title: Comparison of the measurement of heart rate in adult free-range chickens (Gallus domesticus) by auscultation and electrocardiography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the heart rates of adult free-range chickens (Gallus domesticus) measured by auscultation with a stethoscope with those measured simultaneously using electrocardiography (ECG).
  
  
  METHODS
  With each bird in a standing position, estimation of the heart rate was performed by placing a mark on paper for every 4 beats for roosters and 8 beats for hens as detected by auscultation over 30 s, while simultaneous ECG was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Heart rates measured by auscultation showed a high correlation (r = 0.97) with those measured by ECG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a high correlation between the heart rates of adult free-range chickens measured by auscultation with a stethoscope and those measured simultaneously using ECG.
authors.affiliation: School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Gavaghan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McSweeney
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lisle
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000502:physiology*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006326:Heart Auscultation / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
keywords: auscultation; chickens; electrocardiography; heart rate