Physiological parameters in broiler chickens reared under different housing systems during a period of high temperatures

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The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of rearing technology (rearing system and dietary supplementation with a mixed herbal extract) on the production results, selected physiological and blood parameters, and welfare of broiler chickens during the summer production cycle. In the CON and HE groups, broiler chickens were kept on litter without access to free range; additionally, in the HE group, birds from 22 to 42 days of rearing received a mixed herbal extract (50% Melissa officinalis L. and 50% Urtica dioica L.) in the amount of 2 ml/l of water to drinkers with water. In the AP group, birds were reared on litter with access to pasture. During the experiment, production performance and body temperature of the birds were monitored. Blood was also taken from birds in each group and the H:L ratio, levels of corticosterone, glucose and thyroid hormones were determined. The application of 2 ml/l of mixed herbal extract to the drinking water did not improve the production results, not did it affect the physiological indices of the birds studied. The addition of 2 ml/l of mixed herbal extract to the drinking water only resulted in lower corticosterone levels in the blood of the chickens on day 35 of the experiment. The free-range housing system had a negative effect on the slaughter performance of the broiler chickens. However, housing with access to the free range resulted in lower body temperature, lower mortality, as well as lower glucose, corticosterone and a narrower H:L ratio in the blood of the chickens during the period of increasing air temperature. It can therefore be concluded that housing with access to a free range reduces stress levels and thus improves the welfare of broiler chickens during the summer production cycle compared to confined housing. Comparing the rearing technologies used in the study, it was found that the free-range housing system contributed more to improving the comfort of broiler chickens during the summer than dietary supplementation with the tested herbal mixture extract.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Rearing Technology on Production Performance, Selected and Blood Parameters and Welfare Levels of Broiler Chickens During the Summer Production Cycle

Skomorucha,

Sosnówka-Czajka

2024

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“…One of the body's responses to high ambient temperature is an increase in the body's radiation temperature (Skomorucha and Sosnówka-Czajka, 2017;Cândido et al, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to Olanrewaju et al (2010), the body temperature of an adult chicken is 40.6 to 41.7°C, and the thermoneutral zone that allows chickens to maintain their body temperature is 18 to 24°C. When birds are exposed to temperatures above their thermoneutral zone, heat exchange between the bird and its environment is impeded, which is reflected in altered physiological and metabolic reactions such as: endocrine disruption (Jiang et al, 2020), electrolyte imbalance (Attia et al, 2011), elevated body temperature (Giloh et al, 2012;Skomorucha and Sosnówka-Czajka, 2017;Vermette et al, 2017), increased heterophil to lymphocyte ratio (Vermette et al, 2017), immunosuppression (Xu et al, 2018), oxidative stress (Song et al, 2018), behavioural changes (Olanrewaju et al, 2010;Lara and Rostagno, 2013) and compromised productivity and meat quality (Olanrewaju et al, 2010;Saeed et al, 2019). According to many authors, high ambient temperatures cause substantial economic losses due to reduced weight gains and increased mortality of the birds (Wang et al, 2018;Saeed et al, 2019;Jiang et al, 2020).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Regulation of the concentration of T3 and T4 in the body is essential for maintenance of body temperature via energy metabolism in homeothermic animals (Jiang et al, 2020). In general, birds exposed to elevated ambient temperatures were reported to show reduced blood T3 levels (Sohail et al, 2010;Giloh et al, 2012;Mack et al, 2013;Skomorucha and Sosnówka-Czajka, 2017), and decreased (Sohail et al, 2010), increased (Giloh et al, 2012;Skomorucha and Sosnówka-Czajka, 2017) or unchanged T4 levels (Mack et al, 2013).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Effect of Adding Herbal Extracts to Drinking Water on Body Temperature, Level of Thyroid Hormones and H:L Ratio in the Blood of Broiler Chickens Exposed to Elevated Ambient Temperature

Skomorucha

Sosnówka-Czajka

2021

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The aim of the study was to determine the effect of supplementing drinking water with extracts from lemon balm, sage and nettle on body temperature, level of thyroid hormones and the heterophil to lymphocyte (H:L) ratio in the blood of broiler chickens exposed to elevated rearing temperature. One-day-old Ross 308 chicks were divided into four groups: group I (CON) and experimental groups II (LB), III (S) and IV (N), in which, from 22 to 42 days of rearing, drinkers were supplemented with lemon balm extract, sage extract or nettle extract (2 ml/l water), respectively. In addition, at 5 weeks of growth, all the groups were exposed to elevated ambient temperature (up to 30°C) for 5 days, after which the recommended thermal conditions were reinstated. During the study, mortality, rectal temperature and radiated temperature of the broilers were monitored. Blood was collected from 10 birds per group to determine the concentration of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) and to make blood smears. The H:L ratio was determined based on the percentage of heterophils (H) and lymphocytes (L). The herbal extracts from lemon balm, sage and nettle, added to drinking water at 2 ml/l, reduced the blood level of the thyroid hormone (triiodothyronine) and rectal temperature in the experimental broilers during the initial period of thermal stress. Chickens receiving the nettle extract were also characterised by lower radiated temperature of the unfeathered body, a lower H:L ratio in the blood during the increase in ambient temperature, and the lowest mortality percentage. It can therefore be considered that the dietary supplementation of nettle, in the form and concentration used in this study, had the most favourable effect on the physiological status of the birds (body temperature, level of thyroid hormones and H:L ratio) ratio exposed to elevated ambient temperatures (30oC), and thus on their welfare.

“…In addition, Dikmen et al (2016) noted a lower H:L ratio in free-range hens compared to caged hens, but the birds from these systems showed a similar TI duration. Skomorucha and Sosnówka-Czajka (2017) found the level of stress to decrease, as reflected in lower glucose and corticosterone concentrations in birds with free-range access; this may suggest the higher welfare status of free-range poultry compared to birds kept in the barn system. Lower blood glucose levels in free-range birds were also reported by Gunes et al (2002) and Rehman et al (2017).…”

Section: Free-range Systemmentioning

confidence: 90%

The Welfare Status of Hens in Different Housing Systems – A Review

Sosnówka-Czajka

Skomorucha

Herbut

2021

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The currently used poultry farming methods, which aim to maximise economic profit, are based on ever new technological solutions that improve flock management and increase bird performance. However, they do not always meet the natural needs of birds. Every housing method and technological solution currently in use is faced with some issues, such as social stress, adverse temperature/humidity conditions, risk of zoonoses, and behavioural pathologies, which determine poultry performance and welfare. Disregard for animal welfare involves not only ethical but also practical aspects, because well-being and housing comfort translate into better weight gains, health and productivity of the birds. The studies reported here suggest that every production system, despite the many welfare-improving aspects, causes numerous behavioural, productivity and health abnormalities in laying hens. Therefore, further research is needed to identify various risk factors for the purpose of improving housing systems and increasing the welfare of hens.