FIGURE 3.

Welfare assessment score for Feather quality (A), Feather cleanliness (B), Foot pad quality (C), and Nostril quality scores (D) in ducks exposed to cyclic heat stress (35°C for 10h/day and 29.5°C for the remaining 14h/day) or control. Data shown are means ± SEM, n = 65–80/treatment/week. Ducks exposed to heat stress showed higher feather quality scores at all time-point, higher feather cleanliness scores compared to the controls at weeks 1, 2, and 3, and higher foot pad scores compared to the controls at weeks 2, and 3 after onset of treatment and higher scores indicate a decline in welfare. No significant differences in the nostril quality scores were observed between treatment groups. * = p < 0.05, ** = p < 0.01.