Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Science, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06123 Perugia, Italy.
Institute Zooprofilattico Umbria and Marche, Via Gaetano Salvemini 1, 06126 Perugia, Italy.
Poult Sci. 2017 Sep 1;96(11):4096-4102. doi: 10.3382/ps/pex203.
The adaptation of chickens to free-range rearing systems mainly involves the locomotory behavior, which is very different in fast-growing (FG) and slow-growing (SG) strains. This study aimed to compare the effect of moderate locomotory activity (induced and prolonged) on the blood oxidative status in a slow-growing chicken strain with that in a fast-growing one. Thirty FG (Ross 308) birds and 30 SG (Hubbard) birds were divided into 2 groups for each strain and subjected to different treatments: no exercise (the control group [C]) and 1 h of walking at 4 km/h (the exercise group [E]). Daily exercise was promoted by operators, who walked behind the animals around a paddock. Blood samples were obtained weekly from both groups. For the E group, samples were obtained before exercise (E1) and after exercise (E2). Oxidative markers (creatine kinase [CK], reactive oxygen molecular substance [ROMS], thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS]), and antioxidant compounds (α-tocopherol [α-T], γ-tocopherol [γ-T], δ-tocopherol [δ-T], α-tocotrienol [α-T3], γ-tocotrienol [γ-T3], retinol, and carotenoids) were evaluated. In both strains, the CK level was higher in chickens subjected to exercise; however, its increase was greater in the FG group than in the SG one (1.56-fold vs. 1.08-fold). The antioxidant status was worse in FG strain birds subjected to exercise, whereas the status remained nearly the same in the SG strain birds. The α-T and retinol concentrations were significantly reduced by exercise, primarily in the FG group, whereas the other antioxidant compounds (α-T3, γ-T3, γ-T, δ-T, lutein, and zeaxanthin) were unaffected by strain or treatment. The FG and SG strains had different responses to exercise, and only the SG showed a progressive reduction in TBARS and ROMS values during the 28-day experiment. Accordingly, moderate exercise may be beneficial only when the birds have suitable behavioral characteristics (e.g., higher kinetic activity, rusticity, and explorative nature) or physical characteristics (e.g., low body weight); otherwise, exercise is highly stressful and affects physiology and well-being.
鸡适应放养系统主要涉及运动行为，这在快速生长（FG）和缓慢生长（SG）品种之间有很大的不同。本研究旨在比较适度运动活动（诱导和延长）对缓慢生长品种鸡与快速生长品种鸡血液氧化状态的影响。将 30 只 FG（罗斯 308）鸡和 30 只 SG（哈伯德）鸡分为每组 2 个组，分别进行以下不同处理：不运动（对照组 [C]）和以 4km/h 的速度行走 1 小时（运动组 [E]）。由操作人员在围栏周围驱赶动物，每天进行运动。每周从两组中采集血液样本。对于 E 组，在运动前（E1）和运动后（E2）采集样本。评估氧化标志物（肌酸激酶 [CK]、活性氧分子物质 [ROMS]、硫代巴比妥酸反应物 [TBARS]）和抗氧化化合物（α-生育酚 [α-T]、γ-生育酚 [γ-T]、δ-生育酚 [δ-T]、α-生育三烯酚 [α-T3]、γ-生育三烯酚 [γ-T3]、视黄醇和类胡萝卜素）。在两种品系中，运动后的鸡 CK 水平升高；然而，FG 组的升高幅度大于 SG 组（1.56 倍对 1.08 倍）。运动后的 FG 品系鸡的抗氧化状态较差，而 SG 品系鸡的抗氧化状态几乎不变。α-T 和视黄醇浓度因运动而显著降低，主要在 FG 组，而其他抗氧化化合物（α-T3、γ-T3、γ-T、δ-T、叶黄素和玉米黄质）不受品系或处理的影响。FG 和 SG 品系对运动有不同的反应，只有 SG 在 28 天的实验中表现出 TBARS 和 ROMS 值的逐渐降低。因此，只有当鸟类具有合适的行为特征（例如，更高的运动活性、耐寒性和探索性）或物理特征（例如，体重低）时，适度运动才可能有益；否则，运动压力很大，会影响生理和健康。
