal into a feedlot is in conjunction with one of the practices of mulesing, castration, tail docking or marking, dehorning, or animal transport. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the formulation provides bromide in an amount of about 10 to about 750 mg/kg animal weight. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the formulation is provided once daily for a period of one day to no more than about four weeks prior to subjecting the animal to a marketing or management practice. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , including the further step of administering a formulation including bromide to the animal at completion of the marketing or management practice. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the formulation is provided for a period of one day to no more than four weeks from completion of the marketing or management practice. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the formulation is provided orally. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the formulation is provided in the form of a drench. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the formulation includes magnesium bromide or potassium bromide at a concentration of about 5 to about 70% w/w.