The effects of early environmental enrichment on performance, fear and physiological responses to acute stress of broiler
Makaleler > Tam Makale · 2013
Yazarlar: Ö Altan, Çiğdem ŞEREMET, Özer Hakan BAYRAKTAR
Archiv fur Geflugelkunde, SCI Expanded İndekslerine Giren Dergi, Uluslararası, Scopus, 2013, cilt 77, ss 23-28
Özet
In this study, the effects of early environmental enrichment on growth performance, fearfulness and well-beings of broiler chickens were investigated and ability of birds to cope with later acute stress was determined. The day-old chicks were randomly assigned into a control and environmental enrichment group. At 22 d of age, control and enriched chicks were exposed to acute stress (noise, crating or heat stress). Fear and stress responses of birds were evaluated. Environmental enrichment did not affect growth performance of broilers at 21 d of age. No significant differences were found in the differential leucocyte counts and the H/L ratios between groups, suggesting that environmental enrichment did not cause chronic stress. After exposure to acute stress, leucocyte and tonic immobility responses of birds were affected by both stressors and early enrichment treatment. Heat treatment caused more stress and fear reactions than noise and crating treatment. Data from present study have shown that environmental enrichment in early age decreased underlying fearfulness without any adverse effect on growth performance and stress status of birds. Chicks reared in environmentally enriched houses may have an advantage to cope with fear inducing stimuli in later life. © Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart.