ROAD TRANSPORTATION OF BROILER-CHICKENS - INDUCTION OF PHYSIOLOGICAL STRESS

The potentially harmful effects of adverse environmental conditions du ring the transport of poultry and their welfare consequences are of po litical and public concern as well as being important in terms of incr easing bird mortality and reducing product quality. The principal stre ssors during transport are listed, together with the relevant methods of assessing physiological stress. Particular reference is made to the thermal environment because of the major effects of thermal stress. T hree-dimensional mapping of temperature and relative humidity within b ird containers on commercial transport vehicles has been carried out. This has demonstrated large thermal gradients and the existence of a ' thermal core' within moving vehicles in summer, and in winter when sid e curtains are closed. Laboratory based simulations have resulted in t he development of a model relating the degree of physiological stress expressed by the birds to the thermal load. This model will help in fo rmulating recommendations for improved vehicle and container design an d transportation practices.