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- Title
The Effect of Low Temperature on Laying Performance and Physiological Stress Responses in Laying Hens.
- Authors
Kim, Da-Hye; Song, Ju-Yong; Park, Jina; Kwon, Byung-Yeon; Lee, Kyung-Woo
- Abstract
Simple Summary: Cold stress is considered an environmental stress and is an important managemental factor in regions where winter temperatures drop below 18 °C. Although a low temperature lowered the productive performance of laying hens, there are still unanswered questions as to the physiological changes that occur when they are exposed to low temperature, especially changes in antioxidants and stress indicators, which prompted us to set up the current study. Laying hens reared at low temperature (12 ± 4.5 °C) showed impaired laying performance compared with laying hens reared at normal temperature (24 ± 3 °C). However, eggshell color was intensified in laying hens exposed to low temperature. During the early stage of exposure to low-temperature stress, malondialdehyde levels in the egg yolk increased in laying hens raised at low temperature vs. normal temperature. However, yolk corticosterone, an indicator of stress responses, remained unchanged. Low temperature had an impact on total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in serum increases in laying hens reared at low temperature. In essence, low temperature in laying hens altered antioxidant systems and lipid metabolism without inducing stress responses. The present study investigated the effect of low temperature on laying performance, egg quality, body temperature, yolk malondialdehyde, yolk corticosterone, and serum biochemistry in laying hens. A total of 40 laying hens (Hy-Line Brown) aged 36 weeks were housed in one of two environmental chambers kept at 12 ± 4.5 °C (low temperature) or 24 ± 3 °C (normal temperature) for 4 weeks. Low vs. normal temperature significantly increased (p < 0.05) live body weight, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio in laying hens. Skin surface temperature, but not rectal temperature, was decreased in laying hens exposed to low vs. normal temperature. Hens exposed to low temperature laid an intense eggshell color compared with those raised in a normal temperature. Malondialdehyde concentrations in yolk were increased in low-temperature-exposed laying hens compared with those at normal temperature conditions, but this effect was only noted on day 7, post the low-temperature exposure (p = 0.04). Finally, low vs. normal temperature increased the concentrations of total cholesterol and triglyceride in serum. Collectively, this study indicates that exposure to low temperature in laying hens initially disrupted antioxidant system and altered lipid metabolism in laying hens without inducing stress responses.
- Subjects
HENS; LOW temperatures; EGGSHELLS; PHYSIOLOGICAL stress; EGG yolk; TEMPERATURE effect; EGG quality
- Publication
Animals (2076-2615), 2023, Vol 13, Issue 24, p3824
- ISSN
2076-2615
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/ani13243824