Effect of stocking density on behavioral pattern, growth performance, blood hormones, and carcass parameter of Sasso broiler chickens

The present experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of heat stress (HS) andstocking density (SD) on growth performance, breast meat quality, and intestinal barrier functionin broiler chickens. Experimental treatments included two different ambient temperatures (20 °C:thermoneutral conditions, or 27.8 °C: HS conditions) and two different SD (low: 9 birds/m2 andhigh: 18 birds/m2) in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. A total of 1140 21-day-old broiler chickens wereallotted 1 of 4 treatments with five replicates. At the end of the experiment (35 days of age), twobirds per replicate were euthanized for sample collections. The results indicated no interactionsbetween HS and SD for all measurements. For main effects, HS decreased (p < 0.05) the growthperformance of broiler chickens. Similarly, high SD also decreased (p < 0.05) body weight gain andfeed intake. HS decreased (p < 0.01) jejunal trans-epithelial electric resistance (TER), whereas highSD did not affect TER. Neither HS nor high SD affected jejunal tight junction-related geneexpressions; however, high SD reduced (p < 0.05) occludin expression. In conclusion, HS and highSD are key environmental factors decreasing broiler performance; however, the interactive effectsof HS and high SD are not significant under the current conditions.

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Supplemental methionine and stocking density affect antioxidant status, fatty acid profiles, and growth performance of broiler chickens

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skaa092 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 98 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Andrew D Magnuson ◽

Guanchen Liu ◽

Tao Sun ◽

Samar A Tolba ◽

Lin Xi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Adverse Effects ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Stocking Density ◽

Heat Shock Protein 90 ◽

Redox Status ◽

Fatty Acid Profiles ◽

Glutathione S Transferase ◽

Impaired Health ◽

Methionine Supplementation

Abstract Broilers stocked in high densities may be prone to oxidative and inflammatory insults, resulting in impaired health status, growth performance, and meat quality. This study was to determine if 30% extra supplemental dl-methionine alleviated or prevented those adverse effects of a higher stocking density in broiler chickens. A total of 560 male Cornish Cross cockerels (day old) were divided into four groups: two stocking densities (9 and 12 birds/m2) and two supplementations of methionine (grower: 2.90 or 3.77 g/kg and finisher: 2.60 or 3.38 g/kg). Growth performance was recorded weekly. Blood and tissues were sampled at the end of each period. High stocking density decreased (P < 0.05) body weight and growth performance of growers and (or) finishers. Those differences were partially attenuated by the extra methionine supplementation. The high methionine elevated (P < 0.05) glutathione (GSH) concentration in the thigh at both ages (> 24%). The high stocking density elevated (>28%, P < 0.05) glutathione concentration in the plasma, breast, and thigh of growers, but decreased (P < 0.05) it in the liver of growers and thigh of finishers. Interaction effects (P < 0.05) between dietary methionine and stocking density were found on activities of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione S-transferase in the liver of growers and breast, thigh, and adipose tissue of finishers. The interaction effect was also found on activities of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase in the thigh of growers. The extra methionine decreased (P < 0.05) hepatic gene expression of heat shock protein 90 (18%) and thigh and breast malondialdehyde concentrations of the finishers (35%). In conclusion, the 30% extra dl-methionine supplementation was able to partially mitigate adverse effects caused by the higher stocking density and to improve the redox status of the broilers.

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Effects of Scopoletin Supplementation and Stocking Density on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Activity, and Meat Quality of Korean Native Broiler Chickens

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods10071505 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 1505

Author(s):

Sang Hun Ha ◽

Hwan Ku Kang ◽

Abdolreza Hosseindoust ◽

Jun Young Mun ◽

Joseph Moturi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Meat Quality ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Antioxidant Status ◽

Body Weight Gain ◽

Stocking Density ◽

Corticosterone Level ◽

Leg Muscles ◽

Total Antioxidant ◽

Leg Muscle

Stocking density stress is one of the most common management stressors in the poultry industry. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of dietary Sophora koreensis (SK; 0 and 20 mg/kg diet) and stocking density (SD; 14 and 16 chickens/m2) on the antioxidant status, meat quality, and growth performance of native Korean chickens. There was a lower concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) and a higher concentration of catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total antioxidant capacity in the serum and leg muscle with the supplementation of SK. The concentration of MDA was increased and concentrations of SOD were decreased in the leg muscle of chickens in low SD treatments. The SK-supplemented treatments showed an increased 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate-reducing activity of leg muscles. The higher water holding capacity of breast muscle and a lower cooking loss and pH were shown in the SK-supplemented treatments. The addition of dietary SK resulted in a greater body weight gain and greater spleen and bursa Fabricius weight, as well as lower feed intake and abdominal fat. The low SD and supplementation of SK increased the concentrations of cholesterol. The concentration of glucose was increased in the low SD treatment. Corticosterone level was decreased in the SK-supplemented and low SD treatments. In conclusion, SK supplementation reduced the oxidative stress and increased meat quality and antioxidant status of chickens apart from the SD stress.

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