1
|
Kang SW, Christensen KD, Jr. MTK, Orlowski SK. Effects of Environmental Enrichments on Welfare and Hepatic Metabolic Regulation of Broiler Chickens. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:557. [PMID: 38396525 PMCID: PMC10886341 DOI: 10.3390/ani14040557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The aims of this study were to find suitable environmental enrichment (EE) and evaluate the combined effect of two EEs, variable light intensity (VL) lighting program and EH, on mental health and hepatic metabolic regulation in commercial broilers. To find the advantageous EEs for broilers, three different EEs (board, hut, and ramp) were tested in trial 1. EEs were placed and the engagement of birds to EEs, dustbathing behavior, and daily physical activity were observed. Birds treated with huts showed higher engagement than the board- or ramp-treated birds (p < 0.05). The results of dustbathing behavior and daily physical activity indicated that the environmental hut (EH) is the most favorable enrichment for broilers. In the second trial, to test the effect of EHs on mental health and hepatic metabolic conditions, the brain and liver were sampled from the four treatment birds (20 lx_Con, 20 lx_Hut, VL_Con and VL_Hut) on day 42. The lower expression of TPH2 (tryptophan hydroxylase 2) of VL_Hut birds than those of VL_Con and 20 lx_Hut treated birds suggests the combining effect of EHs with the VL lighting program on the central serotonergic homeostasis of broilers. Reduced expressions of TH (tyrosine hydroxylase), GR (glucocorticoid receptor), BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) of VL_Hut treated birds compared to those of VL_Con and 20 lx_Hut birds suggest lower stress, stress susceptibility, and chronic social stress in VL_Hut treated birds. The expression of CPT1A (carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1) increased over three-fold in the liver of VL_Con birds compared to 20 lx_Con birds (p < 0.05). EHs treatment in VL birds (VL_Hut) significantly decreased CPT1A but not in 20 lx birds (20 lx_Hut). The expression of ACCα (acetyl-CoA carboxylase alpha) was significantly decreased in VL_Con birds compared to 20 lx_Con birds. There was no significant difference in the hepatic FBPase (fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase), GR, and 11β-HSD1 (11 β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenease-1) expression between 20 lx_Con and VL_Con birds, but EHs significantly stimulated GR in 20 lx_Hut birds, and stimulated FBPase and 11β-HSD1 expression in the VL_Hut birds compared to 20 lx_Con birds, suggesting that the VL lighting program reduced fatty acid synthesis and increased fatty acid β-oxidation in the broilers' liver and VL_Hut improved the hepatic de novo glucose production. Taken together, the results suggest that the stimulated voluntary activity by EHs in the light-enriched broiler house improved mental health and hepatic metabolic function of broilers and may indicate that the improved hepatic metabolic function contributes to efficient nutritional support for broilers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seong W. Kang
- Department of Poultry Science, Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA; (M.T.K.J.); (S.K.O.)
| | | | - Michael T. Kidd Jr.
- Department of Poultry Science, Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA; (M.T.K.J.); (S.K.O.)
| | - Sara K. Orlowski
- Department of Poultry Science, Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA; (M.T.K.J.); (S.K.O.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kang SW, Christensen KD, Kidd Jr MT, Orlowski SK, Clark J. Effects of a variable light intensity lighting program on the welfare and performance of commercial broiler chickens. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1059055. [PMID: 36909223 PMCID: PMC9998933 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1059055,] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Our previous variable-light intensity lighting program studies indicate the light intensity preference behavior of broilers for their daily activity including eating and resting. To evaluate the effects of variable-light intensity lighting program on performance and welfare of broilers, four commercial trials were conducted for looking at behaviors, mortality, leg-health, performance, and brain welfare indicator genes including tryptophan hydroxylase 2 and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), glucocorticoid receptor (GR), brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), and melanopsin (Opn4) gene expression. One-day-old broilers were housed in four commercial broiler houses. Each quadrant (section) of the house was placed with 4,800 chicks. A total of four lighting programs began on day 7 with 5 lux (lx), 20 lx, natural light (NL, 480 lx), and variable light (2-5/40 lx) using LED lights on a 16L:8D photoperiod. In the variable-light house, the number of dustbathing holes was significantly higher than that in natural-light houses and 5-lx and 20-lx houses. Daily physical activities, footpad condition, fear response to novel objects, body weight, feed conversion ratio, and the number of leg-problem induced culled birds were affected by the variable-light intensity lighting program. Expression of tryptophan hydroxylase 2 in the DRN and VTA of variable-light treated birds was lower than that of 5-lx- and 20-lx-treated birds on day 42 (p < 0.05). Higher expression of VTA-TH in 5-lx-treated birds than that in 20-lx-, NL-, and variable-light-treated birds suggests the high stress-susceptibility of 5-lx treated birds. Lower VTA-GR expression in 20-lx- and variable-light-treated birds indicates lower stress than that in NL- and 5-lx-treated birds (p < 0.05). The VTA-BDNF expression of NL-treated birds was 2.5 fold higher than that of 5-lx-, 20-lx-, and variable-light-treated birds (p < 0.05), and variable-light-treated birds showed the lowest level of BDNF expression (p < 0.05), suggesting the chronic social defeat stress in NL-treated birds. The result of VTA-Opn4 expression on day 42 suggests the possible role of VTA-Opn4 in broiler welfare through central light perception. Taken together, the variable-light intensity lighting program increased volunteer natural behaviors and physical activity, which may improve footpad condition and leg health of birds, consequently. Performance data including the increased daily weight gain and the lowered feed conversion ratio and results of brain welfare indicator gene expression showed the beneficial effect of the variable-light intensity lighting program on the performance and welfare of commercial broilers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seong W. Kang
