title: Comparison of selected haematological and biochemical indices and behaviour patterns of pheasant hens kept in different housing systems during the laying period.
abstract: Selected haematological and biochemical indices and behaviour patterns were monitored in cage-housed pheasant hens during the peak-of-lay egg laying period. Lower counts of monocytes (p = 0.035) and concentrations of plasma biopterin (p = 0.020) and higher concentrations of plasma neopterin (p = 0.005) and plasma phosphorus (p = 0.025) were found in spectacles-fitted pheasant hens kept in conventional cages compared to non-spectacled hens kept in enriched cages. Even more pronounced effects of the housing system were revealed by analysis of the behaviour of pheasant hens: spectacles-fitted pheasant hens kept in conventional cages exhibited higher occurrences of movement (p = 0.045), stereotyped behaviour (p = 0.039), and aggression (p = 0.004), and lower rates of feeding (p = 0.009), drinking (p < 0.001), defecation (p = 0.038), preening (p = 0.013), and feather pecking (p < 0.001). Our results show that the relatively easy and inexpensive enrichment of the cage environment (two perches, a simple hideout) where breeding groups of common pheasants are housed during the laying period can significantly contribute to the health and welfare (including the ability to express natural behaviour patterns) of pheasants kept in commercial cage systems.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Voslarova
authors.forename: Iveta
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bedanova
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Radisavljevic
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hrabcakova
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marsalek
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vecerek
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D001772:Blood Cell Count / Q000662:veterinary; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D046094:Galliformes / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D006799:Housing, Animal; D010058:Oviposition / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers