Stress in animals refers to which concept?

• A. Optimal nutrition
• B. Response to challenges
• C. High productivity
• D. Genetic improvement

Answer: (B)

Stress in animals is the body’s response to challenges from the environment or within the body. When a stressor such as heat, hunger, disease, crowding, or handling occurs, the animal activates physiological and behavioral responses to cope—hormone release, faster heart and breathing rates, energy mobilization, and changes in activity or feeding. Short-term stress can help the animal deal with a threat, but chronic stress can impair growth, reproduction, immune function, and welfare. This concept is different from optimal nutrition (providing adequate nutrients), high productivity (an outcome, not the definition of stress), and genetic improvement (breeding for desirable traits). So stress is the body's response to challenges.