- Department of Poultry Science, Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, University of AR, Fayetteville, AR, United States
| | | | - Michael T. Kidd Jr
- Department of Poultry Science, Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, University of AR, Fayetteville, AR, United States
| | - Sara K. Orlowski
- Department of Poultry Science, Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, University of AR, Fayetteville, AR, United States
| | - James Clark
- Tyson Foods, Inc, Springdale, AR, United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Investigation of structural and neurobiochemical differences in brains from high-performance and native hen breeds. Sci Rep 2023; 13:224. [PMID: 36604556 PMCID: PMC9816186 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-27517-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Selection of livestock has not only led to changes in the level of their performance but also modified their behavior. As a result, within a single species, we have to deal with different behaviors of different breeds. In our study, we assumed that the different behaviors within a species are due to differences in the morphology and physiology of behavior-related systems. Two breeds of hens were used as a model: the highly reactive, fearful and high-performance Leghorn breed and proactive, unselected Green-legged Partridge breed. The higher reactivity and fearfulness of Leghorn hens in comparison to the Green-legged Partridge breed may be related to the greater number of neurons in the paraventricular nucleus and anterior hypothalamus and the higher content of zinc and iron in the brain, as these elements are involved in neuronal conduction and myelination processes. The reactive behaviours of Green-legged Partridge hens may be associated with the lower number of neurons in the paraventricular nucleus and the anterior hypothalamus and the higher concentration of dopamine and copper ions in the brain. The analyses confirmed the hypothesis of the existence of interbreed differences in the morphology and physiology of behaviour-related systems, which most probably emerged through unintentional and correlated selection towards high production performance. Consequently, attention should be drawn that the selection of a given genotype (breed) towards a specific environment could lead to creation of highly specialised lines that may not achieve homeostasis in every maintenance system.
Collapse
|
4
|
Kang SW, Christensen KD, Kidd MT, Orlowski SK, Clark J. Effects of a variable light intensity lighting program on the welfare and performance of commercial broiler chickens. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1059055. [PMID: 36909223 PMCID: PMC9998933 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1059055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Our previous variable-light intensity lighting program studies indicate the light intensity preference behavior of broilers for their daily activity including eating and resting. To evaluate the effects of variable-light intensity lighting program on performance and welfare of broilers, four commercial trials were conducted for looking at behaviors, mortality, leg-health, performance, and brain welfare indicator genes including tryptophan hydroxylase 2 and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), glucocorticoid receptor (GR), brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), and melanopsin (Opn4) gene expression. One-day-old broilers were housed in four commercial broiler houses. Each quadrant (section) of the house was placed with 4,800 chicks. A total of four lighting programs began on day 7 with 5 lux (lx), 20 lx, natural light (NL, 480 lx), and variable light (2-5/40 lx) using LED lights on a 16L:8D photoperiod. In the variable-light house, the number of dustbathing holes was significantly higher than that in natural-light houses and 5-lx and 20-lx houses. Daily physical activities, footpad condition, fear response to novel objects, body weight, feed conversion ratio, and the number of leg-problem induced culled birds were affected by the variable-light intensity lighting program. Expression of tryptophan hydroxylase 2 in the DRN and VTA of variable-light treated birds was lower than that of 5-lx- and 20-lx-treated birds on day 42 (p < 0.05). Higher expression of VTA-TH in 5-lx-treated birds than that in 20-lx-, NL-, and variable-light-treated birds suggests the high stress-susceptibility of 5-lx treated birds. Lower VTA-GR expression in 20-lx- and variable-light-treated birds indicates lower stress than that in NL- and 5-lx-treated birds (p < 0.05). The VTA-BDNF expression of NL-treated birds was 2.5 fold higher than that of 5-lx-, 20-lx-, and variable-light-treated birds (p < 0.05), and variable-light-treated birds showed the lowest level of BDNF expression (p < 0.05), suggesting the chronic social defeat stress in NL-treated birds. The result of VTA-Opn4 expression on day 42 suggests the possible role of VTA-Opn4 in broiler welfare through central light perception. Taken together, the variable-light intensity lighting program increased volunteer natural behaviors and physical activity, which may improve footpad condition and leg health of birds, consequently. Performance data including the increased daily weight gain and the lowered feed conversion ratio and results of brain welfare indicator gene expression showed the beneficial effect of the variable-light intensity lighting program on the performance and welfare of commercial broilers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seong W Kang
- Department of Poultry Science, Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, University of AR, Fayetteville, AR, United States
| | | | - Michael T Kidd
- Department of Poultry Science, Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, University of AR, Fayetteville, AR, United States
| | - Sara K Orlowski
- Department of Poultry Science, Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, University of AR, Fayetteville, AR, United States
| | - James Clark
