Abstract

Current study was conducted to recompense this deficiency through detection of ammonia (NH3) in air samples taken from different groups at different SD and different ages. Additionally the effect of stocking density on stress indicators and broiler performance were studied. A total of 200 unsexed one day old chicks, purchased from a commercial hatchery at Kafr El-Sheikh city, Egypt, were used in this study. The birds were randomly divided into four groups according to SD. These experimental groups were divided as follows: the first group (G1) contains 10 bird/ m2, the second group (G2) contains 14 bird/ m2, the third group (G3) contains 17 bird/ m2 and the fourth group (G4) contains 60 chicks was kept in an area of 3 m2 with SD of 20 bird/ m2. The chicken in all groups (from day 7 to day 42) was raised on deep litter system and received the same standard management, hygienic and environmental conditions. Comparing ammonia concentrations of different SD, the highest ammonia concentration was found in G4 (maximum of 31.4 mgL-1 at 36 day age) while the lowest were found in G1 (10 bird/m2) (0.7, 3.1, 3.5 and 3.5 mgL-1 at 14, 21, 28 and 36 day age respectively). Increased SD tended to reduce the final Body Weight and Body Weight Gain significantly. On the other hand, the relative weights of spleen and bursa were increased significantly (P < 0.05) with increasing SD. In the current study there was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in Total Leukocitic Count, Heterophils %, Lymphocytes %, and H/L ratio between different SD. H/L ratio was highest in G4 (0.192%) and lowest in G1 (0.018%) which showed Increasing in H/L ratio with increase in SD that reflects increase in stress level.

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