Laying hens in furnished cages

Concern for the welfare of laying hens housed in conventional cages has led to a change of the Animal Welfare Legislation in Sweden, implying that cages must provide possibilities for hens to lay eggs in a nest, to rest on a perch and to use litter. Such requirements are also being considered within the whole European Union. The purpose of this thesis is to contribute to the general knowledge of, and further development of, furnished cages, both as regards birds’ use of facilities and their welfare, as well as with regard to production. The furnished cages housed 6 to 16 birds and the genotypes included were the commercial hybrids Lohmann Selected Leghorn (LSL), Hy-Line White and Hy-Line Brown. Passive Integrated Transponders were used in order to record individual bird’s use of litter baths, nests and passages through pop holes in larger cages divided into two halves. With some exceptions, nest and perches were generally used by 80-90% of the birds, and nest use was affected by nest design. There was a very large variation in the number of days individual birds visited the litter bath, and almost 30% of the birds never entered the baths. Frequent use of litter affected neither a hen’s exterior appearance (feather cover, pecking wounds) nor her estimated level of stress. Providing cages for larger groups of hens with a partition with pop holes, in order to improve their escape possibilities, did not affect any of the measured welfare traits. However, the pop holes were frequently used and the cage proved to work in all practical aspects. Two different measures to reduce egg shell cracks, both reducing the speed of the eggs on their way out of the nest, proved to be very efficient. Egg production and mortality rates were normal and similar to levels recorded in conventional cages. Differences in behaviour, indicators of stress and fear, exterior egg quality and exterior appearance were identified between genotypes. In conclusion, most birds found nests and perches attractive, whereas litter was used to varying extents. With inexpensive measures to reduce egg cracks, the proportion of cracks can be reduced to the level found in conventional cages

Ökad användning av raps och åkerböna i slaktkycklingfoder

Idag täcks proteinbehovet i europeisk slaktkycklingproduktion till största del av importerat sojamjöl. Sojaanvändningen inom animalieproduktionen är kraftigt ifrågasatt, och att ersätta sojan med inhemska proteinfodermedel är ett sätt att stärka svensk kycklings varumärke. Raps och åkerbönor är två av de proteingrödor som är odlingsbara i Sverige och det finns stora möjligheter att öka användningen av dessa i kycklingfoder. Kanske kommer det i framtiden att vara möjligt att jämte vete tillsätta fler hemmaproducerade råvaror till ett koncentrat – åkerböna och raps kan då vara tänkbara kandidater. Ett litet gissel med i stort sett alla inhemska proteingrödor är att de innehåller en del ämnen s.k. antinutritionella substanser (ANS) som kan störa näringsupptaget hos fjäderfän. Det finns dock möjligheter att genom förbehandling, med exempelvis värme, förstöra flera av dessa oönskade substanser i råvaran innan den blandas in i fodret. Dock saknas information om hur förbehandling med värme påverkar möjlig inblandningsnivå i slaktkycklingfoder. För att undersöka detta har två försök, ett med raps och ett med åkerböna, utförts på Lövsta forskningscentrum, SLU

Effects of toasting, inclusion levels and different enzyme supplementations of faba beans on growth performance of broiler chickens

Faba beans (Vicia faba) are an alternative protein source that likely can be used to a higher extent in broiler diets. White-flowered faba beans contain antinutritional substances (ANS) such as non-starch polysaccharides (NSP), trypsin inhibitors, and lectins, which might limit its inclusion level. Lectins and trypsin inhibitors are heat labile and previous studies have shown that steam-pelleting and enzyme treatment improves the nutritional value of faba beans. However, alternative to pelleting would facilitate for farmers to add faba beans on-farm. Currently, there are machines available for toasting faba beans on-farm, which might be used for broiler mash diets. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of inclusion level (0, 10, 20 and 30%), toasting (140 degrees C 5.5 min) and different enzymes (xylanase + phytase vs. xylanase, phytase, amylase, protease) of faba bean diets on growth performance and organ parameters in broilers. To test this, 2 experiments 34 and 35 days, using a total of 480 chickenswere performed. Feed intake, body weight (BW) and feed conversion ratio were registered weekly, in addition, organ and carcass weights were registered at slaughter. The results showed that inclusion of 20% faba beans is possible in a pelleted diet with maintained broiler growth performance. When 20% was included in a mash diet, feed intake and BW decreased compared to chickens fed pelleted diets, irrespectively of pre-toasting of the beans. It can be concluded that toasting cannot replace pelleting. Supplementation of protease and amylase in addition to xylanase and phytase did not improve the nutritional value of faba beans

Effects of algal supplementation in feed to broiler breeders on transfer of nutrients and antibodies to chicks and quality of hatchlings

