The Effect of Egg Laying on Feather and Plasma Corticosterone Concentrations in Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) Hens

Animals

卷:11

Emily M. Leishman¹  Christine F. Baes¹  Nienke van Staaveren¹  Benjamin J. Wood¹  Alexandra Harlander-Matauschek¹  Amy E. M. Newman²  Nikole E. Freeman²  Jeff Mohr³ 

[1] Department of Animal Biosciences, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada;

[2] Department of Integrative Biology, College of Biological Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada;

[3] Hybrid Turkeys, Suite C, 650 Riverbend Drive, Kitchener, ON N2K 3S2, Canada;

关键词: glucocorticoid;    breeding;    avian;    welfare;    stress;    poultry;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ani11071892

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Phenological differences in energy demand (i.e., reproductive status) might influence the measurement of corticosterone. The objective of this study was to compare corticosterone concentrations in feathers (FCORT) and plasma (PCORT) for turkey hens before and during egg laying. Secondary feathers 1 and 3, and a plasma sample were collected from 50 hens at 30 weeks (before egg laying) from two purebred lines. The hens were reexamined during lay (45 weeks) to collect regrown feathers and plasma samples. Corticosterone concentrations were measured using an ELISA. Linear mixed models were used to assess the effect of genetic line (A vs. B) and period (pre-lay vs. lay) on FCORT and PCORT levels. An increase in FCORT during lay was detected for line B (p < 0.0001), but not line A (p = 0.3076). An increase in FCORT during lay was detectable in both feather types, but there was a difference between secondary 1 and 3 in FCORT concentration within each line studied. Conversely, PCORT decreased between the pre-lay and lay periods for both lines, although the decrease was more substantial for line A (p < 0.0001). Differences in metabolic investment in egg production between the two genetic lines may explain the different FCORT response during lay. The results from this study provide insight into how periods of high energy demand may influence corticosterone which should be considered when interpreting results.

【 授权许可】

Unknown