The Effect of Feather Condition on Blood Parameters and Egg Quality Traits in Brown Commercial Laying Hens Housed in Enriched Cages

Authors

  • Muhammed Talha İnce Department of Animal Production and Technologies, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technologies, Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, 51240, Niğde, Turkiye
  • Gamze Erdoğanöz Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Çukurova University, 01250 Adana, Turkiye
  • Ahmet Akyol Department of Animal Production and Technologies, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technologies, Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, 51240, Niğde, Turkiye
  • Brian Tainika Busitema University https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6785-4324
  • Fatih Mehmet Gür Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, 51420 Niğde, Turkiye
  • Ahmet Şekeroğlu Department of Animal Production and Technologies, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technologies, Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, 51240, Niğde, Turkiye

Keywords:

Laying Hen, Feather Score, Blood Parameters, Stress response, Egg quality traits

Abstract

The study's objective was to investigate the effect of feather condition on blood and egg quality traits of laying hens. A total of 45 Lohmann brown laying hens were randomly selected at 60 weeks of age and grouped based on total feather scores obtained from scoring 6 different body regions of the birds: the head, neck, breast, back, wings, and tail. According to the total feather score, the experimental groups consisted of low (6 - 12, L), moderate (13 - 17, M), and high (18 - 24, L). The number of lymphocytes, monocytes, heterophils, eosinophils, basophil cells, and heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio were determined at 61 weeks of hen age. Quality traits of eggs were analyzed at 68 weeks of hen age. The results indicated that feather condition significantly influenced monocytes, and heterophils (P<0.01). However, the impact on H/L ratio, lymphocytes, and eosinophils was not significant (P>0.05). There were differences in the egg weight, redness of eggshell, shape index, and shell thickness among the feathering groups (P<0.01; P<0.05). Shell-breaking strength, albumen index, Haugh unit, yolk index, and yolk color score were similar among the feathering groups (P>0.05). In conclusion, the findings of this study revealed that moderate feathering was not negatively associated with a stress response in the birds. Furthermore, while the feather condition can modulate some external egg traits, it does not lead to variations in any internal egg quality traits. However, further studies over a longer duration are required to refine these findings.

Author Biography

Brian Tainika, Busitema University

PhD student, Department of Animal Production and Technology

Published

22-10-2024

How to Cite

Talha İnce, M., Erdoğanöz, G., Akyol, A., Tainika, B., Gür, F. M., & Şekeroğlu, A. (2024). The Effect of Feather Condition on Blood Parameters and Egg Quality Traits in Brown Commercial Laying Hens Housed in Enriched Cages. 7th International Anatolian Agriculture, Food, Environment and Biology Congress, Kastamonu/Türkiye, 116–121. from http://targid.net/index.php/TURSTEP/article/view/376