Effects of genotype, sex, and feed restriction on the biochemical composition of chicken preen gland secretions and their implications for commercial poultry production.

ABSTRACT: Preen gland secretions spread on the feathers contain various chemical compounds dominated by fatty acids (FAs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These chemicals may significantly affect plumage condition, microbial and ectoparasitic load on feathers, and chemical communication of birds. However, how chemical composition of preen secretions varies in commercially produced chickens with respect to their genotype, sex, and feeding regime remain largely unknown, as well as the welfare implications for farmed poultry. We found that while polyunsaturated fatty acids in chicken preen secretions differed significantly with genotype (P << 0.001), saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids varied with genotype-dependent preen gland volume (P < 0.01). Chickens of meat-type fast-growi

SUBMITTER: Gvozdikova Javurkova V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9923712 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature