Disturbance of resting behaviour of broilers under different environmental conditions

Resting behaviours make up a large part of the daily time budget of broilers. However, in intensive broiler production systems disruptions of resting behaviours occur, where resting individuals get disturbed by active individuals. Such interruptions of resting behaviour may negatively affect the welfare of the birds but also disturb important functions of sleep related for instance to restoration and growth. This study investigated if a lower stocking density or the provision of separate resting places in the form of elevated platforms would result in less disruption of resting patterns of fast-growing broilers. Three different treatments were used, one with an elevated platform, one with lowered stocking density and a control setting. A randomized block design was used, consisting of six blocks, giving six to eight replicates of each treatment. Depending on treatment, 422-497 broilers (Ross 308) were kept per pen. Data on duration of resting bouts, occurrence of disturbances and position in pen during resting were collected on days 20 and 34 of age. An overall effect of treatment x position was found on duration of resting bouts both during day (P < 0.01) and night (P < 0.001). When resting on platforms the duration of resting bouts during daytime was longer compared to when birds were resting in open areas in the control groups (P = 0.04). During night the duration of resting bouts on platforms was longer compared to duration of resting bouts at all other locations in all treatments. In addition, resting position also had an overall effect on proportion of disturbances during day (P = 0.0018) and night (P = 0.0225). Resting on platforms reduced the number of physical disturbances of resting chickens compared to open areas in the control group both during day (P adj < 0.001) and night (P adj = 0.01). Generally, the level of disturbances was high in all treatments, suggesting that birds experience disrupted rest. As rest and sleep are vital needs, it is a welfare concern that chickens negatively affect other individuals' resting behaviour. A separate resting place appears to reduce disturbances to some extent and thus potentially increases the welfare of broiler chickens. However, provision of platforms is not enough to prevent frequent disturbances of resting and it is concluded that additional changes in housing conditions of broiler chickens are needed to improve their rest and sleep

Fluelarver som proteinfoder til økologisk fjerkræ

Fluelarvemel suppleret med levende fluelarver er et godt alternativ til fiskemel i økologisk hønsehold, viser ny forskning fra AU Foulum

The productivity and financial impacts of eight types of environmental enrichment for broiler chickens

Reduced mobility in broilers can contribute to leg health problems. Environmental enrichment has been suggested as one approach to combat this through stimulating increased physical activity. Past studies have tested the effect of environmental enrichments on bird behaviour, health and welfare, but few have estimated their financial impacts. This study tested the impact of eight types of environmental enrichment on enterprise net margin, accounting for direct intervention costs plus indirect effects via changes to bird mortality, weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and foot pad dermatitis. The trial used 58 pens each containing approximately 500 broilers (Ross 308) at a stocking density of 40 kg/m2. The environmental enrichments were: roughage, vertical panels, straw bales, elevated platforms (5 and 30 cm), increased distances between feed and water (7 and 3.5 m) and stocking density reduced to 34 kg/m2, plus a control group. Mortality was recorded daily and feed intake and weight weekly. Footpad dermatitis was assessed on day 35. Only one intervention improved financial performance (3.5 m between feed and water) above the control, suggesting that most environmental enrichment would have a negative financial impact due to the additional intervention costs, unless consumers were willing to pay a price premium

Comparison of Performance, Egg Quality, and Yolk Fatty Acid Profile in Two Turkish Genotypes (Atak-S and Atabey) in a Free-Range System

