Physiological stress parameters during food withdrawal period in force moulted hens

WOS: 000187007300005In the present study effect of body weight at the beginning of moulting period on stress parameters and egg production were studied. Hens were weighed and divided into 3 groups as light (1,800-2,101 g), medium (2,101-2,400 g) and heavy (2,401-2,700 g) and were force moulted by food withdrawal for 12 days. At 0, 4, 8 and 12 days of food withdrawal, body weights, and liver, ovary and oviduct weights were measured and blood glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein, albumin, globulin, calcium and phosphorus levels were analyzed. Liver dry matter and total lipid were also determined. During 12 days of feed withdrawal, quadratic polynomial equations were found for the changes in the levels of blood parameters, except cholesterol. Interactions between body weight groups and days of food withdrawal were not significant, indicating that the changes in stress parameters in this study were independent of body weights of hens at the beginning of moulting period. The results showed that variation in body weight at the beginning of moulting period would have an effect on second cycle performance of hens, but not on stress parameters measured in this study. Thus, it is appropriate to consider uniformity in body weight of hens before moulting