L. Battistacci

Effect of Genotype and Husbandry System on Blood Parameters, Oxidative and Native Immune Status: Welfare and Implications on Performance of Organic Laying Hens

The aim of the present work was to compare the effect of organic production vs standard cage system on welfare and performance of a pure breed (Ancona) vs a commercial strain (Brown Hy-Line) of laying hens through a multifunctional approach (behaviour, tonic immobility, feathers score, antioxidant status of the body, blood parameters, innate immunity and mortality). The trial was carried out in farm of the Dpt. of Applied Biology (University of Perugia), where 17-weeks-old females of Ancona breed (n=200) and Brown Hy-Line (n=200) were divided in 2 homogenous groups of 100 birds each and assigned to cage or organic rearing systems. The genotype of the hens affected in a degree which depends on rearing system almost all the variables. The feeding and resting activities were higher in caged whereas moving activities were higher in organic hens and especially in Ancona birds. Social relationships showed genotype and rearing system effects being higher in Brown Hy-Line hens particularly when reared in cage. The TI duration was affected by genotype and rearing system being the immobility time longer in Brown Hy-Line. The plumage condition showed a great rearing system effect and genotype effects was observed only between organic groups where Ancona hens showed the better feathers condition. Regarding native immune status serum bactericidal activity showed the highest values in organic hens and mainly in Ancona ones. On the contrary, lysozyme showed greater value in caged hens. The haptoglobin value was lower in organic Ancona group, the same hens showed about 30% greater reactive oxygen substances, but accompanied by highest the antioxidant power. Organic rearing system, mainly in the Ancona hens, induced the highest red blood cells, haemoglobin and hematocrite values. Lymphocytes were higher in Organic birds thus reducing the H/L ratio in Organic hens. As expected, organic birds showed the worst feed efficiency and percentage of deposition, but the lowest mortality rate. In conclusion, on the basis of all these information together with the low mortality rate, Ancona hens showed the better welfare status, mainly when they were organically reared.

Olive cake dietary supplementation in rabbit: immune and oxidative status

Abstract The aim of the present study was to study the effect of three different types of dehydrated olive cakes on immunitary and oxidative status of growing rabbits. One hundred and sixty New Zealand White weaned rabbits, 30 day old, were divided into four homogeneous groups. To experimental groups was administered a similar diet integrated with 5% of three types of olive cake (A, B, C) obtained from local olive oil mills. The olive cakes A and C were both of high quality (C better than A), while the by-product B had the lowest level of total polyphenols, o-diphenols and oleic acid and the highest peroxide number. The aspecific immunitary and oxidative status was improved in animals fed olive cakes richer in antioxidant components.

Longitudinal effects of environmental enrichment on behaviour and physiology of pigs reared on an intensive-stock farm

The aim of this paper was to provide a longitudinal evaluation of the effects of physical enrichments on the behaviour and physiology of intensive stock-farming pigs. Twenty-eight crossbred pigs of both sexes, were exposed to four types of enrichments (hemp ropes, steel chains, plastic balls, rubber hoses) over a period of eleven weeks. This investigation was based on specific abnormal behaviours and physiological indicators, including hematologic parameters. For behavioural score, focal sampling was used with recording of abnormal behaviours (body-, tail- and ear-biting), belly nosing, running, and interaction with objects (for Enriched pigs). The presence of skin injuries was also recorded. In general, the frequency of abnormal behaviours was significantly reduced in the Enriched group. A time-related profile appeared in the use of the enrichments. Males showed higher occurrence of skin injuries than females. Physiological measurements, such as levels of complement system, white blood cells and neutrophils, were lower in pigs from the Enriched group. Enriched pigs, as a whole, presented much lower levels of serum DHEA-S concentration over two weeks. The findings of this study show the successful provision of appropriate enrichments to encourage behaviours which may result in satisfactory animal oral interaction with the enriching objects, preventing them biting pen-mates. In this respect, the objects proposed were strongly effective in producing changes in behaviour which could mitigate inadequate conditions, such as the relationship between animal body weight and the available space allowance.

Influence of different rearing systems on natural immune parameters in broiler turkeys

The aim of this study was to determine serological values of lysozyme, hemolytic complement levels (alternative pathway), and bactericidal activity of serum in turkeys kept in different rearing systems (industrial, backyard, and experimental). Results showed that the values for serum bactericidal activity and hemolytic complement levels increased with age, and their values were higher in experimental and in industrial turkeys than in turkeys reared in backyard. Lysozyme concentration showed a similar pattern; its value was higher in the industrial and experimental groups than in the backyard group. Data obtained suggest that rearing system can have an influence on the natural immune parameters considered; experimental and industrial groups showed a similar trend, differentiated from that observed in the backyard group. In the backyard group, the values observed may suggest that hybrid turkeys, selected for high production, have difficulty with being reared outside where predators (foxes and weasels) and weather conditions could be responsible for a stress situation.

Investigations of some parameters of natural immunity in meat turkeys reared outdoors

Abstract The progression of some parameters of natural immunity in meat turkey reared outdoors was investigated. The levels of the haemolytic complement were lower than those obtained in commercial turkeys and in turkeys reared in a controlled environment during one of our previous investigations. The weather conditions could have influenced the trend of the haemolytic complement in turkeys selected for high meat production and kept outside, underlining the possible importance of the rearing system.