Effects of different crating periods on selected biochemical indices in broiler chickens

Effects of different crating periods on selected biochemical indices were monitored in a group of unsexed ROSS 308 broiler chickens aged 42 days. 120 randomly selected chickens were weighted and placed in 15 heavy duty plastic crates with reduction in floor space approx. 160 cm2/kg of body weight of broilers (average body weight was 2.75 kg). Five crates were kept for 4 hours (Group 4h), another five crates for 8 hours (Group 8 h) and another five crates for 12 hours (Group 12h). After tested periods of crating the broilers were released and blood samples were withdrawn from Vena bosilico in 24 randomly selected birds from each group (Groups 4 h, 8 h, 12 h respectively) and also in other 24 randomly selected non-crated control birds. The results of our experiment proved that duration of crating significantly influenced the stress response in broiler chickens. The duration of crating period was positively correlated with the plasma corticosterone level and negatively correlated with the lactate dehydrogenase, cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose and lactate levels in the blood of broiler chickens.