Multifactorial Evaluation of Regrouping Effects on Performance and Welfare in Two Italian Dual-Purpose Chicken Breeds: <i>Bianca di Saluzzo</i> and <i>Bionda Piemontese</i>
The aim of the present study was to investigate the ability of two Italian slow-growing poultry breeds (namely, <i>Bionda Piemontese</i>, BP, and <i>Bianca di Saluzzo</i>, BS) to cope with a stressful event, such as collective grouping, using a multifactorial approach. A tota...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/18/2355 |
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| author | Sihem Dabbou Cecilia Mugnai Dominga Soglia Martina Tarantola Elisabetta Macchi Stefano Sartore Stefania Bergagna Giulia Pagliasso Achille Schiavone |
| author_facet | Sihem Dabbou Cecilia Mugnai Dominga Soglia Martina Tarantola Elisabetta Macchi Stefano Sartore Stefania Bergagna Giulia Pagliasso Achille Schiavone |
| author_sort | Sihem Dabbou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim of the present study was to investigate the ability of two Italian slow-growing poultry breeds (namely, <i>Bionda Piemontese</i>, BP, and <i>Bianca di Saluzzo</i>, BS) to cope with a stressful event, such as collective grouping, using a multifactorial approach. A total of 120 hens of BP and BS breeds were homogenously distributed, according to breed, in 12 pens (10 hens/pen; 6 pens/breed), from 18 to 49 weeks of age. At 50 weeks of age, hens were regrouped (Stressful Farm Practice, SFP), by removing separators, both in indoor and outdoor areas. At 49 weeks of age, 24 hens/breed were randomly selected for the evaluation of welfare (ethological and physiological) parameters, at different time points: T0: 1-week pre-SPF; T1: 1-week post-SFP; T2: 3-week post-SFP; T3: 5-week post-SFP. Egg production was recorded from 38 to 56 weeks of age. Grouping produced a social stress in both BS and BP-laying hens, which was expressed in terms of productive traits (reduction of oviposition), behavioral modification (worsening of plumage condition due to feather peaking and extension of the duration of the tonic immobility test) and physiological modification (increased heterophil/lymphocyte ratio and corticosterone metabolites in droppings). Both breeds reacted in a similar way; in fact, no differences were attributed to the breed. At the end of the observation period, the egg rate fully recovered, while the behavioral and physiological parameters partially recovered but failed to recover to those recorded prior to the stressful event. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:56:31Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:56:31Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-3813db5bf977482f8a06fc738cb94c6e2023-11-23T14:41:34ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-09-011218235510.3390/ani12182355Multifactorial Evaluation of Regrouping Effects on Performance and Welfare in Two Italian Dual-Purpose Chicken Breeds: <i>Bianca di Saluzzo</i> and <i>Bionda Piemontese</i>Sihem Dabbou0Cecilia Mugnai1Dominga Soglia2Martina Tarantola3Elisabetta Macchi4Stefano Sartore5Stefania Bergagna6Giulia Pagliasso7Achille Schiavone8Center Agriculture Food Environment (C3A), University of Trento, Via E. Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all’Adige, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Largo P. Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Largo P. Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Largo P. Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Largo P. Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Largo P. Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, ItalyVeterinary Medical Research Institute for Piemonte, Liguria and Valle d’Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, ItalyVeterinary Medical Research Institute for Piemonte, Liguria and Valle d’Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Largo P. Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, ItalyThe aim of the present study was to investigate the ability of two Italian slow-growing poultry breeds (namely, <i>Bionda Piemontese</i>, BP, and <i>Bianca di Saluzzo</i>, BS) to cope with a stressful event, such as collective grouping, using a multifactorial approach. A total of 120 hens of BP and BS breeds were homogenously distributed, according to breed, in 12 pens (10 hens/pen; 6 pens/breed), from 18 to 49 weeks of age. At 50 weeks of age, hens were regrouped (Stressful Farm Practice, SFP), by removing separators, both in indoor and outdoor areas. At 49 weeks of age, 24 hens/breed were randomly selected for the evaluation of welfare (ethological and physiological) parameters, at different time points: T0: 1-week pre-SPF; T1: 1-week post-SFP; T2: 3-week post-SFP; T3: 5-week post-SFP. Egg production was recorded from 38 to 56 weeks of age. Grouping produced a social stress in both BS and BP-laying hens, which was expressed in terms of productive traits (reduction of oviposition), behavioral modification (worsening of plumage condition due to feather peaking and extension of the duration of the tonic immobility test) and physiological modification (increased heterophil/lymphocyte ratio and corticosterone metabolites in droppings). Both breeds reacted in a similar way; in fact, no differences were attributed to the breed. At the end of the observation period, the egg rate fully recovered, while the behavioral and physiological parameters partially recovered but failed to recover to those recorded prior to the stressful event.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/18/2355<i>Bionda Piemontese</i>slow-growing chickenstressful housing practicewelfareperformance |
| spellingShingle | Sihem Dabbou Cecilia Mugnai Dominga Soglia Martina Tarantola Elisabetta Macchi Stefano Sartore Stefania Bergagna Giulia Pagliasso Achille Schiavone Multifactorial Evaluation of Regrouping Effects on Performance and Welfare in Two Italian Dual-Purpose Chicken Breeds: <i>Bianca di Saluzzo</i> and <i>Bionda Piemontese</i> Animals <i>Bionda Piemontese</i> slow-growing chicken stressful housing practice welfare performance |
| title | Multifactorial Evaluation of Regrouping Effects on Performance and Welfare in Two Italian Dual-Purpose Chicken Breeds: <i>Bianca di Saluzzo</i> and <i>Bionda Piemontese</i> |
| title_full | Multifactorial Evaluation of Regrouping Effects on Performance and Welfare in Two Italian Dual-Purpose Chicken Breeds: <i>Bianca di Saluzzo</i> and <i>Bionda Piemontese</i> |
| title_fullStr | Multifactorial Evaluation of Regrouping Effects on Performance and Welfare in Two Italian Dual-Purpose Chicken Breeds: <i>Bianca di Saluzzo</i> and <i>Bionda Piemontese</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Multifactorial Evaluation of Regrouping Effects on Performance and Welfare in Two Italian Dual-Purpose Chicken Breeds: <i>Bianca di Saluzzo</i> and <i>Bionda Piemontese</i> |
| title_short | Multifactorial Evaluation of Regrouping Effects on Performance and Welfare in Two Italian Dual-Purpose Chicken Breeds: <i>Bianca di Saluzzo</i> and <i>Bionda Piemontese</i> |
| title_sort | multifactorial evaluation of regrouping effects on performance and welfare in two italian dual purpose chicken breeds i bianca di saluzzo i and i bionda piemontese i |
| topic | <i>Bionda Piemontese</i> slow-growing chicken stressful housing practice welfare performance |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/18/2355 |
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