Heat stress (HS) and high stocking density (HSD) can lower blood homeostasis and negatively influence the behavioral traits of animals. The objective of this study was to explore the influence of different stocking densities on the behavioral traits, blood parameters, immune responses, and stress hormones of meat ducks (Cherry valley, Anas platyrhynchos) exposed to HS. It was found that HS and HSD conditions negatively affected the behavioral traits and blood parameters of the animals.

Lipid-soluble antioxidants can be more effective for chick development when provided via in ovo (IO) injection than when supplemented to the maternal diet. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of egg weight and IO injection of α-tocopherol on chick development, hatching performance and lipid-soluble antioxidant concentrations in residual yolk sac and tissue of quail chick. IO α-tocopherol injection affected concentrations of tissue-specific lipid-soluble antioxidants in quail chicks.

In present study, effects of peripheral administration of ghrelin antagonist [D-Lys³] GHRP-6 on chicken performance, thyroid hormone level and serum biochemical parameters were investigated. The results indicate that ghrelin antagonist [D-Lys3] GHRP-6 reduces feed intake and body weight. With regard to increase in T4 level, it can be inferred that [D-Lys³] GHRP-6 may increase metabolic rate, lipolysis and weight loss, which is similar to results obtained in mammalian species.