Breeder nutrition is an important factor for chick quality since the chick embryo relies on nutrients available in the egg for growth and development. In addition, the egg is providing the chick with important antibodies that are vital during the first weeks of life. Brown algae contains several bioactive compounds, and dietary supplementation with algal extracts have shown improved gut health and immune responses in both pigs and poultry. The aim of this study was to investigate if feeding the brown algae Saccharina latissima, intact or as an extract, to broiler breeders can affect breeder hens' antibody responses to vaccination, egg quality and transfer of antibodies and nutrients to the egg and thereby improve the quality of newly hatched chicks. Forty-five hens and nine roosters of the parent lines of the fast-growing broiler Ross 308 were included in the experiment where hens were 31 weeks at the start. The hens were housed individually and fed one of three dietary treatments for seven weeks; (a) control, (b) addition of 0.6% algal meal or (c) addition of 0.08% algal extract. The hens were given a booster vaccination against infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) 21 days after the start of experiment. During experimental days 32-42, hens were naturally mated every 5th day and hatching eggs were collected. A total of 255 chicks were hatched, and chick quality was assessed. Moreover, on chick day three, blood was collected from 48 focal chickens and total immunoglobulin Y levels and specific titres to IBV in serum were determined. The results showed that feeding the brown algae Saccharina latissima, intact or as an extract to broiler breeders did not affect egg production, egg quality, antibody responses to vaccination or transfer of antibodies from hen to chick. However, feeding intact algae significantly increased the levels of iodine and decreased the level of selenium in the eggs and resulted in a lower proportion of chicks with maximum quality score. Interestingly, algal feeding, both intact and as an extract, increased the abdominal fat pad in broiler breeders by about 17% without affecting BW. In conclusion, supplementation of broiler breeder diets with algal extract from Saccharina latissima, but not intact algal meal is a promising dietary strategy to increase the abdominal fat pad without causing any adverse effects on nutrient level in eggs or chick quality. CO 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of The Animal Consortium. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Slutrapport

Sojaanvändningen inom animalieproduktionen är kraftigt ifrågasatt, och att ersätta sojan med inhemska proteinfodermedel är en av de viktigaste förändringar för att minska miljöpåverkan och stärka svensk kycklings varumärke. Raps och åkerbönor är två av de proteingrödor som är odlingsbara i Sverige och det finns stora möjlighetet att öka användningen av dessa i kycklingfoder. Ett litet gissel med i stort sett alla inhemska proteingrödor är att de innehåller en del ämnen s.k. antinutritionella substanser (ANS) som kan störa näringsupptaget hos fjäderfän. I raps är det framförallt glukosinolater och dess nedbrytningsprodukter som utgör ett problem. Nedbrytning av glukosinolater aktiveras av enzymet myrosinas. Begränsningen hos åkerböna är för växande djur framförallt tanniner och trypsininhibitorer, där vitblommiga åkerbönorna är i princip fria från tanniner. Såväl myrosinas som trypsininhibitorer är värmeinstabila och det finns därmed möjligheter att genom förbehandling med värme, förstöra dessa oönskade substanser i råvaran innan den blandas in i fodret. Dock saknas information om optimal tid och temperatur på värmebehandlingen och hur denna påverkar möjlig inblandningsnivå i slaktkycklingfoder. Risken med en för kraftig värmebehandling är att proteinkvaliteten blir negativt påverkad. För att undersöka detta genomfördes fyra delförsök, ett labförsök och ett slaktkycklingförsök med rapsfrö och ett labförsök och ett slaktkycklingförsök med vitblommig åkerböna. Labförsöken utfördes på Kungsängens forskningscentrum, SLU och raps respektive åkerböna torr-rostades i ugn i olika tider och temperaturer. För raps var enzymet myrosinas helt inaktiverat vid rostning 120 °C, 15 min samtidigt som proteinets kvalité var bibehållen. För åkerböna sågs en sänkning av trypsininhibitoraktivitet och bibehållen proteinkvalitet vid rostning 140 °C, 5,5 min, och dessa temperaturer bedöms som optimala vid torr- rostning. Slaktkycklingförsöken utfödes på Lövsta forskningscentrum, och i rapsförsöket testades 4 inblandningsnivåer, 0, 8, 16, 24 % raps, samt effekt av värmebehandling i form av ångpelletering. För de pelleterade fodren var 16 % inblandning möjlig utan att påverka foderintag, tillväxt eller foderomvandlingsförmåga (FCR) negativt. För de icke-pelleterade - müslifodern var FCR bibehållen vid 8 % inblandning, men vikt och foderintag var sämre än kontrollfodret och sänktes sedan linjärt med ökad inblandningsnivå. I slaktkycklingförsöket med åkerböna testades också 4 inblandningsnivåer, 0, 10, 20 och 30 %, dessa foder ångpelleterades. För nivån 20 % åkerböna testades även effekten av värmebehandling och foderstruktur genom att två müslifoder tillverkades, i det ena var åkerbönorna förrostade i 140 °C, 5,5 min i det andra var de obehandlade. Resultaten visade att foderintag, vikt och FCR var bibehållen vid 20 % inblandning, vid 30 % inblandning var FCR bibehållen, men foderintag och vikt var sänkta. I båda müslifodern sågs ett väldigt lågt foderintag och därmed låga vikter, men bibehållen FCR. Som slutsats konsterades att värmebehandling i form av pelletering möjliggör inblandning av 16 % rapsfrö och 20 % vitblommig åkerböna i slaktkycklingfoder

