doiSerbia

Thyroid hormone level and relative liver weight in male turkeys in relationship with their welfare

Bozakova N. (Institute of Animal Science, Kostinbrod, Bulgaria)
Popova-Ralcheva S. (Institute of Animal Science, Kostinbrod, Bulgaria)

The objective assessment of poultry welfare is presently a global problem, which is directly related to poultry products. The investigations on the possibilities for evaluation of the physiological comfort of turkeys by the use of alternative indicators are scarce. The aim of the present study was to determine the reliability of liver weight and thyroid hormone level in male turkeys from Local Bulgarian hybrid as indicators of their welfare. Plasma thyroxine levels were determined by radioimmunoassay method (RIA). The relative liver weights and plasma thyroxine levels of the I-st group turkeys (Local hybrid, reared on the litter) were significantly higher than in the II-nd one (Local hybrid, reared on the slat floor). A correlation between plasma thyroxine levels and plasma corticosterone levels in male turkeys, raised on the litter was established. A close relationship was found between liver weight, plasma thyroxine levels and the status of poultry welfare.

Keywords: poultry welfare, turkeys, plasma T4, correlation between T4 and corticosterone, relative liver weight