Simple SummaryIn recent years, consumers have shown increased interest in healthy and safe food produced under improved animal welfare standards. Therefore, production systems proving outdoor access have gained popularity, increasing the need for knowledge on genotypes suitable for free-range systems. This study aimed to investigate the suitability of two Turkish layer genotypes, Atak-S (brown) and Atabey (white), in a free-range system. We evaluated laying performance, egg quality parameters, and yolk fatty acid profile. The egg production was higher in Atabey than Atak-S, whereas the eggs from Atak-S hens tended to be heavier and had a stronger shell structure than eggs from Atabey hens. Furthermore, eggs from Atabey hens had improved egg yolk and albumen content compared to eggs from Atak-S hens. The total saturated fatty acid content in yolk was higher in Atabey eggs than in Atak-S eggs at 56 weeks of age, whereas a higher yolk color score was observed in Atak-S eggs than in Atabey eggs. Our results could help free-range egg producers to improve production, as well as satisfy consumer demands regarding egg quality in organic production.Consumer interest in buying eggs from animal welfare-friendly systems with outdoor access is increasing, leading to an increase in the need for knowledge on genotypes suitable for free-range systems. Two Turkish laying hen genotypes, Atak-S (brown, n = 210) and Atabey (white, n = 210), were reared in a free-range system from 19-72 weeks of age, and their suitability for the system was assessed based on laying performance, egg quality, and yolk fatty acid profile. Mean hen-day and hen-housed egg production were found to be higher in Atabey than Atak-S (p < 0.01). The brown eggs from Atak-S hens tended to be heavier than the white eggs from Atabey hens (p < 0.01). Brown eggs obtained from Atak-S hens had a stronger shell structure (p < 0.01), while white eggs from Atabey hens had higher mean yolk index, albumen index, and Haugh unit than brown eggs (p < 0.05). At 56 weeks of age, total saturated fatty acid content in yolk was higher in white eggs than in brown eggs (p < 0.01). These findings related to genotype could help free-range egg producers in their choices for more profitable production and for meeting consumer demands on egg quality and egg yolk fatty acid levels

Comparison of Behavioral Time Budget and Welfare Indicators in Two Local Laying Hen Genotypes (Atak-S and Atabey) in a Free-Range System

Simple Summary It is known that laying hens kept in cage systems without access to enrichment have more welfare and behavioral problems. Therefore, alternative systems for egg production have gained popularity, e.g., free-range and organic systems, as they improve the birds' possibilities to perform important specific behavior and thereby increase the welfare conditions in commercial farms. This study aimed to compare of the behaviors and welfare of two layer genotypes used in Turkey, Atak-S (brown) and Atabey (white), in a free-range system from 19 to 72 weeks of age. We evaluated multiple welfare indicators, including behavioral time budget, fear level, plumage condition, keel bone damage, and other body lesions. The birds were scored at 24, 40, 56, and 72 weeks of age. The Atabey hens showed more preening, walking-standing, and resting behavior, and they had a longer duration of tonic immobility. The Atak-S hens tended to perform more feather pecking and explorative pecking, and they had more foot lesions, plumage damage, skin injuries, and keel bone damages. Current results can be beneficial for the choice of genotype to use in free-range systems. Free-range systems are considered to improve bird health and welfare, thereby satisfying consumer demands. Behavioral time budget, fear level and clinical welfare indicators were compared for two Turkish laying hen genotypes, Atak-S (brown) and Atabey (white), reared in a free-range system. A total of 420 laying hens (210 Atak-S, 210 Atabey) were studied between 19 and 72 weeks of age. Higher percentages of eating and drinking behavior, feather pecking, and explorative pecking were observed for Atak-S hens, whereas Atabey hens were preening, walking-standing, and resting more. The duration of tonic immobility was longer, and the number of inductions was lower in Atabey compared with Atak-S hens. Atabey hens had less keel bone damages and better plumage conditions on the breast, wing, and tail at 56 and 72 weeks of age than Atak-S hens. Footpad dermatitis was more common in Atabey hens at 40 weeks, whereas Atak-S hens had a higher prevalence of footpad dermatitis with moderate lesions at 72 weeks of age. These findings indicate that free-range Atak-S hens may be more prone to keel bone damage and development of feather pecking, but they showed less foot lesions and were less fearful

