Effects of Access to an Outdoor Yard on Hematological Values, Serum Biochemical Values and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Viability in Japanese Black Cattle
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: We investigated the effects of outdoor yard access in farm-reared Japanese Black breeding cattle. Sixteen cattle were randomly divided into a yard group allowed six hours of daily access to an outdoor yard but otherwise kept in an indoor barn (n = 8) and a control group kept exclusively in the indoor barn (n = 8), and were evaluated through an eight-week (week 0 to week 8) study period. As a result, there was no difference between the yard and control groups or week 0 and week 8 values in hematological values or serum biochemical values. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) viability showed a statistically significant difference in the interaction effect between the group and measurement date (P < 0.05), and was significantly decreased in the control group from week 0 to week 8 (P < 0.01). Additionally, the cell viability significantly differed between the groups at week 8 (P < 0.05). These results suggest that outdoor yard access might improve PBMC cellular function in Japanese Black cattle.
DOI: 10.6090/jarq.25j22
Language: English
Topic: Animal health and immunology
Subfield: Small Animals
Field: Veterinary
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7224336460