Effects of cooled perch and different floor types on animal- and management-based welfare indicators, heterophil/lymphocyte ratio, and perching behavior in broiler chickens reared at high ambient temperature.

Autor: Karaarslan S; Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Türkiye. Electronic address: solmazkaraarslan@adu.edu.tr., Kaya M; Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Türkiye., Türkyılmaz MK; Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Türkiye.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Research in veterinary science [Res Vet Sci] 2024 Nov; Vol. 180, pp. 105433. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Oct 10.
DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2024.105433
Abstrakt: This study aims to analyze the impact of cooled perches and different floor types on broiler chicken welfare under high ambient temperatures. The experiment was designed as a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement with 234 male broiler chickens. They were randomly assigned to two perch treatments (cooled and non-cooled) and three-floor treatments (slatted floor, zeolite, and wood shavings) with three replicates consisting of 13 broiler chickens each. The presence of cooled perches increased (P < 0.0001) the incidence of foot pad dermatitis. The incidence of foot pad dermatitis and hock burn in the treatment of slatted floor was higher (P < 0.0001). The litter moisture concentration was lower in the zeolite treatment at the end of the trial (P < 0.0001). Cooled perch availability in hot weather reduced (P = 0.006) the heterophil-lymphocyte ratio, indicating reduced stress levels. No significant effect of the floor types on stress levels was observed. Notably, an increase in perch-contacting behavior was observed in the presence of cooled perches (3rd, 4th, and 5th weeks P < 0.0001). In brief, cooled perches increased perch-contacting behavior and mitigated stress but increased foot pad dermatitis. Slatted floors negatively impacted footpad and hock health.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declared that there is no conflict of interest.
(Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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