Effects of Cage and Floor Housing Systems on Fattening Performance, Oxidative Stress and Carcass Defects in Broiler Chicken

Abstract

SummaryThis study was carried out to compare floor with cage housing systems used for broiler chicken production in terms of performance, some oxidative stress parameters and carcass defects. For this purpose, two cage and two floor housing farms were monitored simultaneously during summer, autumn and winter seasons. Capacities of farms in each housing system were 40.000 and 25.000 chickens. At the end of each summer, autumn and winter season, 15 broilers were selected in both housing systems with capacity of 25.000 chickens for carcass and oxidative stress parameters. Blood samples were taken in slaughtering period from chickens slaughtered with decapitation. Broiler reared in cage housing showed higher live weight at 7 and 14 days (P≤0.05). But this difference disappeared after three weeks, while slaughter weights were found to be similar at both systems. Better feed conversion ratio (FCR) and carcass yield were obtained in floor housing (P≤0.01). Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) level increased in cage housing (P≤0.01). Other carcass traits and antioxidant activity were found to be similar between groups (P>0.05). Cases of wing fractures, wing and breast bruising were found to be higher in cage housing (P≤0.05). Case of shank and drumstick bruising slightly increased in floor housing (P=0.074). The incidence and severity of food pad lesions increased in floor housing (P≤0.01). The results of this study indicated that floor housing had shown better performance and carcass quality at examined production capacities. Keywords: Broiler, Floor housing, Cage housing, Performance, Season Kafes ve Yer Sistemlerinin Etlik Piliç Üretiminde Besi Performansı, Oksidatif Stres ve Karkas Kusurları Üzerine Etkileri ÖzetBu araştırma, etlik piliç üretiminde kullanılan yer ve kafes sistemlerini performans, bazı oksidatif stres parametreleri ve karkas kusurları bakımından karşılaştırmak için yürütülmüştür. Bu amaçla, 2 yer ve 2 kafes kümesi yaz, sonbahar ve kış sezonları süresince eş zamanlı olarak takip edilmiştir. Her sistemde kümeslerin kapasitesi 40.000 ve 25.000 piliç şeklindedir. Yaz, sonbahar ve kış sezonları sonunda, 25.000 kapasiteli her iki yetiştirme sisteminden karkas ve oksidatif stres parametreleri için 15 piliç seçilmiştir. Kan numuneleri boyun uçurma yöntemi ile kesimi yapılan piliçlerden kesim esnasında alınmıştır. Kafes sisteminde yetiştirilen piliçler 7 ve 14. günlerde daha fazla canlı ağırlık göstermişlerdir (P≤0.05). Bu farklılık üçüncü haftadan sonra ortadan kaybolmuş ve kesim ağırlıkları her iki sistemde benzer bulunmuştur. Yer sisteminde yemden yararlanma ve karkas randımanı iyileşmiştir (P≤0.01). Serum malondialdehit (MDA) seviyesi kafes sisteminde yükselmiştir (P≤0.01). Diğer karkas özellikleri ve antioksidan aktivite araştırma grupları arasında benzer bulunmuştur (P>0.05). Kanat kırığı, kanat ve göğüs morarması olguları kafes sisteminde yüksek tespit edilmiştir (P≤0.05). İncik ve baget morarması olgusu yer sisteminde önemsiz derecede yükselmiştir (P=0.074). Taban yastığı nekrozlarının görülme oranı ve şiddet...

Impact of different rearing systems on growth, carcass traits, oxidative stress biomarkers, and humoral immunity of broilers exposed to heat stress

“…Similar to the present study, Al-Bahouh et al. (2012) and Şimşek et al. (2014) showed that caged broilers showed higher growth performance.…”

“…The results obtained regarding carcass traits were partially in line with those obtained by Şimşek et al. (2014) , who observed significant increase in breast weight of caged birds than floored birds, while carcass, thigh, wings, liver and spleen were not affected.…”

“…(2009) who noticed significant reduction in MDA content in birds on plastic slats than those of wire netting birds; however, the activity of GPx in serum was not significantly differed. The same observations were reported by Şimşek et al. (2014) who recorded significant elevation in MDA content and catalase activity in the serum of CRS birds compared with that of LRS chicks in the summer season.…”

“…(2017) reported that BW were numerically improved in PSRS birds in spring and winter, whereas it was higher in birds of LRS in fall and summer. Şimşek et al. (2014) also noticed higher BW of litter reared broilers in autumn, whereas no difference between litter and caged birds was recorded in summer and winter at 28 D of age.…”

“…(2014) who recorded significant elevation in MDA content and catalase activity in the serum of CRS birds compared with that of LRS chicks in the summer season. The increase in MDA content in cage-reared birds might indicate the high susceptibility of these birds to heat stress and less ability to treat such circumstances that subsequently raise corticosterone synthesis ( Şimşek et al., 2014 ). Zhao et al.…”