Resting behavior of broilers reared with or without artificial brooders

Rest and sleep are important for the welfare of mammals and birds. A large part of the daily time budget of broiler chickens is taken up by resting behavior and the quality of resting is important. However, in intensive broiler production systems, disruptions of resting behaviors are common. These disruptions of resting behavior could be negative for the health and growth of the birds. This study investigated if artificial brooders that provide a delimited and darker resting place, away from active birds, reduce disruptions of resting behavior compared to a control situation without artificial brooders. Six pens of each treatment were used in the same building, keeping 60 chickens (Ross 308) per pen. The artificial brooders were removed at 21 days of age. Data on disturbances and duration of resting bouts and activity between resting bouts were collected on 20 and 34 days of age. Also, as an indicator of the quality of rest, the animals' cognitive performance was evaluated in a spatial learning test that was performed at 11 days of age. The results showed that birds housed in pens with access to brooders have longer resting bouts (260.7 +/- 5.2 vs. 132.8 +/- 5.3s, p < 0.001) and are less likely to be disturbed during resting by other individuals (0.15 vs. 0.48, p < 0.001). The effect of the artificial brooders on both the duration of resting bouts and the proportion of disturbances remained after the removal of the brooders at 21 days of age. The duration of activity between resting bouts was shorter if the resting bout was ended by a disturbance (9.98 +/- 1.0 vs. 61.0 +/- 2.4s, p < 0.001). Birds reared with brooders were more likely to solve the spatial learning task (0.5 vs. 0.27, p < 0.01), but those succeeding were not faster at solving it. Broilers may be exposed to disrupted rest due to the lack of a dedicated resting place separated from areas with high activity. Using artificial brooders reduces disturbances but does not eliminate them. Therefore, additional changes to the housing conditions or management will be needed to prevent disturbances

Presentation at ISAE 2019 - Bergen, Norway

The FreeBirds project aims to generate more insight into the relationship between organic chickens’ free-range use and bird health, welfare and performance, as well as soil nutrient load. One completed study of the project compared the range use, welfare and performance of Dekalb White (DW) and Bovans’ Brown (BB) laying hens on an experimental setting simulating organic on-farm conditions. Six hundred non-beak-trimmed hens of each hybrid (N = 1200) were housed in groups of 100, from 17 to 38 weeks of age, in 12 pens according to EU requirements for organic egg production. Indoor pens measured 4.5 × 4.5 m. Each pen provided 12 nest boxes and 18 cm/hen of elevated perch length. Wood shavings was provided as litter and the indoor net stocking density was 5.1 hens/m2. The outdoor range for each pen measured 4.5 × 90 m, providing an outdoor density of 4 m2/hen. The ground on the outdoor range had grass covering but no trees; shelter was available in the form of four 10-meter long tarps running along the length of the range at 10-meter intervals. Feed and water were provided ad-lib indoor and maize silage and/or carrots was provided as roughage under the first shelter of the outdoor range three times a week. Live observations of range use were carried out weekly, recording the number of hens outdoors and their distance from the pophole. Furthermore, assessment of plumage condition, as part of a welfare assessment protocol, was performed by four observers on all hens at 17 and 38 weeks of age. Preliminary statistical analysis were carried out in the software SAS using mixed models. The models included the fixed factors hybrid and age and the random factors pen and observer. Tukey test was used for post hoc testing. The range use in week 38 showed that while the total number of hens observed outside did not vary with hybrid, DW used shelters more than BB (mean ± SD: 15.1 ± 12.1 hens vs. 10.8 ± 7.5 hens; p = 0.002). Furthermore, BB ranged further away from the house than DW (mean ± SD: 4.47 ± 5.34 BB hens observed > 60 m away from the pophole vs. 1.23 ± 2.61 DW hens observed > 60 m away from pophole; p < 0.0001). Regarding plumage condition, there was an interaction of hybrid and age: while both hybrids had lower scores, (i.e. better plumage condition) at 17 weeks compared to 38 weeks of age (p < 0.001), BB had better plumage condition than DW at each time point (p < 0.001; lsmeans plumage score ± SE: BB17 = 0.98 ± 0.29; DW17 = 1.37 ± 0.29; BB38 = 4.2 ± 0.29; DW38 = 5.8 ± 0.29). These preliminary results indicate that DW are less explorative/more fearful compared to BB and highlights the need for breed-specific management such as greater shelter provision for DW. This, combined with the better plumage condition of BB, suggests that BB is a breed more robust to the environment of organic production compared to DW hens

