Physiological characteristics of a group of fighting bulls (Brava breed)
Caractéristiques physiologiques de taureaux de la race Brave à l’issue de la corrida
Résumé
Very few studies concerning fighting bulls have been conducted in France. Some of these bulls have problems of muscular weakness inducing sometimes spectacular falls of the animals during the corrida. The aim of this study was to characterize the muscle properties of this type of bull and to understand the physiological modifications involved in physical effort. The Triceps brachii muscle of analysed fighting bulls had specific contractile and metabolic properties. It did not contain fast glycolytic IIX fibres and had a low glycolytic and a high oxidative metabolism. The reserves of glycogen and lipids were not completely depleted after the corrida, which could be a consequence of non adapted muscular properties or of metabolic perturbations induced by the stress of the animals. Moreover. the liver was in a good state but it was very much in demand during the effort since it plays a very important role of detoxification