The Effect of Stocking Density on Stress Related Genes and Telomeric Length in Broiler Chickens

Cefotaxime (CTX)-resistant Enterobacteriaceae are still an ongoing challenge in human and veterinary health. High prevalence of these resistant bacteria is detected in broiler chickens and the prevention of their dissemination along the production pyramid is of major concern. The impact of certain on-farm interventions on the external bacterial contamination of broiler chickens, as well as their influence on single processing steps and (cross-) contamination, have not yet been evaluated. Therefore, we investigated breast skin swab samples of broiler chickens before and during slaughter at an experimental slaughter facility. Broiler chickens were previously challenged with CTX-resistant Escherichia coli strains in a seeder-bird model and subjected to none (control group (CG)) or four different on-farm interventions: drinking water supplementation based on organic acids (DW), slow growing breed Rowan × Ranger (RR), reduced stocking density (25 kg/sqm) and competitive exclusion with Enterobacteriales strain IHIT36098(CE). Chickens of RR, 25 kg/sqm, and CE showed significant reductions of the external contamination compared to CG. The evaluation of a visual scoring system indicated that wet and dirty broiler chickens are more likely a vehicle for the dissemination of CTX-resistant and total Enterobacteriaceae into the slaughterhouses and contribute to higher rates of (cross-) contamination during processing.

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Effect of stocking density on productive performance, behaviour, and histopathology of the lymphoid organs in broiler chickens

10.1399/eps.2018.247 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

T. Yanai* ◽

M. I. Abo-Samaha ◽

S. E. El-Kazaz ◽

H. G. Tohamy

Keyword(s):

Broiler Chickens ◽

Stocking Density ◽

Lymphoid Organs ◽

Productive Performance

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High stocking density alters bone-related calcium and phosphorus metabolism by changing intestinal absorption in broiler chickens

Poultry Science ◽

10.3382/ps/pex294 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 97 (1) ◽

pp. 219-226 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Z.W. Sun ◽

Q.H. Fan ◽

X.X. Wang ◽

Y.M. Guo ◽

H.J. Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intestinal Absorption ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Stocking Density ◽

Phosphorus Metabolism ◽

Calcium And Phosphorus

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Impacts of stocking density rates on welfare, growth, and hemato-biochemical profile in broiler chickens

Journal of Advanced Veterinary and Animal Research ◽

10.5455/javar.2021.h556 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Mishkatul Zabir ◽

Mohammad Miah ◽

Mahabub Alam ◽

Md Bhuiyan ◽

Md Haque ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Broiler Chickens ◽

Stocking Density ◽

Biochemical Profile

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Splenic Gene Expression Signatures in Slow-Growing Chickens Stimulated in Ovo with Galactooligosaccharides and Challenged with Heat

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10030474 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 474 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Elzbieta Pietrzak ◽

Aleksandra Dunislawska ◽

Maria Siwek ◽

Marco Zampiga ◽

Federico Sirri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Heat Stress ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Physiological Saline ◽

Negative Effects ◽

In Ovo ◽

Stress Related Genes ◽

The Impact ◽

Slow Growing ◽

Resistance To Heat

Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) that are delivered in ovo improve intestinal microbiota composition and mitigate the negative effects of heat stress in broiler chickens. Hubbard hybrids are slow-growing chickens with a high resistance to heat. In this paper, we determined the impact of GOS delivered in ovo on slow-growing chickens that are challenged with heat. The experiment was a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design. On day 12 of incubation, GOS (3.5 mg/egg) was delivered into the egg (n = 300). Controls (C) were mock-injected with physiological saline (n = 300). After hatching, the GOS and C groups were split into thermal groups: thermoneutral (TN) and heat stress (HS). HS (30 °C) lasted for 14 days (days 36–50 post-hatching). The spleen (n = 8) was sampled after acute (8.5 h) and chronic (14 days) HS. The gene expression of immune-related (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p40, and IL-17) and stress-related genes (HSP25, HSP90AA1, BAG3, CAT, and SOD) was detected with RT-qPCR. Chronic HS up-regulated the expression of the genes: IL-10, IL-12p40, SOD (p < 0.05), and CAT (p < 0.01). GOS delivered in ovo down-regulated IL-4 (acute p < 0.001; chronic p < 0.01), IL-12p40, CAT and SOD (chronic p < 0.05). The obtained results suggest that slow-growing hybrids are resistant to acute heat and tolerant to chronic heat, which can be supported with in ovo GOS administration.

