A Description of Laying Hen Husbandry and Management Practices in Canada

Canadian laying hen farms are transitioning from conventional cage housing to furnished cage and non-cage housing systems to improve laying hen welfare. However, little is known about the current housing and management systems in Canada. This study addresses this knowledge gap by describing different housing and management practices used on farms where laying hens were housed in furnished cages or non-cage housing systems. A questionnaire covering farm and housing conditions, litter management, nutrition and feeding, environmental control, flock characteristics, rearing and placement, health, egg production and performance were distributed through provincial egg boards to 122 producers across Canada. Data were collected from 65 laying hen flocks (52.5% response rate) in 26 furnished cage, 17 single-tier and 22 multi-tier systems. Flocks were on average 45.1 ± 14.59 weeks old (range: 19–69 weeks). Frequencies of different management practices were calculated according to housing system. Most flocks were reared in the same housing system as they were housed in during lay, with the exception of furnished cage layers which were reared in conventional cage systems. Results indicated that a large proportion of non-cage systems were either fully slatted or had manure as a litter substrate, which could have implications for consumer perspectives on these systems. Further research is needed to develop clear recommendations on proper litter management for farmers. In general, flock health was managed through daily inspections and vaccination schemes, whereas veterinarian involvement on-farm was less common. Vaccination, hygiene, and effective biosecurity should be maintained to ensure good health in laying hens in furnished cage and non-cage systems during the transition to these systems

Effect of Piglet Age on Distress Associated with Gas Euthanasia, Neonate vs. Weaned

The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of euthanasia gases administered to 2 age groups of piglets: neonates (less than 3 days, n=160, BW 2.61 ± 0.81 kg) and weaned (16 to 24 days, n=160, BW 4.62 ± 0.76 kg). Two different gases were explored in this study: 100% CO2 and a 50:50 CO2:Argon (CA) gas mixture. Each gas was administered at 3 flow rates: 35%, 50% and Prefill + 20%, chamber volume exchange rate per minute. Latencies, durations and occurrence of behavior and physiologic changes were observed using direct observationand video. Neonate piglets were euthanized as quickly as or faster than weaned piglets for all gases and flow rates. For the neonate relative to the weaned piglet, average loss of posture over all gas treatments was 99 vs. 142 (seconds) and last movement was 360 vs. 392 (seconds). Neonates also displayed fewer incidences and shorter durations of behavioral indicators of distress and sensation relative to the weaned piglets. Thus concerns for gas euthanasia, when applied appropriately, are not greater for the neonate relative to the weaned piglet. Additionally, procedures developed to euthanize weaned piglets will likely be successful when applied for the neonate, but not viceversa

Comparativa de la situación de la mujer en la educación Española y Alemana

Treball Final de Grau en Mestre o Mestra d'Educació Infantil. Codi: MI1040. Curs acadèmic: 2016/2017Este trabajo tiene como objetivo principal conocer el papel de la mujer en la sociedad y cómo esto influye en la educación infantil, además de ofrecer una comparativa con otros países Europeos con una ideología conservadora similar a la de España, como pueden ser Alemania o Inglaterra, cuya religión mayoritaria no es el catolicismo. Para conseguir nuestro objetivo hemos realizado un trabajo basado en la recogida de información de diversas fuentes, entre ellas, libros, artículos de revista, materiales digitales. Esto nos ha ayudado a comprender que hay una gran diferencia de género entre los docentes de educación infantil a consecuencia de una larga tradición histórica que sigue perdurando hoy en día. Para comprender esto también se ha analizado el desarrollo histórico de la educación infantil a lo largo de la historia, centrándonos principalmente en dos países como hemos dicho anteriormente, España y Alemania. Finalmente se presentan una serie de conclusiones donde se reúnen todas las informaciones encontradas y la síntesis a la que nosotros llegamos tras realizar el siguiente trabajo

Educación para la diversidad afectivo-sexual desde la perspectiva de las familias homoparentales

