Effects of heat stress and stocking density on humoral immune response of Arian broiler chickens

Document Type : Scientific-Extensional Article

Authors

1 Ph.D. Student of Poultry Nutrition, Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran

2 Associate Professor of Poultry Nutrition, Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran

3 Professor of Poultry Nutrition, Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran

Abstract

Studies on birds, including various breeds of broilers, have demonstrated that they are highly sensitive to stress factors, with heat stress being the most significant among them. Heat stress weakens the immune system, ultimately reducing performance and increasing mortality rates. Since the effects of heat stress and breeding density on Arian strain broilers have not been previously investigated, a study was conducted to explore these factors on the humoral immune response of Arian strain broilers. In this experiment, 720 Arian strain broilers were used in a completely randomized design featuring six treatments and six replications, arranged as a 2x3 factorial. The study examined three density levels (12, 14, and 16 birds per square meter) and two different temperature conditions (normal temperature and heat stress) from day 22 to day 42 of rearing. The functionality of the humoral immune system was assessed based on the birds' response to sheep red blood cell antigen. The results indicated that rearing temperature had a significant impact (P < 0.01) on total immunoglobulin and immunoglobulin M levels in the primary immune response, as well as a significant effect (P < 0.05) on total immunoglobulin and immunoglobulin G levels in the secondary immune response. In the primary immune response, the levels of total immunoglobulin and immunoglobulin M were higher under non-heat stress conditions compared to heat stress conditions (P < 0.01). Similarly, in the secondary immune response, total immunoglobulin and immunoglobulin G levels were greater in the non-heat stress condition (P < 0.05). Moreover, the findings revealed that rearing density did not significantly affect the production of immunoglobulins, and there was no significant interaction between heat stress and rearing density (P < 0.05). Therefore, it can be concluded that heat stress reduces total immunoglobulin levels, leading to a decrease in the immune system function of Arian strain broiler chickens.

Keywords

References

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Professional Journal of Domestic
Volume 25, Issue 2 - Serial Number 33
September 2025
Pages 49-54

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