Stress response in feed restricted domestic fowl with dietary supplementation of several additives that act against stress

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of a feed restriction and several dietary additives that affect stress response on the fluctuating asymmetry of 4 traits (toe length, leg width, leg length, and wing length), heterophil to lymphocyte ratio, and tonic immobility duration in chickens at 42 d of age. Chicks from a White Leghorn population were used. There were six different groups. Chicks in group 1 (feed restriction) were reared with a mean feed supply of 10 g/d. Groups 2, 3, 4, and 5 consisted of chicks reared with a mean feed supply of 10 g/d with the addition of capsaicin (50 ppm), α-tocopherol (250 ppm), allicin (0.02%), and niacin (250 ppm), respectively. Chicks in group 6 (control) were reared with a mean feed supply of 25 g/d. Feed restriction effect was significant (P < 0.05) for the fluctuating asymmetry of wing length and the heterophil to lymphocyte ratio, both being greater in feed restricted chicks without any additive and smaller in control chicks. Fluctuating asymmetry of wing length, combined fluctuating asymmetry of the 4 traits, and heterophil to lymphocyte ratio for feed restricted chicks with capsaicin were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than those of feed restricted chicks without capsaicin. The addition of niacin and α-tocopherol to the diet of chicks under feed restriction resulted in lower fluctuating asymmetry of wing length (P < 0.05) in comparison with that of feed restricted chicks without any additive. In conclusion, a severe restricted dietis associated with the stressfulness of chicks, and dietary capsaicin supplementation is effective to alleviate the stress induced by a severe feed restriction in young chickens. Whether this compound will be efficient in laying hens and broiler breeders has still to be proved.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Prieto, M. T., Campo, J. L.
Format:	journal article biblioteca
Language:	English
Published:	Verlag Eugen Ulmer 2011
Online Access:	http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12792/5403 http://hdl.handle.net/10261/294999
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