Short communication: A comparison between two glucose measurement methods in beef steers during a glucose tolerance test

Glucose tolerance tests (GTT) are commonly performed in beef cattle to evaluate the glucose-insulin signaling pathway. Blood samples are obtained via a catheter and then transferred back to the laboratory for further analysis. A hand-held glucometer used chute-side can make performing GTT's and quantifying blood glucose concentration much easier and faster for research purposes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the agreement between a hand-held electronic glucometer (Precision Xtra; Abbott Diabetes Care Inc., Mississauga, ON, Canada) for chute-side use in beef cattle compared with a colorimetric assay in the laboratory (Stanbio Glucose LiquiColor; Stanbio Laboratory, Boerne, TX, USA). A GTT was performed on 13 Simmental x Angus steers during the growing phase. Blood samples were obtained via a jugular catheter. Glucometer readings were taken immediately after blood was sampled from the jugular with no preservative, and laboratory measurements were conducted on plasma preserved with sodium fluoride. A paired t-test (P = 0.40), Pearson's correlation (P < 0.001; r = 0.95), Bland-Altman plot, and Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (LCCC = 0.90) were completed to evaluate the performance of the glucometer relative to the results from the laboratory assay. Based on the results, we conclude that the glucometer is an acceptable method for measuring blood glucose concentration in beef cattle under field conditions.