Gut microbiota activity in chickens from two genetic lines and with outdoor-preferring, moderate-preferring, and indoor-preferring ranging profiles

Despite the existing research into the gut microbiome of meat chickens, the associations between gut microbiome composition, its activity and chicken outdoor ranging frequency remain unexplored. The aim of this study was to determine the gut microbiota composition, activity and metabolic products in chickens of 2 different lines and 3 ranging profiles. Sixty non-beak trimmed birds, either Sasso or Green-legged Partridge were housed with access to outdoor ranges from wk. 5 to 10 of age. Outdoor ranges were video recorded to obtain frequencies of the birds’ range use. The information about relative abundance of selected bacterial groups in the ceca including Lactobacillus spp., E. coli, Bifidobacterium spp., and Clostridium spp. was obtained with the PCR method. Gut microbiota activity was assessed based on the glycolytic activity of bacterial enzymes including, α-glucosidase, β-glucosidase, α-galactosidase, β-galactosidase, and β-glucuronidase as well as based on the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) in the caecal digesta. Statistical analysis was conducted by generalized linear mixed models, applying the breed and ranging profile as fixed effects and pen as a random factor. The lowest relative abundance of Bifidobacterium spp. was found in the cecal content of indoor-preferring Sasso birds (0.01 ± 0.001), as compared to all other birds in the experiment (ranging from 0.03 ± 0.01 to 0.11 ± 0.07; P = 0.0002). The lowest relative abundance of E. coli was identified for all outdoor-preferring birds and indoor- preferring Sasso birds (0.01 ± 0.001; P = 0.0087). Cecal activity of: α-glucosidase, β-glucuronidase and β-galactosidase was higher in Green-legged Partridges, as compared to Sasso (P = 0.013; P = 0.008; P = 0.004). Valeric acid concentrations were higher in moderate Green-legged Partridges than in Sasso of the same ranging profile (2.03 ± 0.16 vs. 1.5 ± 0.17; 0.016). The majority of the current results confirmed an effect of genotype and ranging profile on the various analyzed parameters. In outdoor-preferring birds, the consumption of pasture originating feed sources as a supplement to the indoor accessible cereal-based diet likely caused the positive effects on the birds’ microbial profile

Resting behavior of broilers reared with or without artificial brooders

Rest and sleep are important for the welfare of mammals and birds. A large part of the daily time budget of broiler chickens is taken up by resting behavior and the quality of resting is important. However, in intensive broiler production systems, disruptions of resting behaviors are common. These disruptions of resting behavior could be negative for the health and growth of the birds. This study investigated if artificial brooders that provide a delimited and darker resting place, away from active birds, reduce disruptions of resting behavior compared to a control situation without artificial brooders. Six pens of each treatment were used in the same building, keeping 60 chickens (Ross 308) per pen. The artificial brooders were removed at 21 days of age. Data on disturbances and duration of resting bouts and activity between resting bouts were collected on 20 and 34 days of age. Also, as an indicator of the quality of rest, the animals' cognitive performance was evaluated in a spatial learning test that was performed at 11 days of age. The results showed that birds housed in pens with access to brooders have longer resting bouts (260.7 ± 5.2 vs. 132.8 ± 5.3s, p &lt; 0.001) and are less likely to be disturbed during resting by other individuals (0.15 vs. 0.48, p &lt; 0.001). The effect of the artificial brooders on both the duration of resting bouts and the proportion of disturbances remained after the removal of the brooders at 21 days of age. The duration of activity between resting bouts was shorter if the resting bout was ended by a disturbance (9.98 ± 1.0 vs. 61.0 ± 2.4s, p &lt; 0.001). Birds reared with brooders were more likely to solve the spatial learning task (0.5 vs. 0.27, p &lt; 0.01), but those succeeding were not faster at solving it. Broilers may be exposed to disrupted rest due to the lack of a dedicated resting place separated from areas with high activity. Using artificial brooders reduces disturbances but does not eliminate them. Therefore, additional changes to the housing conditions or management will be needed to prevent disturbances