Productivity and Tonic Immobility Duration of Thai Crossbred Chickens Raised at Different Stocking Densities

Pongchan Na-Lampang

Abstract


The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of stocking density (8, 12 and 16 birds/m2) on productivity and tonic immobility duration (a measure of fearfulness) of Thai crossbred chickens (n=900 birds) kept at 100 birds per pen. The results showed that stocking density had no significant (P>0.05) effect on body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and mortality of chickens from the wk2 to 12. When stocking density was increased from 8 birds/m2 to 16 birds/m2, tonic immobility (TI) duration of the chickens increased significantly (P<0.05).However, the TI duration of chickens at a density of 12 birds/m2 was not significantly different from those of both the lower and the higher densities. In conclusion, Thai crossbred chickens could be stocked up to 12 birds/m2 without adverse effect on productivity and welfare when compared to those kept at 8 birds/m2.


Keywords


Thai crossbred chicken, stocking density, productivity, tonic immobility

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