Welfare of Barred Plymouth Rock Poultry Flocks Supplemented with Zinc,Vitamin C and L-arginine during the Hot Summer Period using a Mathematical Assessment Model

摘要

The mathematical animal welfare (AW)assessment model in poultry under different conditions has gained increasing importance.The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the welfare of Barred Plymouth Rock breeder flocks whose feed was supplemented with either l％ L-arginine or zinc and vitamin C during the hot summer days,using a mathematical assessment model.The poultry welfare (PW)was scored on the basis of birds' behaviour,plasma corticosterone and several blood hiochemical parameters,and microclimatic parameters.The poultry welfare score of control Barred Plymouth Rock flock was PW = 33.33％.that of the flock supplemented with L-arginine-PW = 66.67％,and the flock supplemented with zinc + vitamin C-PW = 73.33％.