POTENTIAL EFFECT OF VIBRATION DURING TRANSPORT ON GLYCOGEN RESERVES IN BROILER-CHICKENS

Subjection of broiler chickens to random, narrow band vibration (2, 5, 10 Hz) for 1 h, simulating that experienced during normal road transp ort, did not significantly influence liver or muscle glycogen concentr ations or muscle ultimate pH (pH(u)). Vibration for 3 h increased body temperature (P<0.05) and decreased (P<0.01) pH(u) in both 'white' pec toralis superficialis (PS) and 'red' biceps femoris (BF) muscles overa ll, but did not affect liver or muscle glycogen concentrations. Howeve r, higher vibration frequencies resulted in reduced (P<0.05) glycogen concentrations in liver and BF muscle. The conclusion was that vibrati on was unlikely to be the major cause of muscle glycogen depletion see n in transported broilers, but the reduction in pH(u) in the PS muscle after vibration may have been related to the similar effect seen in p revious studies after normal transport.