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Unpublished Paper
The Effects of Dietary Omega 3 Fatty Acids on Commercial Broiler Behavior from Hatch to Market Weight
Animal Industry Report
  • Ella Akin, Iowa State University
  • Zoe Kiefer, Iowa State University
  • Amelia Rangel, Iowa State University
  • Isa Ehr, Iowa State University
  • Samaneh Azarpajouh, Iowa State University
  • Elizabeth Bobeck, Iowa State University
  • Anna Johnson, Iowa State University
  • Nicholas Gabler, Iowa State University
  • Kenneth Stalder, Iowa State University
  • Brian Kerr, United States Department of Agriculture
Extension Number
ASL R3168
Publication Date
2017
Topic
Poultry
Summary and Implications

The objective of this experiment was to investigate how different dietary omega-3 sources affect commercial broiler behavior from hatch to market weight. One hundred and twenty male 308 Ross broiler chicks were enrolled into the study. Three dietary treatments were compared; Control, Flaxseed-and Fish-oil. Fifteen pens were randomly selected and onefocal-bird was watched continually for three periods of time. One behavior, two postures,and an unknown category were collected. Week by dietary treatment interaction was not significant for any broiler behaviors (P ≥ 0.49). There was no dietary treatment effect observed for any broiler behaviors (P≥ 0.32). There was no observed difference for percentage of time spent at the feeder between week 1 and 4 (P =0.14). However, there was a difference for percentage of time spent active (P < 0.0001), inactive (P = 0.0004) and unknown (P = 0.01) between week 1 and 4. Within the context of this work, the selected omega-3 dietary sources did not affect broiler behavior between weeks 1 and 4. Independent of dietary treatment, broilers increased the percentage of time spent inactive by week 4 of the study.

Copyright Holder
Iowa State University
DOI
https://doi.org/10.31274/ans_air-180814-320
Language
en
Citation Information
Ella Akin, Zoe Kiefer, Amelia Rangel, Isa Ehr, et al.. "The Effects of Dietary Omega 3 Fatty Acids on Commercial Broiler Behavior from Hatch to Market Weight" (2017)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/kenneth_stalder/159/