This study was carried out to compare the histomorphological structures of oviductal regions of the apparently healthy adult laying hens (Gallus gallus dometicus) and ducks (Ansa ansa domesticus). For this purpose, 20 hens and 20 female ducks aged between 1–1.5 years were used. After euthanasia, the oviducts were dissected out and all of the gross morphometrical parameters including length, wid...

Public concern about the quality of life of farm animals has been increasing in recent years in Europe and the world. Animals are now defined as “sentient beings” in the Treaty of Amsterdam (1999), and in 2002 the German Parliament decided to include animal welfare in the German constitution being one of the constitutional aims. The present discussion on poultry production and husbandry in Euro...

We have previously reported that the hyperprolactinemia in incubating turkey hens is associated with recruitment of lactotrophs in the pituitary gland. In this study we have used double immunofluorescence and in situ hybridization histochemistry to 1) identify mammosomatotrophs in the anterior pituitary gland of egg-laying turkey hens and incubating hens, and 2) verify PRL gene expression withi...

The concept of a 'good life' recognises the distinction that an animal's quality of life is beyond that of a 'life worth living', representing a standard of welfare substantially higher than the legal minimum (FAWC, 2009). We propose that the opportunities required for a 'good life' could be used to structure resource tiers that lead to positive welfare and are compatible with higher welfare fa...

Under Council Directive 1999/74/EC, minimum space allowances per laying hen range from 550 cm(2) in unfurnished cages to 1111 cm(2) in alternative housing, and to 40,000 cm(2) outdoors for free-range hens. In official reports on the welfare of laying hens, there is recognition that knowledge of their space requirements is inadequate. This experiment studied expression of behaviour, including sp...

BACKGROUND Sphingosine-1 receptor 1 (S1P1) plays a major role in regulating lymphocyte egress from peripheral lymph tissue. Lymphocyte trafficking is potentially a critical response to tumors and to tumor vaccines. Also, the receptor has been shown to influence metastasis. However, there is little information on its expression in the aged ovary or ovarian tumors. As a basis for further studies ...

Cage layer fatigue was first noticed after laying hens began to be housed in cages in the mid-20th century. Hens producing eggs at a high rate were most susceptible to the disease. Early research revealed that cage layer fatigue was associated with osteoporosis and bone brittleness. Severe osteoporosis leads to spontaneous bone fractures commonly in the costochondral junctions of the ribs, the ...