Effect of Vitamin C, Shackling and Crating Stress on Tonic Immobility Reactions of Broiler Chickens in Preslaughter

摘要

The objective of this study was to assess fear responses of broiler chicks to vitamin C , different shackling and crating times in preslaughter. In this study, tonic immobility (TI) was used as an index of fear reactions. At 42 d of age, 80 male broiler chicks were randomly selected for 8 treatments in the experiment. The treatment included treated and untreated vitamin C for two shackling times (60 and 120 s) and subsequently two crating times (2 and 4 h). The equal numbers of birds were provided drinking water containing either 0 or 1000 ppm of L- ascorbic acid for 36 h. The TI was determined following the crating. Vitamin C and handling time resulted in a significant reduction in duration of TI in broilers drank treated water with vitamin C and for 60 s shackling times (p0.05). Number of attempts to induce TI were not affected by vitamin C , shackling and crating time (p>0.05). It was concluded that the use of vitamin C in drinking water during 36 h preslaughter may offer a practical method for alleviating underlying fearfulness and enhancing poultry welfare.