title: Corticosterone, cortisol, triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase and uric acid plasma concentrations during foie gras production in male mule ducks (Anas platyrhynchos × Cairina moschata).
abstract: 1. Corticosterone, cortisol, triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and uric acid (UA) plasma concentration were measured at 8 (7 days after group housing), 12 (after 7 days of force feeding) and 13 weeks of age (at slaughter after 12 days of force feeding), and 45 min after an adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test at 8 weeks of age in 12 male mule ducks in an on-farm experiment.   2. No significant increase of corticosterone was found during the force-feeding period compared with the concentration after housing.   3. Comparison of corticosterone and cortisol values indicates that cortisol can be considered as a reliable acute stress indicator in future routine examinations.   4. Plasma concentrations of triglycerides and aspartate aminotransferase increased progressively from pre-force feeding period to slaughtering.   5. Plasma concentrations of uric acid increased from the start at 8 weeks of age to the mid-force feeding period but no difference was noticed between the mid-force feeding period and slaughtering.   6. It is concluded that acute stress induced by force-feeding is similar at the beginning and end of the commercial production of foie gras.
authors.affiliation: University of Liège, Faculty of Veterinary Medecine, Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Clinic for Birds, Rabbits and Rodents, Sart-Tilman, Bât. B42 , B4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Flament
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Delleur
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poulipoulis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marlier
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood*; D004372:Ducks / Q000378:metabolism*; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000662:veterinary; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014280:Triglycerides; D014527:Uric Acid; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D003345:Corticosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone