Investigating methods of assessing bird wetness as a means to determine fitness for transport

在加拿大寒冷的冬季运输肉鸡时，肉鸡业面临着许多问题。其中一个问题是湿毛或湿毛的肉鸡的运输。人们认为，当羽毛变湿时，羽毛的绝缘价值会降低，从而使肉鸡更容易受到寒冷的影响。然而，羽毛湿度的问题是复杂的；在羽毛中保持水分的量有很大的变化。这种反应也被认为取决于环境温度，因为环境温度会影响肉鸡在运输过程中所经历的温度。因此，本实验的目的是开发一种在装运前评估肉鸡羽毛内水分含量的方法。这项研究将在下一阶段的研究中发挥关键作用，该阶段将制定肉鸡行业可以用来确定这些禽类是否可以安全运输的指南。

There are many issues facing the broiler industry when transporting broilers during the cold Canadian winters. One of those issues is the transport of broilers with damp or wet feathers. It is thought that the insulative value of the feathers is decreased when the feathers become wet, thus making the broilers more vulnerable to cold exposure. However, the issue of feather wetness is complex; there are large variations in the amount of moisture held within the feathers. The response is also thought to be dependent upon the ambient temperature, as the ambient temperature can influence the temperature experienced by broilers during transport. Therefore, the objective of this experiment is to develop a method of assessing the amount of moisture held within the feathers of broilers prior to shipping. This research will be pivotal in the next phase of research, which will develop guidelines that the broiler industry can use to determine if the birds can be safely transported.