Kristensen HH, Burgess LR, Demmers TG, Wathes CM
Institute of Ecology and Resource Management, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, EH9 3JG, Edinburgh, UK
Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2000 Jul 1;68(4):307-318. doi: 10.1016/s0168-1591(00)00110-6.
Ammonia gas is one of the most abundant aerial pollutants of modern poultry buildings. The current chronic exposure limit for ammonia of 25 ppm is set for human safety rather than animal welfare. This study assessed the behavioural preferences of laying hens (Gallus gallus domesticus) for different concentrations of ammonia found in commercial poultry houses. Six groups, each of six laying hens, were given the choice of three concentrations of ammonia ( approximately 0, 25 and 45 ppm) in a preference chamber over a period of 6 days and their location and behaviour recorded every 15 min. Hens foraged (p=0.018), preened (p=0.009) and rested (p=0.029) significantly more in fresh air than in the ammonia-polluted environments. There was a significant difference between the responses in 0 and 25 ppm (p<0.05) but not between 25 and 45 ppm (p>0.05). This suggests that ammonia may be aversive to hens with a threshold for this aversion between 0 and 25 ppm. Future studies should explore graded concentrations of ammonia between 0 and 25 ppm in order to suggest a new chronic exposure limit on the basis of animal welfare.
氨气是现代家禽养殖舍中最常见的空气污染物之一。当前设定的25 ppm氨气慢性暴露限值是出于人类安全考虑，而非动物福利。本研究评估了蛋鸡（家鸡）对商业家禽舍中不同浓度氨气的行为偏好。将六组蛋鸡，每组六只，置于偏好试验箱中，在6天时间内让它们在三种浓度的氨气（约0、25和45 ppm）环境中进行选择，并每隔15分钟记录它们的位置和行为。相较于氨气污染环境，蛋鸡在新鲜空气中觅食（p = 0.018）、梳理羽毛（p = 0.009）和休息（p = 0.029）的时间显著更多。0 ppm和25 ppm环境下蛋鸡的反应存在显著差异（p < 0.05），但25 ppm和45 ppm环境之间则无显著差异（p > 0.05）。这表明氨气可能会引起蛋鸡的厌恶，且这种厌恶的阈值在0至25 ppm之间。未来的研究应探索0至25 ppm之间不同梯度浓度的氨气，以便基于动物福利提出新的慢性暴露限值。
