Electronic Theses and Dissertation

Kortisol merupakan biomarker hormonal penting menjelang partus pada sapi. pengukurannya secara non-invasif aman dan minim gangguan, serta akurasi prediksi waktu partus meningkat bila dikombinasikan dengan pengamatan gejala klinis yang objektif. penelitian ini bertujuan mengukur kadar metabolit kortisol feses serta mengetahui perubahan gejala klinis prepartum sapi aceh, meliputi perubahan corpus mammae, papilla mammae, ligamentum suspensorium lateral dan vulva selama periode prepartum hingga postpartum. penelitian menggunakan metode kohort prospektif, dengan pengamatan dimulai 4 minggu prepartum hingga 2 minggu postpartum. kadar kortisol feses diukur menggunakan metode enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa), sedangkan gejala klinis dinilai melalui skoring visual 1–4 berdasarkan kriteria morfologis. data dianalisis menggunakan uji one-way anova dan dilanjutkan uji duncan. hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kadar metabolit kortisol feses menunjukkan pola fluktuatif dengan puncak tertinggi pada 3 minggu prepartum, menurun hingga titik terendah pada periode postpartum, dengan sedikit kenaikan kembali pada minggu ke-2 postpartum. corpus mammae, papilla mammae, dan ligamentum suspensorium lateral mengalami peningkatan skor secara bertahap dan progresif, mencapai kondisi maksimal pada periode 1 minggu prepartum hingga awal postpartum, yang ditandai pembesaran dan penegangan jaringan. perubahan vulva juga meningkat progresif menjelang partus berupa perubahan lipatan dan perubahan mukosa, kemudian beregresi secara bertahap setelah partus hingga mendekati kondisi normal. seluruh parameter menunjukkan perubahan yang sangat nyata (p < 0,01) antar waktu pengamatan, sehingga hipotesis penelitian diterima. kesimpulannya adalah kadar metabolit kortisol feses pada sapi aceh berubah secara signifikan dengan pola fluktuatif, mencapai puncak pada periode prepartum dan menurun setelah partus. sapi aceh mengalami perubahan gejala klinis yang signifikan selama periode prepartum hingga postpartum, ditandai oleh perubahan corpus mammae, papilla mammae, serta ligamentum suspensori lateral mengalami peningkatan secara bertahap menjelang partus hingga postpartum, sedangkan vulva mengalami pembesaran selama periode prepartum dan berangsur kembali ke kondisi normal pada periode postpartum. parameter hormonal dan klinis berpotensi digunakan secara terintegrasi sebagai indikator non-invasif untuk memprediksi waktu partus serta mengevaluasi status fisiologis sapi aceh selama periode prepartum dan postpartum. kata kunci: corpus mammae, kortisol, partus, sapi aceh, vulva.

Cortisol is a crucial hormonal biomarker in cattle approaching parturition. Non-invasive measurement is safe and minimally disruptive, and the accuracy of predicting calving time improves when combined with the observation of objective clinical signs. This study aimed to measure fecal cortisol metabolite levels and determine changes in prepartum clinical signs in Aceh cattle—specifically regarding the mammary body, teat, lateral suspensory ligament, and vulva—from the prepartum to the postpartum period. A prospective cohort study design was employed, with observations spanning from four weeks prepartum to two weeks postpartum. Fecal cortisol levels were measured using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method, while clinical signs were assessed using a visual scoring system (1–4) based on morphological criteria. Data were analyzed using One-Way ANOVA followed by Duncan's test. The results showed that fecal cortisol metabolite levels exhibited a fluctuating pattern, peaking three weeks prepartum, dropping to their lowest point during the postpartum period, and showing a slight rise again in the second week postpartum. Scores for the mammary body, teat, and lateral suspensory ligament increased gradually and progressively, reaching a maximum state between oneweek prepartum and early postpartum, characterized by tissue enlargement and tension. Vulvar changes also progressed as parturition approached—manifesting as alterations in folds and mucosa—before gradually regressing toward a normal state after calving. All parameters showed highly significant changes (p < 0.01) across the observation periods, thereby confirming the research hypothesis. In conclusion, fecal cortisol metabolite levels in Aceh cattle change significantly in a fluctuating pattern, peaking during the prepartum period and declining after parturition. Aceh cattle exhibit significant changes in clinical signs from the prepartum to the postpartum period; specifically, the corpus mammae, papilla mammae, and lateral suspensory ligaments show a gradual increase leading up to and following parturition, whereas the vulva enlarges during the prepartum period and gradually returns to its normal state postpartum. Hormonal and clinical parameters have the potential to be used in an integrated manner as non-invasive indicators to predict the time of parturition and evaluate the physiological status of Aceh cattle during the prepartum and postpartum periods. Keywords: Mammary gland, cortisol, parturition, aceh cattle, vulva.