{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,2]],"date-time":"2026-09-02T18:41:34Z","timestamp":1788374494157,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":45,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"15","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,6]],"date-time":"2025-08-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1754438400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The Lidia cattle breed is featured in several traditional popular bullfighting festivals throughout Spain, including the \u201cToro de Cuerda\u201d event, in which the animals are subjected to intense physical exercise. However, the physiological impact and welfare implications of these activities remain poorly characterized. This study aimed to evaluate the stress response and muscle damage in Lidia breed bulls during roping bull celebrations through comprehensive blood analysis. Blood samples were collected from 53 adult male Lidia bulls before and after a standardized 45 min continuous running exercise during traditional roping bull events in four Spanish autonomous regions. Hematological parameters, muscle enzymes (creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, lactate), and stress hormones (cortisol and ACTH) were analyzed. Significant increases (p &lt; 0.05) were observed in leukocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils, erythrocytes, hematocrit, hemoglobin, and post-exercise platelets. Muscle enzymes showed marked elevations, with creatine kinase increasing up to 10-fold above baseline values. Stress hormones, cortisol and ACTH, also demonstrated significant increases. Despite the magnitude of these changes, all parameters remained within established reference ranges for the bovine species. This study provides the first physiological assessment of Lidia cattle during popular bullfighting celebrations, establishing baseline data for evidence-based welfare evaluation and management protocols.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani15152303","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,6]],"date-time":"2025-08-06T13:25:11Z","timestamp":1754486711000},"page":"2303","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Hematological, Enzymatic, and Endocrine Response to Intense Exercise in Lidia Breed Cattle During the Roping Bull Bullfighting Celebration"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"Julio","family":"Sede\u00f1o","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Doctoral School, Catholic University of Valencia-San Vicente M\u00e1rtir, 46001 Valencia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5713-485X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Salvador","family":"Ruiz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Campus Mare Nostrum, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain"},{"name":"Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia, IMIB-Arrixaca, 30120 Murcia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Germ\u00e1n","family":"Mart\u00edn","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary and Experimental Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia-San Vicente M\u00e1rtir, 46001 Valencia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5301-2174","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Juan Carlos","family":"Gard\u00f3n","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary and Experimental Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia-San Vicente M\u00e1rtir, 46001 Valencia, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,6]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Rodr\u00edguez Montesinos, A. 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