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      The Effects of Simulated Transportation on White-Feathered End-of-Cycle Laying Hens

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      FRERICHS-THESIS-2021.pdf (1.648Mb)
      Date
      2021-01-19
      Author
      Frerichs, Carley
      Type
      Thesis
      Degree Level
      Masters
      Metadata
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      Abstract
      This study evaluated the impact of five temperature (T)/RH, three durations, and two levels of feather cover (FC) on the welfare of white-feathered end-of-cycle hens (65-70wk). The factorial arrangement with T/RH (-10°C uncontrolled RH (-10), 21°C with 30 (21/30) or 80% RH (21/80), 30°C with 30 (30/30) or 80% RH (30/80)), duration (4, 8, 12h), and FC (105 well-feathered (WF), 105 poorly-feathered (PF)), included 210 hens/replicate/farm (three total) during simulated transport. Crates (one/duration/replicate), divided in half for each FC (seven hens/side), were placed in a climate-controlled chamber. Pre-exposure all hens were fasted (6h). Pre- and post-exposure, hens were weighed (live shrink calculated) and five hens/treatment had core body temperature (CBT) recorded and blood samples taken (delta (∆) blood physiology values calculated). Behaviour was analyzed using 5min scan sampling. Post-slaughter, muscle characteristics were analyzed. A randomized complete block design using ANOVA was used for analyses (PROC MIXED, SAS 9.4; blocked by farm; significance at P≤0.05). Mortality was highest for PF hens at -10. Hen ∆CBT were greater (positive) at 12h for all T/RH than at 4h for 21/30, 21/80, and -10 (negative). Hen ∆glucose were greater (negative) at 4 and 12h for -10 than 4h at 21/30, and all durations for 21/80, 30/30, and 30/80. Hen ∆sodium, ∆hemoglobin, and ∆hematocrit were greater (positive) for -10 PF than WF (negative). Hens spent more time shivering and motionless in -10, while hens panted frequently in 30/80 for both FC and in 30/30 for WF hens. Live shrink increased with increasing duration. Muscle pH measures (except initial pH) were higher in hens exposed to -10 and this difference was exacerbated by increased D (final breast and thigh pH). For muscle colour, breast and thigh (both FC) lightness values were lowest in the -10 treatment. Breast and thigh redness values were higher in hens exposed to -10. Thaw and cooking losses were impacted by T/RH and duration, with cook loss also influenced by FC. Overall, the largest impact was found in hens exposed to -10 for increasing D compared to other treatments, demonstrating stress responses and reduced welfare for behaviour, blood and muscle physiology.
      Degree
      Master of Science (M.Sc.)
      Department
      Animal and Poultry Science
      Program
      Animal Science
      Supervisor
      Schwean-Lardner, Karen
      Committee
      Crowe, Trever; Brown, Jennifer; Newkirk, Rex; Brook, Ryan; Shand, Phyllis
      Copyright Date
      June 2021
      URI
      http://hdl.handle.net/10388/13212
      Subject
      layer
      end-of-cycle hens
      transportation
      transport
      thermoregulatory behaviour
      blood physiology
      muscle physiology
      heat and cold stress
      welfare
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