Effects of intensive exercise on the blood chemistry of fighting bulls in southern Thailand

Bullfighting is a cultural activity in southern Thailand. Bulls walk and undergo intensive exercise before competition. In the arena, winners are determined by their opponents' surrender, so bulls do not die after fighting. However, there are very few studies on organ injuries in living bulls during these activities. This study compared the effects of walking and intensive exercise on complete blood count (CBC) and blood chemistry. Blood parameters of 14 Thai fighting bulls aged over 6 years, regularly trained for walking and intensive exercise, were measured and analyzed using a paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Eosinophils decreased significantly after intensive exercise (P < 0.05), whereas CK, AST, and LDH increased significantly (P < 0.01), indicating some degree of muscle damage. Troponin I increased slightly after intensive exercise but remained within the normal range. This study describes only the short-term effects of intensive exercise on CBC and blood chemistry. Long-term effects of intensive exercise or actual fighting warrant further investigation to inform future diagnosis and treatment.