Strain and placement density effects on welfare, haematological and serum biochemical indices of broilers in north central Nigeria

Yakubu, Abdulmojeed (author), Gwaska, Jafaru Ari (author), Salako, Adebowale Emmanuel (author)

This study aimed at evaluating the influence of strain and stocking density on welfare, haematological and serum biochemical indices of broilers in a 28-day trial. Two hundred and seven 4-week old birds each of Anak Titan and Arbor Acre genetic provenience were randomly allocated to three housing densities of 8.3, 11.1 and 14.3 birds/m2.These corresponded to 17, 22 and 30 birds per pen ( 2.01 X 1.00 m ) in a 2x3 factorial experiment. Each treatment group was replicated three times. The welfare parameters estimated were gait score, feather score, foot and hock burns, pecking, pushes, chases, fights and mortality. Blood samples were tested for packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), haemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscularvolume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Similarly, sera were utilized for the determination of total protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, cholesterol, and creatinine contents. There were no genotype-associated differences (P > 0.05) in the welfare indicators examined. However, placement density significantly (P < 0.05) influenced incidence of pushes, chases and fights, with higher values in most cases recorded for birds housed at the highest density. The strains and population densities were similar (P > 0.05) in haematological profile. Strain and stocking densitz also exerted no influence (P > 0.05) on serum biochemical components. Strain x stocking density interaction effects were not observed in all the parameters. Consequently, the two strains could be reared at a density of 14.3 birds/m2 since density did not lead to a great degree of stress.

• Language: English
• Keywords: poultry, broilers, genotype, stocking density, blood parameters, animal welfare
• Work type: Not categorized
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publisher: Biotehniška fakulteta
• Year: 2009
• Number of pages: Str. 153-158
• Numbering: Letn. 94, št. 2
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-57068
• UDC: 636.5:591.5
• ISSN on article: 1581-9175
• COBISS.SI-ID: 2559624
• Publication date in RUL: 10.07.2015

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Acta agriculturae Slovenica
• Shortened title: Acta agric. Slov.
• Publisher: Biotehniška fakulteta
• ISSN: 1581-9175
• COBISS.SI-ID: 213840640

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Vpliv genotipa in gostote naselitve nq počutje, serumske in biokemijske parametre pri brojlerjih v severni in osrednji Nigeriji

Abstract

V raziskavi smo skušali oceniti vpliv genotipa in gostote naselitve na počutje živali, hematološke in biokemijske parametre seruma brojlerjev v 28 dnevnem poskusu. Dvesto sedem štiri tedne starih brojlerjev provinienc Anak Titan in Arbor Acre smo naključno porazdelili v tri oddelke z gostoto naselitve 8,3, 11,1 in 14,3 ptic/m2, kar je ustreyalo 17, 22 in 30 pticam na oddelek (2,01 X 1,00 m) v faktorskem poskusu 2x3. Za vsako obravnavo smo imeli po tri ponovitve. Počutje živali smo ocenjevali z ocenami za držo telesa, perje, žulje na nogah, kljuvanje, odrivanje, preganjanje, spopade in smrtnost. V vzorcih krvi smo določili hematokrit (PCV), število rdečih krvničk (RBC), belih krvničk (WBC), hemoglobin (Hb), srednji volumen eritrocitov (MCV), srednjo maso hemoglobina na eritrocit (MCH) in srednjo koncentracijo hemoglobina v hematokritu (MCHC). Krvni serum smo uporabili za določitev vsebnosti skupnih beljakovin, albumina, globulina, glukoze, holesterola in kreatinina. V poskusu nismo opazili z genotipom povzročenih razlik v indikatorjih počutja (P > 0,05). Gostota naselitve je ynačilno (P < 0,05) vplivala na pogostnost odrivanja, lovljenja in bojev, ki smo jih najpogosteje opazovali pri najgosteje naseljenih živalih. Med različnimi genotipi in naselitvenimi različicami nismo opazili razlik v hematološkem profilu (P > 0,05). Genotip in gostota naselitve ravno tako nista vplivala na biokemijske parametre v krvnem serumu (P > 0,05). Pri nobenem od proučevanih parametrov nismo opazili interakcij med genotipom in gostoto naselitve. Zaključujemo, da tudi najvišja gostota naselitve, 14,3 živali/m2 ni povzročala značilnega stresa.

• Keywords: perutnina, pitovni piščanci, genotip, gostota naselitve, krvni parametri, dobro počutje živali