EFFECTS OF HISTAMINE APPLICATION AND WATER-IMMERSION STRESS ON GIZZARD EROSION AND FATTENING OF BROILER CHICKS

Three groups of Hybro broiler chickens, of which one group were contro ls, a second treated intragastrically with histamine, and a third stre ssed by immersion in water, were used in the experiment. Serum activit ies of aspartate and alanine aminotransferase and creatine kinase were evaluated. Gizzard erosion length, body weight during fattening, slau ghter-house or final body weight, food consumption and antibody titre after vaccination for Newcastle disease were also measured. Stress ind uced severe gizzard erosion and decreased body weight, especially in m ale birds, whilst both stressed and histamine-treated groups of chicks had decreased antibody titres that were especially pronounced in the stressed animals. Food consumption and aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase activities were increased in the stressed chicks.