EVALUATION OF TRANSPORTATION STRESS IN FOUR WEEKS OLD BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

The rearing of large number of broiler chickens at geographically dispersed sites means that they have to be transported by road using various means of transportation over various distances, to centralized processing location. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of different means of transportation over various distances and stocking densities on stress indicator of four weeks old broilers. In this study, a total number of 35 birds were used. The number of birds in the cage was varied as 3,5,7,9, and 11 while the distance travelled varied 1km, 2km, 4km, 6km, and 10 km. Mode of transportation used were bicycle, motorcycle and tractor trailer. Parameter measured inside the cage included dry and wet temperature, discomfort index, anal and rectal temperatures of the birds and ambient environmental temperature and relative humidity of the cage. The transport of 7 Broilers using Bicycle, Motorcycle and Tractor from one point to the other statistically and significantly increased their mean oral temperature (p< 0.001). Transporting the 7 broilers using Bicycle, Motor and Tractor increased their oral temperature between(2.77 and 3.16 0C), (4.54 and 8.30 0C) and (5.64 and5.89 0C) respectively. Result of the paired –samples t-test showed that mean rectal temperature differs before transport and after transport for broilers transported using Bicycle (p < .001, 95% CI for mean difference between 4.50 and 4.93 0 C, r =.38), using Motorcycle (p <.001, 95% CI for means difference between 3.98 and 4.13 0 c, r =.24) and Tractor (p < .001, 95% CI for mean difference between 3.77 and 4.00 0C, r = .99) respectively. In all the various stocking densities, travel distance and vehicle types (Bicycle, Motorcycle and Tractor), there were increases in the mean of oral and rectal temperature of the broilers after transport signifying an increase in their body temperature after transport. The impacts of the transport vehicles on the thermal heat stress of the Broilers at varying distances (1km, 2km, 4km, 6km and 10km) and stocking densities (3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 broilers) respectively. The Discomfort Index at 1km, 4km and 10km after transport of the broilers is significantly different (p ≤ 0.05) among the vehicle types at all the various stocking densities. At 1km ,4km and 10km after transport, the broilers transported with Tractor at all the various stocking densities (3, 5, 7, 9and 11broilers) have significantly ( p≤ 0.05) higher Discomfort Index than those broilers transported using Motorcycle. Travel distance and stocking density together with their interaction affect discomfort index of the broilers in Bicycle significantly (p ≤ 0.05) in all the three means of transport, Discomfort Index using Bicycle, Motorcycle and Tractor as means of transport showed that discomfort index increased with increasing travel distance and at higher stocking density. This research establishes the facts that longer distance and greater stocking densities subjected the broilers to higher discomfort. The broilers transported with Tractor at all the various stocking densities and travel distances have significantly higher Discomfort Index than the broilers transported using Bicycle and Motorcycle