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Indicators of Physiological Stress in Broiler Chickens During Road Transportation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

M A Mitchell ,
P J Kettlewell  and
M H Maxwell
M A Mitchell
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Animal Physiological and Genetics Research, Edinburgh Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9PS
P J Kettlewell
Affiliation:
AFRC Silsoe Research Institute, Wrest Park, Silsoe
M H Maxwell
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Animal Physiological and Genetics Research, Edinburgh Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9PS
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Abstract

Differential leucocyte counts and plasma activities of the muscle enzyme, creatine kinase, have been determined in blood samples obtained from broiler chickens, immediately prior to and following road transportation from farm to processing plant for slaughter. These parameters are proposed as indicators of physiological stress based on previous findings.

Heterophil:lymphocyte ratios and plasma creatine kinase activities increased and eosinophil counts were decreased during the journey in birds tranported in both July and October when the curtain sides of the vehicles were open or closed respectively.

These findings are consistent with the presence of physiological stress during road transportation. The thermal microenvironments to which birds are exposed in transit are thought to represent one of the sources of this ‘transportation stress’.

Keywords

animal welfarecreatine kinasehaematologyphysiological stresstransport stress

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 1 , Issue 2 , May 1992 , pp. 91 - 103
Copyright
© 1992 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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