Research Information System
4th COST COREMI Conference "Improving current understanding and research for sustainable control of the poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae", Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 1 - 12 November 2018, vol.19, pp.46
Environmental factors may influence the degree of damage done to the host by poultry red mite (PRM). We investigated the effects of feed restriction in chickens on damages induced by PRM on growth performance of the host. A total of 360 one-day-old chicks of 3 genotypes were used. Four chicks per cage were kept in two identical rooms. The birds in one room were infested with red mites. Birds were fed ad libitum in the first week. From the second week onwards half of the birds in both groups received 20% less feed as compared to ad libitum fed chicks. Lighting was provided as 16L:8D. At 12 weeks of age, 36 birds were slaughtered to measure heart, liver, spleen, gizzard weights, as well as hemoglobin and hematocrit values. Body weight of control group was higher than that of infested group (P=0.0055). On the contrary, the feed intake of infected group was higher (P=0.0008). However, an interaction between groups and genotypes was observed (P=0.0007). A slightly lower hematocrit value was observed in infested birds (P≥0.0689). Hemoglobin values were 10.2 g/dl, 9.2 g/dl in control and infested groups, respectively (P=0.0084). Heart, liver and spleen proportions to carcass weight were higher in the infested group (P≤0.0451). Feed restriction had significant negative effects on all traits (P≤0.05), except hematocrit and hemoglobin (P>0.05). No interactions between groups and feed restrictions was observed for all traits. However, hemoglobin values of ad libitum-fed control birds seem to be higher than the other subgroups (P=0.0880). In conclusion 20% feed restriction does not seem to have any influence on the negative effect of parasite infestation of the host.
This study supported by Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University BAP Coordination Unit with Project Number FBA-2018-2502.