Influence of different rearing systems on natural immune parameters in broiler turkeys

• Published in: Poultry science Vol. 90; no. 7; pp. 1462 - 1466
• Main Authors: Franciosini, M.P, Bietta, A, Moscati, L, Battistacci, L, Pela, M, Tacconi, G, Davidson, I, Casagrande Proietti, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Poultry Science Association 01.07.2011; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Animal Husbandry - methods; Animals; antibacterial properties; complement; Complement System Proteins - immunology; Female; foxes; Immunity, Innate - immunology; lysozyme; Muramidase - blood; Mustela; predators; rearing; turkeys; Turkeys - blood; Turkeys - immunology; weather; welfare; natural immunity; broiler turkey
• ISSN: 0032-5791; 1525-3171
• DOI: 10.3382/ps.2010-01068

The aim of this study was to determine serological values of lysozyme, hemolytic complement levels (alternative pathway), and bactericidal activity of serum in turkeys kept in different rearing systems (industrial, backyard, and experimental). Results showed that the values for serum bactericidal activity and hemolytic complement levels increased with age, and their values were higher in experimental and in industrial turkeys than in turkeys reared in backyard. Lysozyme concentration showed a similar pattern; its value was higher in the industrial and experimental groups than in the backyard group. Data obtained suggest that rearing system can have an influence on the natural immune parameters considered; experimental and industrial groups showed a similar trend, differentiated from that observed in the backyard group. In the backyard group, the values observed may suggest that hybrid turkeys, selected for high production, have difficulty with being reared outside where predators (foxes and weasels) and weather conditions could be responsible for a stress situation.