Corticosterone, cortisol, triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase and uric acid plasma concentrations during foie gras production in male mule ducks (Anas platyrhynchos × Cairina moschata)

Abstract

1. Corticosterone, cortisol, triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and uric acid (UA) plasma concentration were measured at 8 (7 days after group housing), 12 (after 7 days of force feeding) and 13 weeks of age (at slaughter after 12 days of force feeding), and 45 min after an adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test at 8 weeks of age in 12 male mule ducks in an on-farm experiment.

2. No significant increase of corticosterone was found during the force-feeding period compared with the concentration after housing.

3. Comparison of corticosterone and cortisol values indicates that cortisol can be considered as a reliable acute stress indicator in future routine examinations.

4. Plasma concentrations of triglycerides and aspartate aminotransferase increased progressively from pre-force feeding period to slaughtering.

5. Plasma concentrations of uric acid increased from the start at 8 weeks of age to the mid-force feeding period but no difference was noticed between the mid-force feeding period and slaughtering.

6. It is concluded that acute stress induced by force-feeding is similar at the beginning and end of the commercial production of foie gras.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant from B. Lutgen, the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Life, Environment and Tourism for the Walloon Region, Belgium. The authors wish to thank Prof. J.F. Beckers (Physiology of Animal Reproduction, Veterinary Faculty, University of Liège) and Mr J. Sulon (Sector of Biochemistry, Veterinary Faculty, University of Liège) respectively for the cortisol and corticosterone determinations.