Barriers and levers of enhancing animal welfare in organic and low-input outdoor production: Insights from a supply chain survey

Animal welfare is an essential part of the sustainability of animal production. While low-input farming, such as organic animal production, is often considered animal-friendly, several ways to enhance animal welfare in low-input animal production exist. However, currently there is little information on how farmers and other supply chain actors view different innovations and tools which may influence animal welfare in low-input outdoor and organic production systems. The aim of this study was to examine farmers’ and experts’ reactions to new approaches to pig and poultry production, with special attention to their animal welfare-related measures. The reactions were tested formally in by using a quantitative survey instrument in nine European countries (Finland, UK, France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Romania). In the survey, respondents’ views on production practices and novel measures were asked. These included aspects such as applicability and advantages and disadvantages of various measures such as avoiding mutilations, using dual-purpose or local breeds, or in-ovo sexing. The data included altogether 218 responses from nine countries. Differences between countries were tested and groups of respondents were identified. The results suggest that supply side stakeholders foresee the welfare benefits and some disadvantages of welfare improving measures proposed to them. However, they also indicate that several measures were considered inapplicable despite their benefits. Inadequate financial provisions to adopt a measure was considered as one of the most important reasons for inapplicability of a measure. This may imply either high costs of implementing measures of low market incentives or perceived low demand for animal-friendly products. Other barriers for adopting welfare-friendly measures included farm-specific factors such as limitations imposed by housing. The respondents indicated a high relative preference for feeding, breeding, shelter from predators and the use of vaccines and anti-parasitic treatments to the provision of enrichments and nesting material to pigs, and to mutilations. Farmers agreed that environmental enrichments are important welfare-improving levers and preferred their use in low-input pig and poultry production. Animal breeding-related measures in pig production were perceived quite favorably by supply side stakeholders. Despite their welfare benefits, farmers in some countries had quite high preference towards maintaining castration and tail docking in pig and beak trimming in broiler production as part of their production method

Welfare issues and potential solutions for laying hens in free range and organic production systems: A review based on literature and interviews

In free-range and organic production systems, hens can make choices according to their needs and desires, which is in accordance with welfare definitions. Nonetheless, health and behavioral problems are also encountered in these systems. The aim of this article was to identify welfare challenges observed in these production systems in the EU and the most promising solutions to overcome these challenges. It is based on a review of published literature and research projects complemented by interviews with experts. We selected EU specific information for welfare problems, however, the selected literature regarding solutions is global. Free range use may increase the risk of infection by some bacteria, viruses and parasites. Preventive methods include avoiding contamination thanks to biosecurity measures and strengthening animals' natural defenses against these diseases which can be based on nutritional means with new diet components such as insect-derived products, probiotics and prebiotics. Phytotherapy and aromatherapy can be used as preventive and curative medicine and vaccines as alternatives to antibiotics and pesticides. Bone quality in pullets and hens prevents keel deviations and is favored by exercise in the outdoor range. Free range use also lead to higher exposure to variable weather conditions and predators, therefore shadow, fences and guard animals can be used to prevent heat stress and predation respectively. Granting a free range provides opportunities for the expression of many behaviors and yet many hens usually stay close to the house. Providing the birds with trees, shelters or attractive plants can increase range use. Small flock sizes, early experiences of enrichment and personality traits have also been found to enhance range use. Severe feather pecking can occur in free range production systems, although flocks using the outdoor area have better plumage than indoors. While many prevention strategies are facilitated in free range systems, the influence of genetics, prenatal and nutritional factors in free range hens still need to be investigated. This review provides information about practices that have been tested or still need to be explored and this information can be used by stakeholders and researchers to help them evaluate the applicability of these solutions for welfare improvement

Overview of the PPILOW project and tools developed for animal welfare self-assessment

International audienc

Ethologie et bien-être

Présentation du thème éthologie et bien-être à la Journée ASFC - "Ombres et Lumières" du 12e Congrès Mondial de Cuniculture, organisé à NantesLa session comportement et bien-être a rassemblé 18 communications (9% du total), toutes européennes et assurées par la France (9), les Pays-Bas (2), l'Italie (2), le Brésil (2), l'Espagne, la Hongrie et la Belgique. 3 communications françaises ont été faites par l'INRAE en collaboration avec un consortium (3L) regroupant les différents maillons de production, des ONG, association de consommateur et distributeurs alimentaires. Outre les publications de la session concernée, cette synthèse intègre également les résultats de 2 études des sessions Elevages et économie et session ouverte (sur la production biologique et le système de logement en cellules souterraines)

