Stress parameters and immune response of layers under different cage floor and density conditions

Onbaşılar E. E., Aksoy F.

LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION SCIENCE, cilt.95, sa.3, ss.255-263, 2005 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 95 Sayı: 3
  • Basım Tarihi: 2005
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.livprodsci.2005.01.006
  • Dergi Adı: LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION SCIENCE
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.255-263
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: cage density, cage floor, laying hens, performance, stress parameters, WHITE LEGHORN LAYERS, LAYING HENS, PLASMA-CORTICOSTERONE, BIRD DENSITY, PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE, PHYSIOLOGICAL STRESS, POPULATION-DENSITY, DOMINANCE RANK, MANAGEMENT, SIZE
  • Ankara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

The aim of the experiment was to investigate the effects of cage floor and cage density on stress parameters of laying hens. A total of 162 brown laying hens (Hyline Brown), aged 34 weeks, were used in the experiment. Compact-type battery cages, with three floors, were used. Hens were allocated as one, three or five hens in each of 18 cages to obtain three different cage density groups of 1968, 656 and 393.8 cm(2) floor area per hen, respectively. The same number of cages with different cage density were allocated to three different battery floors (first floor=top, second=middle, third=bottom) systematically. Values for body weight, mortality rate, egg weight, egg production, egg quality characteristics, egg yolk cholesterol content, the levels of blood plasma corticosterone, serum glucose, total cholesterol and triglycerides, the ratio of heterophilis to lymphocytes (H-L ratio), antibody titers, claw length score, foot health score, plumage score and throat skin injuries were taken as indicators of stress. The values for egg weight (P < 0.01) at the first floor were greater than the other floor levels. The group with five hens per cage had significantly lower mean estimates (P < 0.01) than other groups with respects to body weight (P < 0.001), egg production (P < 0.001), egg weight (P < 0.001) and plumage score (P < 0.01), while significantly higher mean estimates for egg albumen index (P < 0.01), Haugh unit (P < 0.01), serum glucose (P < 0.001), and H-L ratio (P < 0.001). Serum cholesterol was higher in cages with one ben than that with five hens, whereas plasma corticosterone was lower. Antibody titers in cages with one hen was similar to that with three or five hens; however, those with three hens had higher titers than those with five hens. Values for egg breaking strength, yolk index, egg cholesterol content, and foot health score were not affected by cage density or floor. The results suggest that the allocation of three hens per cage bad no measurable effect on health and welfare. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.