Live black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae in feed for laying hens: effects on hen gut microbiota and behavior

This study examined the effects of including live black soldier fly (BSF, Hermetia illucens) larvae in the diet of laying hens on gut microbiota, and the association between microbiota and fearfulness. A total of 40 Bovans White laying hens were individually housed and fed 1 of 4 dietary treatments that provided 0, 10, 20%, or ad libitum daily dietary portions of live BSF larvae for 12 wk. Cecum microbiota was collected at the end of the experiment and sequenced. Behavioral fear responses to novel objects and open field tests on the same hens were compared against results from gut microbiota analyses. The results showed that the bacteria genera Enterococcus, Parabacteroides, and Ruminococcus torques group were positively associated with increased dietary portion of live larvae, while Lactobacillus, Faecalibacterium, Bifidobacterium, Subdoligranulum, and Butyricicoccus were negatively associated with larvae in the diet. Inclusion of larvae did not affect fear behavior, but the relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae CHKCI001 and Erysipelatoclostridium was associated with fear -related behaviors. Further studies are needed to determine whether the change in gut microbiota affects fearfulness in the long-term

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

Effects of access to feed, water, and a competitive exclusion product in the hatcher on some immune traits and gut development in broiler chickens

1. This study evaluated the effect of access to feed, water, and the competitive exclusion (CE) product Broilact((R)), administered in the hatcher, on broiler performance, caecal microbiota development, organ development, intestinal morphology, serum levels of IgY and vaccine-induced antibody responses.2. In total, 250 chicks were hatched in a HatchCare (TM) hatcher and divided into four groups, given access to feed, water and the CE product sprayed on the chicks (CEs); access to feed, water, and the CE product in water (CEw); access to feed and water (Cpos); or no access to feed and water (Cneg) in the hatcher.3. At the research facility, 10 chicks per hatching treatment were euthanised for organ measurements. The remaining 200 chicks were randomly distributed to 20 pens. On d 11, all birds were vaccinated against avian pneumovirus (APV). Three focal birds per pen were blood-sampled weekly for quantification of IgY and serum antibodies to APV. On d 11 and 32, two birds per replicate pen were euthanised for organ measurements and sample collection. Feed intake and body weight were recorded weekly.4. Delayed access to feed and water reduced weight gain and feed intake early in life. At the end of the study, no differences in body weight remained.5. There were some early effects on organs, with depressed intestinal development and higher relative gizzard weight for the Cneg group at placement. No treatment effects on the immune traits measured were detected.6. The relative abundance of seven bacterial genera differed between treatment groups at d 11 of age. The results suggested that chickens are capable of compensating for 40 h feed and water deprival post-hatch. Provision of Broilact((R)) did not have any persistent performance-enhancing properties, although different outcomes under rearing conditions closer to commercial production cannot be ruled out

Feeding steam-pelleted rapeseed affects expression of genes involved in hepatic lipid metabolism and fatty acid composition of chicken meat

This study investigated the dietary effect of steam-pelleted rapeseed (RS) diets with different inclusion levels on the fatty acid composition of chicken meat and the expression of lipid metabolism-related genes in the liver. Experimental diets included 6 different wheat-soybean meal based diets either in nonpelleted or steam-pelleted form supplemented with 80, 160, and 240 g RS/kg feed and one nonpelleted wheat-soybean meal based diet without RS supplementation as the control. These diets were fed to newly hatched broiler chickens (Ross 308) for 34 days. Compared to the control diet, steam-pelleted diets containing 160 or 240 g/kg RS significantly increased the content of omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFA) in the breast and drumstick, while their meat yields were not affected. Moreover, the mRNA levels of fatty acid desaturase 1 (FADS1) and acyl-coenzyme A oxidase 1 (ACOX1) in their livers increased. Therefore, steam-pelleted diets with 160 or 240 g/kg RS can be used to increase the n-3 LC-PUFA content in chicken meat without compromising meat yield