Potential effect of vibration during transport on glycogen reserves in broiler chickens

Subjection of broiler chickens to random, narrow band vibration (2, 5, 10 Hz) for 1 h, simulating that experienced during normal road transport, did not significantly influence liver or muscle glycogen concentrations or muscle ultimate pH (pHu). Vibration for 3 h increased body temperature (P<0.05) and decreased (P<0.01) pHu in both 'white' pectoralis superficalis (PS) and 'red' biceps femoris (BF) muscles overall, but did not affect liver or muscle glycogen concentrations. However, higher vibration frequencies resulted in reduced (P<0.05) glycogen concentrations in liver and BF muscle. The conclusion was that vibration was unlikely to be the major cause of muscle glycogen depletion seen in transported broilers, but the reduction in pHu in the PS muscle after vibration may have been related to the similar effect seen in previous studies after normal transport.