Stress in Broiler Chickens Due to Acute Noise Exposure

Abstract

Stress effects from acute noise exposure were monitored in a group of ROSS 308 broiler chickens (n = 80), aged 42 days. The experiment simulated slaughterhouse sounds to which the broilers were exposed for 10 min in the test enclosure. Effects of acute noise exposure at two different levels (80 dB and 100 dB) were evaluated on the basis of examinations of selected biochemical plasma indicators and tonic immobility tests. Noise stimuli of both 80 dB and 100 dB intensities for 10 min induced a significant elevation in plasma corticosterone levels. Broilers that were exposed to noise stimuli of 100 dB also exhibited a significant increase in the cholesterol level and total protein level. Exposure to noise stimuli did not influence the glucose level and triglyceride concentrations. The duration of tonic immobility was not affected by noise stimuli in our experiment. However, noise exposure at a 100 dB level decreased the number of attempts to induce tonic immobility in broilers.

Time Course Changes in Selected Biochemical Stress Indices in Broilers Exposed to Short-term Noise

“…This type of response may indicate the ability of broilers to adapt to an increased level of noise at 100 dB intensity after the first 12 min of exposure. In contrast to our experiment, Chloupek et al (2009) did not find any changes in plasma triglycerides and glucose concentrations in broilers exposed to noise at 80 and 100 dB for 10 min. These authors also described a significant increase in the cholesterol level in broilers following 10 min of noise exposure at 100 dB, which is in contradiction with our findings, in that cholesterol concentrations showed various temporal patterns with no significant difference between 100 dB and control broilers for the whole period monitored in our experiment.…”

“…The corticosterone concentration reached its highest values from Time 10 min to 14 min in 100 dB broilers in our experiment, then decreased again to the prestress concentration at 28 min. Chloupek et al (2009) also described a significant increase in the corticosterone level after 10 min of noise exposure at 80 dB and 100 dB in broilers. McFarlane and Curtis (1989), who reported that plasma corticosterone was unaffected by continuous noise at a level of 95 dB on trial Day 7 in broiler chicks, support our findings regarding a following decrease in corticosterone levels after 14 min of exposure to the elevated noise in our experiment.…”

“…Sound intensities of 115 dB were effective in interrupting brooding in hens (Stadelman 1958b). A significant negative effect of acute noise exposure at 80 dB and 100 dB on stressfulness in broilers was described by Chloupek et al (2009), who found a significant increase in corticosterone and cholesterol levels after 10 min of noise exposure. In contrast, McFarlane and Curtis (1989) reported that plasma corticosterone was unaffected by continuous noise at 95 dB in female chicks on trial Day 7.…”

The Effects of Acute Noise on Fear and Some Stress Parameters in Broilers

“…Chloupek ve ark. 16 yaptıkları benzer bir çalışmada etlik piliçleri 80 ve 100 dB şiddetinde akut gürültüye maruz bırakmışlar ve gruplardaki kortikosteron düzeylerini sırasıyla 3200 ve 4740 pg/ml olarak tespit etmişlerdir. Bedanova ve ark.…”

“…Çalışmada bulunan kortikosteron düzeylerinin hem Chloupek ve ark. 16 hem de Bedanova ve ark. 10 'nın değerlerinden daha düşük olduğu görülmektedir.…”