SUMMARYHaematological and clinical biochemistry values were determined in 15 healthy Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) captured at Isla de Cachagua, V Región, Chile and maintained at the Metropolitan Zoo of Santiago, Chile. Blood samples were obtained at 3 days and 3, 7 and 15 weeks post-capture. The confinement did not affect the red blood cell parameters (RBC, PCV, Hb, MCV, MCHC, P>0.05). Slight changes in the absolute number of heterophils and lymphocytes were observed. Albumin, fibrinogen and glucose values did not change while total plasma proteins and globulin increased significantly (P<0.05) between 3 and 7 weeks post-capture. Aspartate aminotransferase increased (P<0.05) between 3 days and 15 weeks post-capture.The haematological and blood chemistry values of the Humboldt penguins showed some differences compared to the values for other species of penguins reported in the literature.

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A trial was carried out to evaluate the effect of qualitative restriction at different rearing phases on liver fatness and plasma triglycerides without impairing the productive performance of broiler chickens. One hundred and seventy-six male chicks were randomly assigned to four treatments and reared in battery brooders (16 pens with 11 birds each) from 1 to 49-day-old. In the control group, chicks were fed a starter diet (1 to 28-day-old) with 3,300kcal ME/kg of diet and 22.5% CP; grower diet (29 to 42-day-old) 3,300kcal ME/kg of diet and 18.2% CP; and the finisher diet (43 to 49-day-old) 3,300kcal ME/kg and 18.2% CP. Three restrict groups were fed a low 2,800kcal ME/kg of diet and 24% CP from 7 to 14-dayold (treatment 1); from 7 to 21-day-old (treatment 2); and from 22 to 35-day-old (treatment 3). All treatments were fed control diet before and after the feed restriction period. Feed intake was not affected during the feed restriction period; nevertheless, weight gain was lower (P<0.05) for chicks fed restricted diet from 7 to 21 and from 21 to 35-day-old. At the end of each restriction period, scores of liver for fatty infiltration were higher in restricted birds compared to control birds, although no changes were detected in plasma triglyceride levels. On the 49 th day of age, less intracellular fatty infiltration was observed in the liver of previously restricted birds compared to control birds, and weight gain was also lower in the restricted groups. Moreover, triglyceride plasma levels were similar among treatments, but decreased in 12-hour-fasted broilers compared to non-fasted birds. The low energy:protein ratio diet affected weight gain and fatty infiltration in the liver, but had no effect on plasma levels of triglycerides.Keywords: broiler chicken, feed restriction, productive performance, liver, triglyceride RESUMO Aplicou-se restrição alimentar qualitativa em frangos de corte, em diferentes fases do crescimento, para reduzir a infiltração gordurosa do fígado e os triglicerídeos plasmáticos, sem influir nas respostas produtivas. Distribuíram-se aleatoriamente 176 pintos machos em quatro tratamentos. As aves foram alojados em baterias (16 gaiolas com 11 aves cada) e foram criados de 1 a 49 dias de idade. No grupo controle as aves foram alimentadas com dieta inicial (1-28 dias) com 3.300kcal EM/kg/dieta e 22,5% de proteína bruta (PB; dieta de crescimento (29-42 dias) com 3.300kcal EM/kg/dieta e 20,9% de PB; dieta de acabamento (43-49 dias de idade) 3.300kcal EM/kg/dieta e 18,2% de PB. As aves nos três grupos sob restrição foram alimentadas com dieta com 2.800kcal de EM/kg/dieta e 24% de PB de 7 aos 14 dias de idade (tratamento 2), de 7 aos 21 dias de idade (tratamento 2) e de 22 aos 35 dias de idade (tratamento 3). Todas as aves dos tratamentos sob restrição foram alimentadas com a dieta controle antes e depois

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The vicuna is mainly used in two ways: wild captured, shorn and returned to the wild; or wild captured and maintained in captivity as part of a programme of sustainable use in the Andes of South America. Farming of wild vicunas has hitherto involved no assessment of their welfare. In this study we measured a set of basic blood parameters in order to characterise baseline values in captivity, and we then characterised adrenal cortical responsiveness using an ACTH challenge. The ACTH challenge is widely used for assessing neuroendocrine responses to stress and is now increasingly being applied to studies of wild animals’ welfare. Five male vicunas were injected with exogenous ACTH and their responses compared with those of a control group injected with placebo. Behavioural and haematological changes were monitored. Injection of ACTH produced a 4.5-fold increase in cortisol concentration within 1 h. Total white blood cell count almost doubled in less than 5 h. The neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio also changed, with a decrease in lymphocytes and an increase in neutrophils, suggesting that the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio was affected by the ACTH challenge. Packed cell volume increased from 40% to 44%. Observations of individual vicunas during sampling revealed no discernible behavioural differences between treated and control animals; however, animals that had higher initial baseline cortisol concentration made more attempts to escape, and vocalised more during handling, regardless of whether they were treated with ACTH or placebo. The results reveal the different blood parameter levels associated with stress in different species and highlight the hazard of interpreting stress levels in one species on the basis of measures calibrated in another. We provide calibrated reference values for future studies of stress in vicunas.