Table 3 Results of 11 biomarkers measured in oral fluid samples collected from 18 farms at four different ages

Cortisol, ng/mL

Sponge (N = 215)

Rope (N = 286)

Average

75 ^cd ± 7

161^a ± 10

118^a

48^de ± 6

124^ab ± 9

86^b

31^f ± 4

84^bc ± 5

57^c

40^ef ± 7

80^c ± 7

60^c

48^b

112^a

Age

Device

Age*Device

< 0.001

< 0.001

0.006

Procalcitonin, µg/mL

Sponge (N = 214)

Rope (N = 288)

Average

6.3 ± 0.7

24.6 ± 2.1

15.4^a

4.3 ± 0.9

16.2 ± 1.7

10.2^b

2.8 ± 0.3

8.6 ± 0.6

5.7^c

2.8 ± 0.3

7.1 ± 0.6

4.9^c

4.1^b

14.1^a

Age

Device

Age*Device

< 0.001

< 0.001

0.056

Oxytocin, ng/mL

Sponge (N = 213)

Rope (N = 287)

Average

2.3^c ± 0.3

4.9^a ± 0.5

3.6^a

2.2 ^cd ± 0.3

3.9^ab ± 0.4

3.1^ab

1.7^de ± 0.3

2.8^bc ± 0.2

2.3^bc

1.2^e ± 0.1

2.4^c ± 0.2

1.8^c

1.8^b

3.5^a

Age

Device

Age*Device

< 0.001

< 0.001

0.947

Haptoglobin, µg/mL

Sponge (N = 214)

Rope (N = 288)

Average

5.2^a ± 0.4

4.4^a ± 0.2

4.8^a

3.5^b ± 0.4

3.6^ab ± 0.2

3.5^b

3.2^b ± 0.3

3.7^ab ± 0.2

3.4^b

1.4^d ± 0.2

1.9^c ± 0.1

1.6^c

3.3^b

3.4^a

Age

Device

Age*Device

< 0.001

< 0.001

0.004

ADA, IU/mL

Sponge (N = 215)

Rope (N = 288)

Average

3.8^a ± 0.27

1.9^b ± 0.56

2.9^a

1.7^b ± 0.11

1.2 ^cd ± 0.04

1.5^b

1.7^bc ± 0.11

1.2 ^cd ± 0.03

1.4^b

1.2^d ± 0.09

1.1^d ± 0.04

1.1^c

2.1^a

1.3^b

Age

Device

Age*Device

< 0.001

< 0.001

< 0.001

Amylase, IU/mL

Sponge (N = 215)

Rope (N = 288)

Average

1.8 ± 0.29

1.2 ± 0.11

1.5^a

0.9 ± 0.16

0.8 ± 0.06

0.8^b

1.0 ± 0.24

0.6 ± 0.04

0.8^b

0.5 ± 0.16

0.5 ± 0.04

0.5^c

1.0^a

0.8^b

Age

Device

Age*Device

< 0.001

0.002

0.135

Total protein, mg/dL

Sponge (N = 213)

Rope (N = 287)

Average

232 ± 21

376 ± 25

304^a

136 ± 10

233 ± 11

185^b

118 ± 7

224 ± 8

171^b

95 ± 5

178 ± 8

137^c

145^b

253^a

Age

Device

Age*Device

< 0.001

< 0.001

0.709

IgG, µg/mL

Sponge (N = 120)

Rope (N = 21)

Average

1.1 ± 0.22

0.8 ± 0.29

0.9^a

1.2 ± 0.26

1.7 ± 0.72

1.5^a

1.1 ± 0.25

0.5 ± 0.43

0.8^ab

0.4 ± 0.08

0.7 ± 0.67

0.5^b

0.9

0.9

Age

Device

Age*Device

< 0.001

< 0.398

0.530

LDH, IU/mL

Sponge (N = 213)

Rope (N = 275)

Average

0.6 ± 0.07

1.5 ± 0.12

1.0^a

0.2 ± 0.04

0.4 ± 0.03

0.3^b

0.2 ± 0.02

0.5 ± 0.06

0.3^b

0.1 ± 0.01

0.3 ± 0.05

0.2^c

0.3^b

0.7^a

Age

Device

Age*Device

< 0.001

< 0.001

0.430

FRAP, µmol/L

Sponge (N = 213)

Rope (N = 288)

Average

690 ± 57

2076 ± 110

1383^a

651 ± 83

1770 ± 137

1210^b

551 ± 51

1536 ± 81

1044^b

419 ± 31

1374 ± 84

897^b

578^b

1689^a

Age

Device

Age*Device

< 0.001

< 0.001

0.895

Creatine Kinase, IU/L

Sponge (N = 210)

Rope (N = 239)

Average

20.0 ± 1.7

16.0 ± 1.9

17.9^a

9.4 ± 0.1

8.8 ± 1.1

9.1^b

9.7 ± 0.8

10.7 ± 0.8

10.2^b

5.2 ± 0.5

5.3 ± 6.7

5.2^c

11.0^a

10.2^b

Age

Device

Age*Device

< 0.001

0.003

0.064