Preliminary investigation into thermal stress during diurnal road transportation of young ostriches (Struthio Camelus)

Diurnal road transportation influence on body temperature and on body weight was studied in 60 chick ostriches. Prior to the transportation, body temperature and body weight were recorded. On arrival, an elevation in body temperature and a decrease in body weight were observed. In particular, recording for body temperature were 39.34±0.16°C before the departure and 39.86±0.17°C at the arrival (P<0.001); for body weight, recordings were 1.72±0.05 kg before the departure, 1.64±0.07 kg at the arrival and 1.6±0.08 kg after 1 day (P<0.001). Only on the 4 th day after the arrival the body temperature and on the 2 nd to the 3rd day the body weight reached the exit values before departure. Analysis of the effect of transportation on body temperature and body weight was conducted by factorial analyses of variance (ANOVAs). Obtained results show physical sign of stress with a high body temperature and a low growth rate of chicks probably due to the diurnal transportation.