本研究以生理指標評估現行不同的飼養管理方式下蛋雞飼養系統的動物福祉。本研究針對三種飼養方式：傳統籠飼、平飼、放牧等飼養方式進行採樣評估。利用酵素免疫分析法（ELISA）檢測蛋雞血液中腎上腺皮質酮（Corticosterone,CS）濃度並另外檢測異嗜性白血球／淋巴球（H/L），以反應蛋雞之生理緊迫，另進行血液生化分析與蛋品質分析，做為不同飼養方式之比較，進而探討現今飼養管理之適當性。結果顯示友善的人道飼養方式較傳統籠飼所測得之腎上腺皮質酮濃度與H/L為低。蛋品質方面，友善飼養較傳統籠飼的雞蛋蛋黃顏色深，而在蛋重、蛋殼強度、蛋殼厚度的部分皆無明顯的差異。以生理評估而言，以友善之人道飼養方式飼養蛋雞較傳統之籠養方式能提升動物福祉。
In this research, we evaluated animal welfare based on the comparison of the physiological responses of laying hens under different kinds of management system. Three types of housing systems were evaluated, including conventional cage system, barn system and free range system. We used Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) to exam the corticosterone (CS) and the heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) in the blood. In addition, blood biochemical parameters were determined to study the differences in physiological stress. Results showed that both corticosterone levels and the H/L were lower in free range system than the traditional cage system. The egg yolk color index was higher in free range eggs while the shell strength, shell thickness and the egg weights were not different among systems. In conclusion, the friendly system may improve the animal welfare in terms of physiological assessment and the egg quality.
