Strain and placement density effects on welfare, haematological and serum biochemical indices of broilers in north central Nigeria

This study aimed at evaluating the influence of strain and stocking density on welfare, haematological and serum biochemical indices of broilers in a 28-day trial. Two hundred and seven 4-week old birds each of Anak Titan and Arbor Acre genetic provenience were randomly allocated to three housing de...

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Main Authors: Abdulmojeed YAKUBU, Jafaru Ari GWASKA, Adebowale Emmanuel SALAKO
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Ljubljana Press (Založba Univerze v Ljubljani) 2009-12-01
Series:Acta Agriculturae Slovenica
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Online Access:https://journals.uni-lj.si/aas/article/view/14884
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author Abdulmojeed YAKUBU
Jafaru Ari GWASKA
Adebowale Emmanuel SALAKO
author_facet Abdulmojeed YAKUBU
Jafaru Ari GWASKA
Adebowale Emmanuel SALAKO
author_sort Abdulmojeed YAKUBU
collection DOAJ
description This study aimed at evaluating the influence of strain and stocking density on welfare, haematological and serum biochemical indices of broilers in a 28-day trial. Two hundred and seven 4-week old birds each of Anak Titan and Arbor Acre genetic provenience were randomly allocated to three housing densities of 8.3, 11.1 and 14.3 birds/m2.These corresponded to 17, 22 and 30 birds per pen ( 2.01 × 1.00 m ) in a 2x3 factorial experiment. Each treatment group was replicated three times. The welfare parameters estimated were gait score, feather score, foot and hock burns, pecking, pushes, chases, fights and mortality. Blood samples were tested for packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), haemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Similarly, sera were utilized for the determination of total protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, cholesterol, and creatinine contents. There were no genotype-associated differences (P > 0.05) in the welfare indicators examined. However, placement density significantly (P < 0.05) influenced incidence of pushes, chases and fights, with higher values in most cases recorded for birds housed at the highest density. The strains and population densities were similar (P > 0.05) in haematological profile. Strain and stocking density also exerted no influence (P > 0.05) on serum biochemical components. Strain × stocking density interaction effects were not observed in all the parameters. Consequently, the two strains could be reared at a density of 14.3 birds/m2 since density did not lead to a great degree of stress.
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spelling doaj-art-a48e95e9f1bc4e2d99fd8add2dfdd05c2025-08-20T02:52:55ZengUniversity of Ljubljana Press (Založba Univerze v Ljubljani)Acta Agriculturae Slovenica1854-19412009-12-0194215315810.14720/aas.2009.94.2.1488421276Strain and placement density effects on welfare, haematological and serum biochemical indices of broilers in north central NigeriaAbdulmojeed YAKUBU0Jafaru Ari GWASKA1Adebowale Emmanuel SALAKO2Nasarawa State University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science, Keffi, Shabu-Lafia Campus, P.M.B. 135, Lafia, NigeriaNasarawa State University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science, Keffi, Shabu-Lafia Campus, P.M.B. 135, Lafia, NigeriaUniversity of Ibadan, Department of Animal Science, Animal Breeding and Genetics Laboratory, Ibadan, NigeriaThis study aimed at evaluating the influence of strain and stocking density on welfare, haematological and serum biochemical indices of broilers in a 28-day trial. Two hundred and seven 4-week old birds each of Anak Titan and Arbor Acre genetic provenience were randomly allocated to three housing densities of 8.3, 11.1 and 14.3 birds/m2.These corresponded to 17, 22 and 30 birds per pen ( 2.01 × 1.00 m ) in a 2x3 factorial experiment. Each treatment group was replicated three times. The welfare parameters estimated were gait score, feather score, foot and hock burns, pecking, pushes, chases, fights and mortality. Blood samples were tested for packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), haemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Similarly, sera were utilized for the determination of total protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, cholesterol, and creatinine contents. There were no genotype-associated differences (P > 0.05) in the welfare indicators examined. However, placement density significantly (P < 0.05) influenced incidence of pushes, chases and fights, with higher values in most cases recorded for birds housed at the highest density. The strains and population densities were similar (P > 0.05) in haematological profile. Strain and stocking density also exerted no influence (P > 0.05) on serum biochemical components. Strain × stocking density interaction effects were not observed in all the parameters. Consequently, the two strains could be reared at a density of 14.3 birds/m2 since density did not lead to a great degree of stress.https://journals.uni-lj.si/aas/article/view/14884poultrybroilersgenotypestocking densityblood parametersanimal welfare
spellingShingle Abdulmojeed YAKUBU
Jafaru Ari GWASKA
Adebowale Emmanuel SALAKO
Strain and placement density effects on welfare, haematological and serum biochemical indices of broilers in north central Nigeria
Acta Agriculturae Slovenica
poultry
broilers
genotype
stocking density
blood parameters
animal welfare
title Strain and placement density effects on welfare, haematological and serum biochemical indices of broilers in north central Nigeria
title_full Strain and placement density effects on welfare, haematological and serum biochemical indices of broilers in north central Nigeria
title_fullStr Strain and placement density effects on welfare, haematological and serum biochemical indices of broilers in north central Nigeria
title_full_unstemmed Strain and placement density effects on welfare, haematological and serum biochemical indices of broilers in north central Nigeria
title_short Strain and placement density effects on welfare, haematological and serum biochemical indices of broilers in north central Nigeria
title_sort strain and placement density effects on welfare haematological and serum biochemical indices of broilers in north central nigeria
topic poultry
broilers
genotype
stocking density
blood parameters
animal welfare
url https://journals.uni-lj.si/aas/article/view/14884
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