Differential effects of sex and genetics on behavior and stress response of turkeys.
Three lines of turkeys were tested for response in T-maze and open-field tests during the first 8 d after hatch, and behavior was observed after catching, moving, and transport. They were also compared for corticosterone (CORT) levels and heterophil:lymphocyte ratios (H:L) at 15 wk of age in response to an Escherichia coli challenge followed by transport stress. Large commercial-(COMM) line birds were faster and more active in the T-maze at d 2 than egg-line birds. Male COMM-line birds were faster than male egg-line birds when tested in an open field at d 8. Egg-line birds had more sleeping behavior after moving to a new floor pen as compared with both an intermediate-sized line (F line) and the COMM line. Transport stress increased CORT levels in all 3 lines, and the increase was greater in males compared with females. The egg line had higher basal CORT levels (P = 0.03) and higher levels after transport (P < 0.0001). The H:L ratios were affected by both transport stress and line but not by sex. The H:L ratio was lower in the egg line as compared with both the F line and the COMM line (P < 0.0001), with the COMM line having the greatest increase in response to transport. These data, combined with those from previous studies of these lines, suggest that differences in activity of fast-growing turkeys may be used to select birds that are less susceptible to inflammatory bacterial disease and that the H:L ratio may be more useful than serum CORT in evaluating the deleterious effects of stress.
Huff
G
G
Poultry Production and Product Safety Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA. grhuff@uark.edu
Huff
W
W
Rath
N
N
Donoghue
A
A
Anthony
N
N
Nestor
K
K
D000818:Animals; D000910:Antibodies, Heterophile / Q000097:blood; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D008214:Lymphocytes; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014422:Turkeys / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*
D000910:Antibodies, Heterophile; D003345:Corticosterone