. 2010. Temperature gradients in trailers and changes in broiler rectal and core body temperature during winter transportation in Saskatchewan. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 90: 321Á330. Temperature conditions inside commercial trailers transporting market-age broilers during four winter journeys were measured, and changes in the rectal and core body temperature of birds were quantified. Pre-selected modules were equipped with data loggers recording temperature every 72 s. Rectal temperatures were taken from eight birds in each of four modules immediately before and after each trip, and two or three birds, with temperature recording implants, were placed in each of two selected modules. Temperature heterogeneity was found among modules on all loads with average crate temperatures ranging from 10.9 to 30.7, 8.9 to 28.1, 2.5 to 26.1 and (0.7 to 16.58C for transportation times of 191, 193, 178 and 18 min and ambient temperatures of (7.1, (27.1, (28.2 and (18.48C, respectively. Wet birds, condensation and frost provided evidence for moisture accumulation during transportation. Body temperature recordings indicated the potential for the development of both hypothermia and hyperthermia, showing that cold stress can occur near air inlets and heat stress in poorly ventilated areas. Passive ventilation inside trailers resulted in crate temperatures 17.7 to 55.28C above outside temperature. Mortality ranged from 0.7 to 1.4% but several deaths occurred during lairage, prior to processing. A heterogeneous distribution of airflow resulted in undesirable temperate and humidity conditions for some birds.

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Society is increasingly concerned about the welfare of animals kept for food production, for this reason, invasive procedures such as toe trimming in turkeys must be studied to assess the corresponding welfare implications and to ensure such procedures are acceptable for continued use. To this end, research was conducted to evaluate the welfare effects of toe trimming on toms raised to 140 d. The study used 306 Hybrid Converter toms, half of which were toe trimmed using a Microwave Claw Processor (MCP) which group are denoted T, and half of which were sham treated but not trimmed, which group are denoted NT. Turkey behavior was observed on d 1, 3, 5, and 133. Toe cross sections were taken every second day for 14 d after treatment and were used to histologically examine the healing process. Toe length, gait score, and bird stance were assessed on d 55, 84, 119, and 139. For the first 5 d after treatment, T birds demonstrated less active behaviors such as feeding, standing, walking and running (P ≤ 0.05), indicative of pain with the effect diminishing with age. At d 133, T turkeys stood more and walked less than NT birds (P ≤ 0.05). Gait score and bird stance were not affected by treatment. Trimmed toes were on average 91.9% of the length of NT toes and toe length was more variable (P ≤ 0.05) as a result of the trimming process. Histological examination indicated T toes had complete epithelium closure over the healthy tissue by d 8 and were fully healed by d 14. Although bird mobility and stance were unaffected by treatment, turkey behavior both early and late in the production cycle were suggestive of pain and balance effects; both indicators of reduced welfare as a result of toe trimming.