Effect of Bad Collocation of Wing Tag on Feather Amelanosis, Heterophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio, Fluctuating Asymmetry, and Tonic Immobility Duration in White-Faced Black Spanish Hens

• Published in: Poultry science 2008-08, Vol.87 (8), p.1540-1543
• Main Authors: Campo, J.L, Dávila, S.G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: animal development; animal husbandry; animal identification; Animal Identification Systems; animal morphology; animal stress; Animals; body conformation; chicken breeds; Chickens; color; feathers; Feathers - pathology; Female; fluctuating asymmetry; heterophilia; heterophils; Immobility Response, Tonic; laying hens; Leukocyte Count - veterinary; lymphocytes; lymphopenia; Poultry Diseases - etiology; Poultry Diseases - immunology; Poultry Diseases - pathology; Stress, Physiological - etiology; Stress, Physiological - immunology; Stress, Physiological - pathology; Stress, Physiological - veterinary; tonic immobility; wings
• ISSN: 0032-5791; 1525-3171
• DOI: 10.3382/ps.2008-00067

The purpose of the present study was to analyze the effects of bad collocation of the wing tag on feather amelanosis, the heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, fluctuating asymmetry, and tonic immobility duration at 140 d of age in hens from the White-Faced Black Spanish breed. A total of 52 females were used. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) for the heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and the tonic immobility duration between groups of females with bad or good collocation of the wing tag, with the ratio being higher and the duration being longer in the former group. Females with bad collocation of the wing tag had significant heterophilia and lymphopenia (P < 0.05). There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the fluctuating asymmetry of the middle and hind toe lengths, the combined asymmetry of the 4 toes, the fluctuating asymmetry of the earlobe area, and the combined asymmetry of toe and leg lengths and earlobe and wattle areas, with the asymmetry of birds with bad collocation of the wing tag being larger than that of birds with good collocation of the wing tag. Results indicate that bad collocation of the wing tag negatively affects measures of stress, such as the heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, fluctuating asymmetry, and tonic immobility duration.