Investigating the influence of a range of exposure conditions during simulated transport on pullet and end-of-cycle hen (EOCH) physiology, welfare and meat quality

目前很少有公司从循环末期母鸡（EOCH）中获取肉。因此，EOCH需要经过长途运输才能到达加工厂。这些鸟可能减少了羽毛覆盖，使它们更容易受到寒冷温度的影响。此外，由于EOCH在整个产蛋周期中承受着高能量需求，它们的肌肉质量可能会大量消耗。这可能导致EOCH使用肌肉产热来调节体温的能力有限。这些鸟的运输时间长，羽毛覆盖差，生理状态不佳，会影响它们的福利。鸟类福利受损的最终症状可能是在运送到加工厂时死亡的鸟类。解决这些福利问题的困难包括现有的科学数据有限。迄今为止，关于EOCH的运输研究尚未检测生理指标，如核心体温（CBT）、血液参数和行为。目前缺乏科学数据，可以为母鸡的运输规范的制定提供信息。制定EOCH运输最低要求的研究对生产商、加工商、政策制定者和监管机构都有价值。我们的研究小组在与家禽加工商合作方面有着良好的记录，我们集中精力进行实地研究，以记录拖车上的情况和家禽在运输过程中的反应。然而，现场工作既耗时又昂贵，还会受到不可控因素（环境条件）的影响。一个基于实验室的系统，其中测试参数可以控制和响应变量可以更密切地监测将是首选。鸟类在运输过程中会受到多种因素的影响，包括温度、湿度、风速、运输时间和羽毛覆盖度。这项研究计划将使用一个环境室来控制小鸡和EOCH的暴露条件（温度、湿度、持续时间），并监测鸟类在模拟运输过程中的反应（CBT、血液参数、行为、肉品质）。

There are currently very few companies that harvest meat from end-of-cycle hens (EOCH). Consequently, EOCH are being transported long distances to reach processing plants. These birds may have reduced feather cover making them more susceptible to colder temperatures. Additionally, because EOCH have endured high energy demands while producing eggs throughout the laying cycle, their muscle mass may be largely depleted. This can result in EOCH having a limited ability to use muscle thermogenesis to regulate their body temperature. The long transport duration combined with poor feather cover and compromised physiological state of these birds can compromise their welfare. The ultimate symptom of compromised bird welfare may be dead birds at the time of delivery to the processing plant. Difficulties associated with addressing these welfare concerns include the limited scientific data that are available. Transportation studies to date, regarding EOCH, have not examined physiological measures, such as core body temperature (CBT), blood parameters and behavior. There is a dearth of scientific data that could inform the development of transportation codes for hens. Research that establishes minimal requirements for transportation of EOCH would be of value to producers, processors, policy developers and regulators. Our research group has a strong record of partnering with poultry processors, concentrating our efforts on field-based research to document conditions on trailers and responses of poultry during transportation. However, field work is time consuming, expensive and subject to variations in uncontrollable factors (ambient conditions). A lab-based system, where test parameters can be controlled and response variables can be more intensely monitored would be preferred. A variety of factors can affect birds during transportation including temperature, humidity, air velocity, transport duration and feather cover. This research proposal would use an environmental chamber to control pullet and EOCH exposure conditions (temperature, humidity, duration) and monitor bird responses (CBT, blood parameters, behavior, meat quality) during simulated transport.