@conference {40558,
	title = {Remote Blood Sampling Device A stress free blood sampling technique for free ranging animals},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {54},
	year = {1994},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {39-42},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {Changes in various blood parameters can be used to assess the relative  
stressfulness of farm practices.  In order to overcome confounding effects of  
stress inherent in standard methods of blood collection, a portable remote 
blood sampling device ("Dracpac") has been developed and tested.  Twelve  
heparinised blood samples can be taken from the jugular vein and stored in  
insulated packs on the animal.  The stability of blood parameters taken from  
and stored on red deer was determined.  Analyses of subsamples taken from a  
bulk initial sample over 12 hours showed that levels of cortisol, haematocrit  
and glucose did not significantly differ from initial values.  In a second  
experiment stags were sampled remotely during restraint in a mechanical crush  
and subsequent recovery at pasture on 2 successive days.  On both days  
cortisol, haematocrit, glucose and lactate levels were elevated during restraint  
and thereafter decreased significantly to reach levels substantially lower than  
previously reported for this species using standard methods of blood sampling. 
 
The development of this device permits reliable remote blood sampling of free  
ranging animals without the stress associated with manual blood sampling. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Ingram JR and Matthews LR and McDonald RM}
}
