The Changes of the Body Weight and Some Blood Parameters of Pekin Ducklings Dependent on Transportation Duration

Abstract

The effect of transportation on body weight and some blood parameters of hatching Pekin ducklings were investigated. A total of 500 (250 male, 250 female) 1 day-old ducklings (Star 52-Grimaud Freres) were obtained from a commercial hatchery. Upon hatching and on the 4, 8 and 12 h of the transportation, each duckling was weighed to determine their body weights. Before transportation and on the 4, 8 and 12 h of the transportation, necks of 10 male and 10 female ducklings were broken and blood samples were taken. Plasma corticosterone, glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, AST (Aspartate transaminase), CK (Creatine kinase), total protein, albumin levels and blood H/L (heterophile/lymphocyte) ratios were determined. The body weights, which were 46.1 and 45.7 g for hatching male and female ducklings, fell down to 41.3 and 41.5 g at the end of transportation. During transportation, a total of 4 ducklings died; 1 male and 1 female on the 8 h, 1 male and 1 female on the 12 h. Plasma glucose levels of ducklings decreased up to 8 h of transportation, but increased at 12 h. Plasma corticosterone, cholesterol, triglyceride, AST, total protein, albumin levels and blood H/L ratios increased in transported ducklings due to increasing transportation time.