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Wheel Running and Environmental Complexity as a Therapeutic Intervention in an Animal Model of FASD
Published on: February 2, 2017
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Environmental complexity: A buffer against stress in the domestic chick
Irene Campderrich1,2, Franco Nicolas Nazar3, Anette Wichman2
1Department of Animal Health, Neiker-Tecnalia Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
Plos One
|January 15, 2019
Summary
Providing a complex environment early in life improves birds' ability to handle stress and enhances their immune response. Early cold stress, however, may increase vulnerability to future challenges.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Animal Welfare
- Immunology
Background:
- Commercial poultry face early-life stressors impacting development.
- Early environmental complexity may enhance stress coping mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if a complex early environment (CENV) prepares birds for future stressors.
- To assess the long-term effects of early cold stress (CSTR) on immune and behavioral responses.
Main Methods:
- 96 one-day-old pullets were raised in either a complex (CENV) or simple (SENV) environment.
- Half of each group experienced acute cold stress (CSTR) or no stress (NSTR) on day two.
- Birds were later exposed to an intermittent stressful challenges protocol (ISCP) at four weeks of age.
Main Results:
- CENV rearing ameliorated the pro-inflammatory response in birds exposed to early CSTR.
- Birds from CENV showed better coping with ISCP, indicated by a lower heterophil/lymphocyte ratio.
- Early CSTR exposure led to reduced humoral immune responses and delayed use of elevated structures.
Conclusions:
- Early provision of a complex environment is crucial for mitigating negative stress effects in commercial poultry.
- Early life experiences, including stress and environmental complexity, have lasting effects on bird phenotype and stress resilience.
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