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Effect of stocking density on performance, carcass yield, productivity, and bone development in broiler chickens Cobb 500®

Semina Ciências Agrárias ◽

10.5433/1679-0359.2017v38n4supl1p2705 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 38 (4Supl1) ◽

pp. 2705

Author(s):

Cleoneide Dos Santos Henrique ◽

Andréia Fróes Galuci Oliveira ◽

Thales Silva Ferreira ◽

Eduardo Santos Silva ◽

Bruna Finotti Fonseca Reis de Mello ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Weight Gain ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Bone Development ◽

Stocking Density ◽

Live Weight ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Randomized Design ◽

Total Phase ◽

Completely Randomized Design

This study aimed to assess the effect of stocking density of 10, 12, 14, and 16 birds m?2 on performance, carcass and cut yields, productivity, and bone development of broiler chickens Cobb 500®. The experimental design was completely randomized design with four treatments (stocking densities) and four replications. The assessments were performed weekly at 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 days. The best live weight result was found at a density of 10 birds m?2 in the period from 1 to 7 days. No effect of density was observed on feed intake and weight gain. From 1 to 14 days, the best live weights were found at densities of 10, 12, and 14 birds m?2, in addition to a higher feed intake at densities of 10 and 12 birds m?2. Weight gain was better at a density of 10 birds m?2, showing no differences from densities of 12 and 14 birds m?2. In the period from 1 to 21 days, live weight and weight gain were higher at densities of 10, 12, and 14 birds m?2. The highest feed intake was observed at a density of 10 birds m?2, which showed no difference from the density of 14 birds m?2. A difference (P < 0.05) was observed for live weight, weight gain, and feed intake of animals reared at densities of 10, 12, and 14 birds m?2 for the phases from 1 to 35 days and the total phase from 1 to 42 days of bird age when compared to 16 birds m?2, which presented lower performance. However, feed conversion of 1-7, 1-14, 1-21, 1-35, and 1-42 days and carcass and cut characteristics showed no significant differences for all treatments. On the other hand, productivity was higher in the treatments with 14 and 16 birds m?2, but without difference between each other. No interaction (P > 0.05) was observed between stocking density and age for the assessed bone parameters. Similarly, no difference (P > 0.05) was observed for bone development of broiler chickens reared at different stocking densities for the studied parameters. Thus, the increased density of 10 or 12 birds m?2 to 14 birds m?2 has no influence on zootechnical performance, carcass and cut yields, and bone development, but increases broiler chicken productivity reared in a conventional shed without air conditioning.

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Effect of prebiotic and synbiotic supplementation in diet on growth performance, small intestinal morphology, stress, and bacterial population under high stocking density condition of broiler chickens

Poultry Science ◽

10.3382/ps/pez152 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 98 (10) ◽

pp. 4595-4605 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Chayatid Kridtayopas ◽

Choawit Rakangtong ◽

Chaiyapoom Bunchasak ◽

Wiriya Loongyai

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Bacterial Population ◽

Stocking Density ◽

Intestinal Morphology ◽

Density Condition ◽

Small Intestinal ◽

Synbiotic Supplementation

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Effects of stocking density on the growth performance and digestive microbiota of broiler chickens

Poultry Science ◽

10.3382/ps.2010-01311 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 90 (9) ◽

pp. 1878-1889 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

S. Guardia ◽

B. Konsak ◽

S. Combes ◽

F. Levenez ◽

L. Cauquil ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Stocking Density

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Environmental Complexity, but Not Stocking Density, Positively Impacts Affective States of Broiler Chickens

10.21203/rs.3.rs-209044/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

M.G. Anderson ◽

A.M. Campbell ◽

A. Crump ◽

G. Arnott ◽

L. Jacobs

Keyword(s):

Broiler Chickens ◽

Environmental Enrichment ◽

Resource Competition ◽

Affective State ◽

Stocking Density ◽

Food Motivation ◽

Affective States ◽

Environmental Complexity ◽

Welfare Benefits ◽

Judgement Bias

Abstract Affective state can bias an animal’s judgement. Animals in positive affective states can interpret ambiguous cues more positively (“optimistically”) than animals in negative affective states. Thus, judgement bias tests can determine an animal’s affective state through their responses to ambiguous cues. We tested the effects of environmental complexity and stocking density on affective states of broiler chickens through a multimodal judgement bias test. Broilers were trained to approach reinforced locations signaled by one color and not to approach unreinforced locations signaled by a different color. Trained birds were tested for latencies to approach three ambiguous cues of intermediate color and location. Broilers discriminated between cues, with shorter latencies to approach ambiguous cues closest to the reinforced cue than cues closest to the unreinforced cue, validating the use of the test in this context. Broilers housed in high-complexity pens approached ambiguous cues faster than birds in low-complexity pens–an optimistic judgement bias, suggesting the former were in a more positive affective state. Broilers from high-density pens tended to approach all cues faster than birds from low-density pens, possibly because resource competition in their home pen increased food motivation. Overall, our study suggests that environmental complexity improves broilers’ affective states, implying animal welfare benefits of environmental enrichment.

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