EFFECTS OF STRAIN, CAGE DENSITY AND POSITION ON IMMUNE RESPONSE TO VACCINES AND BLOOD PARAMETERS IN LAYER PULLETS
Keywords:
cage density, cage position, pullet, strain, stress, welfareAbstract
Two thousand 1-day-old layer chicks were used in the study from Lohman Brown,
Isa Brown, Lohman White and Bowans White breeds. The chicks were placed in the
at 3 cage densities (211.8, 274.5 and 370.6 cm2
per bird) and on 3 positions (as top,
middle and bottom tiers). All birds were kept under standard management policy
and a commercial vaccination program was practiced. Total specific antibody titres
to Infectious Brochitis Virus (IBV), Infectious Bursal Desease Virus (IBDV),
Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) and Egg Drop Syndrome Virus (EDSV) vaccines at
the ages of 5, 10 and 20 weeks were serologically determined by ELISA. Cellmediated immune response was also evaluated. In commercial white egg laying
strains specific antibody titres to IBV, IBDV, NDV and EDSV vaccines were greater
than in Brown egg layer strains. Keeping in cage created more stress in Brown egg
laying chicks than those in white egg laying chicks. As cage density increased, the
ratio of heterophils to lymphocytes (H/L ratio) slightly increased. Cage position had
no influence on the titres of antibodies to IBV and IBDV vaccines but the position of
cage in pullets where chicks were stocked, from top to bottom, NDV and EDSV
antibody titre decreased and percentage of heterophils, H/L ratio and basophil rates
were low. These findings suggest that cage-related stress could be decreased,
resistance to diseases and finally well-being of hens may be improved if hens are
kept under proper position and density within cage systems with respect to their
physiological and behavioral characteristics that controlled by genes.
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