Cortisol release by goats increased significantly after ACTH administration compared with that observed after a placebo, and the cortisol profiles after first milking, vaccination, vermifugation,hoof trimming, and ACTH administration were similar.However, there was no effect of the immediate increase in cortisol in vivo on IGF-1 release, milk yield, milk quality, or the apoptosis and proliferation rates, nor was there any effect on the expression of the target genes