Scientific Reports of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine

Factors of technological stress in broiler chickens and strategies for its prevention

Denis Tsvilikhovskiy, Tatiana Nemova
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Abstract

In intensive poultry farming, a range of technological stress factors affect the growth and development of broiler chickens and the quality of poultry products. The impact of acute or chronic stress is reflected in poultry behavioural reactions, eating disorders, feed conversion, daily weight gain, and product quality.. The purpose of the study was to critically review and systematise scientific knowledge about changes in the bird’s body under the influence of technological stress factors. This paper analysed scientific literature on physiological and behavioural changes in poultry caused by stress-related disorders, identifies clinical and laboratory markers for their diagnosis, and outlines methods of prevention. The review helped to identify the main criteria that help differentiate the manifestations of stress in poultry. It was determined that the main technological stressors for poultry are a violation of the temperature regime of poultry rearing, an increase in the density of its content, regrouping, weighing, sorting, forming groups, trapping, moving, transporting, technological noise. Clinical manifestations in the development of stressful phenomena in poultry were a decrease in feed consumption, excitability, anxiety, fear, fatigue, rapid shallow breathing, premature maturation and impaired reproductive functions, a decrease in egg laying, a weakening of muscle tone, and a decrease in the quality of poultry products. The criteria for determining the manifestation of stressful phenomena in poultry were behavioural changes and clinical indicators, in the blood ‒ the ratio of heterophiles to neutrophils, the content of corticosteroids. To investigate oxidative stress in greater depth, it would be useful to measure the levels of malondialdehyde and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine in the birds’ blood, and the activity of glutathione and superoxide dismutase, and the heat shock proteins HSP70 and HSP90. Strategies for preventing the development of technological stress factors include optimisation of keeping conditions, correction of the diet with the addition of biologically active compounds, macro- and microelements, organic acids, probiotics and prebiotics to build the birds’ resistance to both production-related and other environmental factors. The results of the study will be useful for developing effective means of preventing technological stresses in poultry

Keywords

poultry; stress factors; heat exposure; density of keeping; lighting; physiological changes; preventive measures

Suggested citation
Tsvilikhovskiy, D., & Nemova, T. (2026). Factors of technological stress in broiler chickens and strategies for its prevention. Scientific Reports of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, 22(3),86-101. https://doi.org/10.31548/dopovidi/3.2026.86
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