Do you think youngbird racing should be cancelled if temperatures exceed 30C ?
Transportation
Racing pigeons (Columba livia) participating in homing contests are transported
from the home loft to the release site at a high stocking density. Dutch
transport guidelines suggest transporting pigeons at a space allowance of 225
to 300 sqcm per bird (Gorssen and Koene 1997). Transport conditions are not
only affected by high stocking densities but, since the racing season ranges
from April to September, inadequate climatic control of the transport vehicle
may put the pigeons at risk of heat exposure during summer. In addition, water
deprivation for a period of 12 to 24 hours may occur (Gorssen et al. 1993).
Marder (1983) noted increased aggression in heat-exposed pigeons. A
combination of heat exposure and water deprivation results in dehydration of
pigeons (Arad et al. 1987). In addition to that during transportation, the
pigeons` behaviour might be affected by the motion, noise and vibration
associated with a driving vehicle and during racing pigeon contests the time
pigeons spend in a stationary truck with the engine off is considerable and this
may also affect their behaviour (Gorssen and Koene 1997). These stationary
periods include the waiting time before departure of the vehicle and especially
the time between arrival at the release site and final release of the birds.
Adverse weather conditions at the release site or between the release site and
the home site often delay the moment of release by several hours or even days
(Gorssen and Koene 1997).
Scope et al. (2002) carried out a study on the influence of stress from transport
and handling on haematological and clinical chemistry blood measures in
racing pigeons (Columba livia domestica). They found that stress has an
influence on some blood variables in racing pigeons, though within 3 hr, most
values did not exceed the reference ranges. The quality and extent of any
changes are likely to depend on the severity, type, and duration of stressful
events, like transport and handling. Assessment of these facts is difficult if not
impossible and may differ in individual cases and, therefore, can hardly be
standardised.
Gorssen et al. (1997) carried out a study on how water deprivation and thermal
stress affect racing pigeons during transport. They concluded that 32°C is the
upper critical temperature for pigeons housed under transport conditions. When
pigeons have access to water (Gorssen et al. 1997), the variation in body weight
loss within a group increases above the upper critical temperature. Water
deprivation increases heat production, body weight loss, and dry matter content
of the breast section at temperatures above the upper critical temperature. The
resulting dehydrated state probably reduces the flying capacity of the pigeons.
Hence, water deprivation and heat exposure during transport for homing
contests may increase bird losses.
