Effect of stocking density on behavioral pattern, growth performance, blood hormones, and carcass parameter of Sasso broiler chickens

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 animal hygiene and management department, faculty of veterinary medicine, benha university, egypt

2 Faculty of veterinary medicine, benha university

3 veterinary hygeine and management departement, veterinary medicine, benha univerisity, egypt

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of stocking density on behavioral patterns, growth performance, blood hormones, and carcass quality of Sasso broilers within 60 days of rearing cycle. 150 one day old unsexed Sasso (first generation) chicks were allocated randomly according to their stocking density to 3 groups 10, 13 and 15 birds per m2 in different floor spaces 5, 3.8, and 3.3 m2 respectively. Growth performance and behavioral patterns were estimated throughout the study period. Blood samples were collected 3 times during the study to estimate cortisol and thyroid hormones concentrations. were collected every two weeks. At the end of the study 3 birds from each group were slaughtered to check the effect of stocking density on carcass parameters. The results of the current study revealed that stocking density had a significant effect on body weight, feed consumption, organs weight, and comfort behavior but had no significant effect on feed conversion ratio. There was no significant effect of stocking density on cortisol and T3 and T4 concentrations. It was concluded that Sasso broilers reared at stocking density 10 birds /m2 showed the best growth performance.

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