PPILOW 2019-2024: Améliorer le bien-être des porcs et des volailles en systèmes biologiques et-ou plein air

Brochure sur le projet PPILOW pour les 14èmes JRA, Tours, FranceLes filières biologiques et plein-air sont en plein essor en Europe et bénéficient d'une image positive auprès des citoyens-consommateurs. Dans une dynamique de progrès, des innovations techniques et de nouvelles génétiques sont recherchées dans une démarche participative impliquant des acteurs des filières, de la recherche et de la société civile. Le but de ces innovations est d'améliorer le bien-être animal en limitant la mortalité, la fréquence des maladies et les atteintes à l'intégrité physique des animaux et en évitant l'élimination des poussins mâles frères de poules pondeuses, notamment en les valorisant

Evaluation de l’intérêt de différents leviers pour améliorer le bien-être du poulet de chair

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Evaluation multicritère de deux scénarios visant à améliorer le bien-être du poulet standard sur l’économie, l’environnement et le travail de l’éleveur

National audienc

Leviers d’amélioration du bien-être en filière poulet « standard » : Comment évaluer leurs effets sur l’économie, l’environnement et le travail ?

National audienc

Développement d'algorithmes de tracking par imagerie pour le relevé automatique d'indicateurs de bien-être des poulets de chair en élevage

International audienceGuaranteeing consumers broiler production that respects animal welfare is the basis of the farmer's profession, but civil society is demanding more transparency on farming practices. Welfare assessment methods exist (e.g. EBENE®) but require time and the presence of a trained observer. Image analysis is an opportunity to perform continuous and realtime measurements without the need for an observer in the building (i.e. without disturbing the animals). The objective of this paper is to review the performance of an image-based tracking system developed in the context of several trials in commercial broilers breeding conditions. It uses artificial intelligence for the individual monitoring of broilers in commercial farms. These algorithms allow precise quantification of animal activity. To date, there is no similar system under development or commercialised to operate under commercial broiler farming conditions. The cameras used have a resolution of 2 and 3 Mpixels and were placed, for the first camera used, in experimental conditions with 2 different stocking density of broilers and the second one in commercial broiler farms at different heights (2.5m, 3.7m and 5m).The sensitivity varies with age, camera height and chicken density per m². For example, this decreases from 99.2% at 29 days of age and a density of 10 chickens per m², to 98.1% at 20 animals per m². This detection is strongly linked to the number of pixels that define the broiler. Indeed, it increases with the age of broilers and with the resolution of the camera images (number of pixels/m²). An increase in the height of the camera or a degradation of the image definition (number of pixels in the image), decreases the image resolution and the sensitivity. The quality of the tracking depends very strongly on the ability of the system to detect the animals correctly, but also on their activity. Ultimately, the data generated by these algorithms will be used for the early detection of health and welfare problems in broilers and the calculation of welfare and health indicators in commercial broiler farm.Garantir aux consommateurs un élevage de poulet de chair respectueux du bien-être animal est la base du métier d'éleveur, mais la société civile demande plus de transparence sur les pratiques d'élevage. Des méthodes d'évaluation du bien-être en élevage existent (ex : EBENE ®) mais nécessitent du temps et la présence d'un observateur formé. L'analyse d'image est une opportunité pour réaliser des mesures en continu et en temps réel, sans nécessiter la présence d'un observateur dans le bâtiment (ie sans perturbation des animaux). L'objectif de cet article est de faire l'état des performances d'un système de tracking (suivi) par imagerie mis au point dans le cadre de plusieurs essais en conditions commerciales de poulets de chair. Ce système utilise l'intelligence artificielle et permettant le suivi individuel des poulets de chair en élevage commercial. Ces algorithmes permettent une quantification précise de l'activité des animaux. Il n'existe pas à ce jour de système similaire en développement ou commercialisé pour fonctionner en conditions d'élevage commercial de poulet de chair. Les caméras utilisées possèdent une définition de 2 et 3 Mpixels et ont été placées, pour la première caméra en conditions expérimentales avec deux densités d'animaux et pour la deuxième en élevage commercial de poulets de chair à différentes hauteurs (2,5m, 3,7m et 5m). La sensibilité de l'algorithme varie selon l'âge, la hauteur de la caméra et la densité de poulets au m². Par exemple, celle-ci passe de 99,2% à 29 jours d'âge et une densité de 10 poulets par m², à 98,1% à 20 animaux au m². Cette détection est fortement liée au nombre de pixels qui définissent le poulet. En effet, il augmente avec l'âge du poulet et avec la résolution des images de la caméra (nombre de pixels/m²)

What are the behavioural needs of the Gallus gallus species?

International audienc