Stress in broiler chickens due to acute noise exposure.

摘要

The effects of stress from acute noise exposure were analysed in a group of ROSS 308 broiler chickens (n=80), aged 42 days old. The experiment simulated slaughterhouse sounds to which the broilers were exposed for 10 min in the test enclosure. Effects of acute noise exposure at two different levels (80 dB and 100 dB) were evaluated on the basis of examinations of selected biochemical plasma indicators and tonic immobility tests. Results revealed that noise stimuli of both 80 dB and 100 dB intensities for 10 min induced a significant increase in plasma corticosterone levels. Broilers that were exposed to noise stimuli of 100 dB also exhibited a significant increase in the cholesterol level and total protein level. Exposure to noise stimuli did not influence the glucose level and triglyceride concentrations. The duration of tonic immobility was not affected by noise stimuli in the experiment. However, noise exposure at a 100 dB level decreased the number of attempts to induce tonic immobility in broilers.