Effects of cage versus floor rearing and breed of pullets on blood chemical parameters, physiological condition and egg quality
2001
Itoh, N. (Rakuno Gakuen Univ., Ebetsu, Hokkaido (Japan)) | Moritsu, Y. | Shibata, A. | Terai, A.
The effects of cage versus floor rearing and breed of pullets on blood chemical values, physiological characteristics and egg quality were studied. Fifty-eight pullets of three commercial lines, White Leghorn, Rhode Island Red and White Leghorn*Rhode Island Red, were used in the study. During the period of 10 weeks to 20 weeks after hatching, half of the birds in each group were reared in cages and the another half were reared on a floor. After 20 weeks, blood was collected from each bird and physiological characteristics and egg quality were assessed. Plasma alkaline phosphatase (ALP) , acid phosphatase (ACP) , calcium, phoshorus and immunoglobulin (IgG) levels were measured as blood parameters. Physiological characteristics were assessed according to feather score, the day of the first egg production, and body weight. Assessment of egg quality was based on egg weight, Haugh unit, and shell thickness. These data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA. Plasma ALP and IgG were found to be significantly higher in the floor reared group, while ACP was higher in cage reared group. Feather score was better in the floor reared group. Significant differences in body weight and in egg weight between the pulles breed groups were found. The results of the present study suggest that blood chemical parameters and physiological characteristics are affected by the rearing environment.
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