- Tyson Foods, Inc, Springdale, AR, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kadawarage RW, Dunislawska A, Siwek M. Ecological footprint of poultry production and effect of environment on poultry genes. PHYSICAL SCIENCES REVIEWS 2022. [DOI: 10.1515/psr-2021-0128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The growing demand for poultry meat and eggs has forced plenty of changes in poultry production in recent years. According to FAO, the total number of poultry in the world in 2019 was 27.9 billion. About 93% of them are chickens. The number of chickens has doubled in the last 30 years. These animals are the most numerous in Asia and America. Hence, poultry meat is the most frequently obtained type of meat in recent years (it is 40.6% of the obtained meat). Focusing on lowering production costs has led to process optimization, which was possible by improving the use of animal genetics, optimizing feeding programs, and new production technologies. The applied process optimization and production increase practices may also lead to a deterioration of the ecological balance through pollution with chemical substances, water consumption, and natural resources. The aim of this paper was to review the current state of knowledge in the field of the ecological footprint of poultry production and the impact on environmental genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ramesha Wishna Kadawarage
- Department of Animal Biotechnology and Genetics , Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology , Mazowiecka 28, 85-796 Bydgoszcz , Poland
| | - Aleksandra Dunislawska
- Department of Animal Biotechnology and Genetics , Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology , Mazowiecka 28, 85-796 Bydgoszcz , Poland
| | - Maria Siwek
- Department of Animal Biotechnology and Genetics , Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology , Mazowiecka 28, 85-796 Bydgoszcz , Poland
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Impact of light intensity or choice of intensity on broiler performance and behavior. J APPL POULTRY RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.japr.2021.100216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
|
7
|
Kang SW. Central Nervous System Associated With Light Perception and Physiological Responses of Birds. Front Physiol 2021; 12:723454. [PMID: 34744764 PMCID: PMC8566752 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.723454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental light that animal receives (i.e., photoperiod and light intensity) has recently been shown that it affects avian central nervous system for the physiological responses to the environment by up or downregulation of dopamine and serotonin activities, and this, in turn, affects the reproductive function and stress-related behavior of birds. In this study, the author speculated on the intriguing possibility that one of the proposed avian deep-brain photoreceptors (DBPs), i.e., melanopsin (Opn4), may play roles in the dual sensory-neurosecretory cells in the hypothalamus, midbrain, and brain stem for the behavior and physiological responses of birds by light. Specifically, the author has shown that the direct light perception of premammillary nucleus dopamine-melatonin (PMM DA-Mel) neurons is associated with the reproductive activation in birds. Although further research is required to establish the functional role of Opn4 in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), dorsal raphe nucleus, and caudal raphe nucleus in the light perception and physiological responses of birds, it is an exciting prospect because the previous results in birds support this hypothesis that Opn4 in the midbrain DA and serotonin neurons may play significant roles on the light-induced welfare of birds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seong W. Kang
- Department of Poultry Science, Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, United States
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Hofmann T, Schmucker SS, Bessei W, Grashorn M, Stefanski V. Impact of Housing Environment on the Immune System in Chickens: A Review. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E1138. [PMID: 32635616 PMCID: PMC7401558 DOI: 10.3390/ani10071138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
During their lifespan, chickens are confronted with a wide range of acute and chronic stressors in their housing environment that may threaten their welfare and health by modulating the immune system. Especially chronic stressful conditions can exceed the individual's allostatic load, with negative consequences for immunity. A fully functional immune system is mandatory for health and welfare and, consequently, also for high productivity and safe animal products. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the impact of housing form, light regime as well as aerial ammonia and hydrogen sulfide concentrations on the immune system in chickens. Certain housing conditions are clearly associated with immunological alterations which potentially impair the success of vaccinations or affect disease susceptibility. Such poor conditions counteract sustainable poultry production. This review also outlines current knowledge gaps and provides recommendations for future research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Hofmann
- Department of Behavioral Physiology of Livestock, Institute of Animal Science, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstr, 17, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany;
| | - Sonja S. Schmucker
- Department of Behavioral Physiology of Livestock, Institute of Animal Science, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstr, 17, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany;
| | - Werner Bessei
- Department of Livestock Population Genomics, Institute of Animal Science, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstr, 17, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany; (W.B.); (M.G.)
| | - Michael Grashorn
- Department of Livestock Population Genomics, Institute of Animal Science, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstr, 17, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany; (W.B.); (M.G.)
| | - Volker Stefanski
- Department of Behavioral Physiology of Livestock, Institute of Animal Science, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstr, 17, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany;
| |
Collapse
|