Welfare of Broilers Ingesting a Pre-Slaughter Hydric Diet of Lemon Grass

Abstract

The pre-slaughter period is considered critical in broiler production. Several factors contribute to increase the birds' stress, such as handling, harvesting, and transportation, negatively affecting their welfare. This study aimed at evaluating the addition of lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus Stapf) to the drinking water of broilers during the pre-slaughter period on their behavior, blood cortisol, and surface temperature. The study was carried out at the experimental farm of the Federal University of Grande Dourados (UFGD), Dourados, MS, Brazil. In total, 2594 broilers were distributed according to a completely randomized experimental design, in a 3x2x2 factorial arrangement, with four replicates per treatment. Treatments consisted of three different lemon grass levels (Cymbopogon citratus Stapf) used in the form of an infusion (0, 0.1, and 5 g per L of water), sex (male or female), and genetic strain (Ross® 308 or Cobb® 500). The infusion was offered when birds were 42 days old. On that day, blood was collected for blood cortisol level determination, broiler surface temperature was recorded, and an ethogram was applied to register broiler behavior. Blood cortisol level and broiler surface temperature were not affected by treatments (p>0.05). The behavior of beak opening was different between the genetic strains (p<0.05), being more frequent in Ross® 308 broilers. Lemon grass water content did not affect broilers' surface temperature when consumed during the pre-slaughter period.

Bem-estar e qualidade de ovos de codornas alimentadas com extratos de camomila e passiflora

“…Para a criação de codornas a busca de técnicas que diminuam o estresse de aves criadas em gaiolas e que proporcionem o bem-estar já vem chamando a atenção de pesquisadores há algum tempo, e os fitoterápicos aparecem como boa alternativa, visto a impossibilidade de se criar codornas livres de gaiolas. Estudos com Passiflora alata, camomila, chá verde e capim-limão revelaram que estas plantas possuem propriedades calmantes e de redução do estresse em humanos, camundongos e aves ( Barbosa et al, 2008;Provensi et al, 2008;Silva et al, 2010b;Sarker et al, 2010;Lourenço et al, 2013;Royer et al, 2015;Tenório et al, 2017).…”

Effect of chamomile extract on the welfare of laying Japanese quail

“…These effects have also been proven in bird research (Sarker et al, 2010;Lourenço et al, 2013, Royer et al, 2015.…”

Behavior of laying chicks fed diets containing sources and levels of dietary fiber in the starter phase

“…Therefore, they were considered in the ethogram, because, if constantly performed, they could represent discomfort of the bird. Subsequently, at the end of the 3rd and 6th weeks of the starter phase (21 and 42 days of age, respectively), the animals were recorded by video cameras on two consecutive days (20 and 21; and 41 and 42 days of age), in two periods of the day (08h00 and 13h00) (PEREIRA et al, 2015).Group representative of each replicate of the treatments were chosen, in a total of six 5-min recordings per period per treatment (ROYER et al, 2015). The birds' behaviors were evaluated by the focal and indirect animal observation method, whereby five randomly chosen birds were evaluated per replicate (HETLANd et al, 2005).…”

“…This formula indicated the percentage of time spent by the animal on a given activity during the day (representative time of 5 min) (ROYER et al, 2015). After the percentage of each activity was obtained, the behaviors were classified based on the values proposed for maintenance behaviors essential for the life (feeding and drinking), health and comfort (sleeping, lying down, scratching, preening, spreading wings, walking and others) of the animal (Table 5).…”

“…After the percentage of each activity was obtained, the behaviors were classified based on the values proposed for maintenance behaviors essential for the life (feeding and drinking), health and comfort (sleeping, lying down, scratching, preening, spreading wings, walking and others) of the animal (Table 5). The intervals proposed for the evaluation of representative behaviors to meet the essential needs of life and comfort were also defined (Table 5), as described by HURNIK (1995) and adapted by ALVES et al (2007) andROYER et al (2015).…”