Influence of different handling methods and crating periods on plasma corticosterone concentrations in broilers

Abstract

1. Experiments were conducted to determine whether different handling methods and crating periods differentially affect plasma corticosterone (CS) concentrations in 6 to 7‐week‐old broilers.

2. Broilers were subjected to 1 of 3 handling methods for 2 min: (i) 3 birds held in an inverted position in one hand (multiple inverted, MI), (ii) 1 bird held in an inverted position (single inverted, SI), or (iii) upright handling (U), which consisted of holding a bird gently with both hands in an upright position.

3. In experiment 1 birds were returned to their respective pens after handling and in experiment 2 they were crated for up to 4 h after the imposition of handling. In experiment 2 food deprived (FD) and fully fed (FF) uncrated birds were also sampled as controls. Blood samples were collected immediately after handling and at 1‐h intervals after handling or handling and crating.

4. In experiment 1, MI and SI birds had higher CS concentrations than U birds.

5. In experiment 2, there were no significant differences in CS concentrations of crated birds despite the different handling treatments. FD birds had higher mean CS concentrations than FF birds, although not as high as those of crated birds. CS concentrations peaked at 3 h after crating. Birds showed predominantly resting behaviour after crating.

6. These results suggest that handling stress can be reduced in broilers by the use of upright handling. However, the methods of handling is not important in influencing CS concentrations if the birds are crated after handling, either because crating is a more potent stressor than handling or due to stressor additivity.

Notes

Correspondence to: Prof. J. A. Mench, Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.