Treball final de Grau en Mestre o Mestra d'Educació Infantil. Codi: MI1040. Curs acadèmic 2016-2017Este proyecto tiene como objetivos conocer la opinión de algunas familias homoparentales acerca del trabajo de la diversidad afectivo sexual en las escuelas, acercarnos al trato que reciben algunas familias homoparentales en lasaulas y descubrir qué mejoras educativas proponen las familias homoparentales para fomentar la inclusión del colectivo LGBT en el ámbito escolar. Para llevar a cabo este trabajo, en primer lugar, se ha realizado una primera aproximación a la materia a través de la búsqueda de autores y documentos que avalen la necesidad de trabajar este tipo de diversidad, cómo se trata este tema en el sistema educativo actual, así como la necesidad de introducir a las familias en las aulas. Después, para averiguar de primera mano la visión de las familias homoparentales acerca de este tema, se han realizado entrevistas a tres familia de diferentes edades, procedentes de diferentes lugares y con diferente grado de participación en asociaciones LGBT. Para llevar a término estas entrevistas, se ha utilizado una metodología cualitativa, basada en una entrevista semiestructurada y preguntas abiertas. Estas preguntas están separadas en temas, todos relacionados con los objetivos propuestos (sistema educativo, relación familiar, relación con la escuela,…). Para finalizar, a partir de las respuestas de las tres familias se ha realizado el análisis de datos. Este se ha llevado a cabo a través de la comparación y el contraste de las diferentes visiones de las familias. A raíz del análisis se han podido deducir las siguientes conclusiones: en las escuelas no se trabaja la diversidad afectivo-sexual o no se introduce en toda su complejidad, la educación para este tipo de diversidad podría solucionar el aumento de las agresiones homófobas, el colectivo LGTB continúa viviendo situaciones de desigualdad respecto a los heterosexuales y en el sistema educativo sigue vigente la heteronormatividad

Anatomical Pathology, Behavioral, and Physiological Responses Induced by Application of Non-penetrating Captive Bolt Devices in Layer Chickens

We evaluated three models of non-penetrating captive bolt devices, Zephyr-E, Zephyr- EXL, and Turkey euthanasia device (TED) for time to loss of sensibility and degree of brain damage during euthanasia in four age groups of male and female layer chickens (10–11, 20–21, 30–35, 60–70 weeks respectively). Latencies to onset of insensibility and cardiac arrest were assessed to detect whether killing birds via these devices was humane and effective. Both gross and microscopic pathology evaluations were conducted to score skull and brain trauma post mortem. All three NPCB devices induced loss of breathing, pupillary reflex and nictitating membrane reflex within 5 s after application in most chickens. Latencies to loss of jaw tone and neck muscle tone were longer in 60–70 weeks old roosters (p < 0.05). Younger birds (10–21 week-old) demonstrated the longest time (p < 0.0001) to onset of tonic convulsions, time at last movement, cloacal relaxation and cessation of heart beat. A positive correlation (p < 0.0001) was found for all three devices between time of cardiac arrest and times to onset of tonic convulsions, last movement, and cloacal relaxation. More than 80% of birds had skin lacerations with external bleeding following application of all 3 devices. Device type did not affect the incidence of skull fractures but higher skull fracture scores were noted in 10–11 week-old birds compared to other ages. Regardless of device type and age, microscopic SDH was most apparent in the brain and proximal spinal cord of all birds. In summary, all three devices caused significant trauma to the midbrain and spinal cord. Results demonstrated that all three devices induce rapid insensibility after application and can be used as a single-step method that results in a humane death in all age groups of layer chickens

Assessing a Method of Mechanical Cervical Dislocation as a Humane Option for On-Farm Killing Using Anesthetized Poults and Young Turkeys

Our objective was to determine the efficacy of manual cervical dislocation vs. a mechanical cervical dislocation device for on-farm killing of poults and young turkeys. Forty-two 1- and 3-week old turkeys were randomly assigned to one of three experimental groups: awake manual cervical dislocation (CD), anesthetized manual cervical dislocation (aCD), or anesthetized mechanical cervical dislocation (MCD). Anesthetized birds received an intramuscular dose of 0.3 mg/kg medetomidine and 30 mg/kg of ketamine to achieve a light plane of anesthesia. A comparison of CD vs. aCD responses indicated that the anesthetic plane did not affect jaw tone or pupillary light reflex, indicators of loss of sensibility and brain death, respectively. MCD was unsuccessful for killing 1-week old poults as indicated by the ongoing presence of the pupillary eye reflex as well as failure to achieve cardiac arrest within 5 min in 5 of 5 birds. Radiographs also indicated no vertebral dislocation or fracture. Pupillary light reflex was present in 98% and jaw tone was present in 73% of turkeys, respectively, for all groups combined, but retention of the pupillary light reflex (P < 0.001) and jaw tone (P = 0.001) was longer for birds killed by MCD. Time to last movement (P = 0.797) and cardiac arrest (P = 0.057) did not differ between method. Survey radiographs demonstrated an effect of method for the average displacement distance at the site of vertebral dislocation, with a greater distance observed in birds killed by CD compared to MCD (P = 0.003). A method by age interaction was observed between CD and MCD for the number of birds with fractures; more vertebral fractures were observed in 3-week old turkeys killed with MCD compared to CD (P = 0.047). Upon gross examination, the majority of birds killed by either method had minimal to no hemorrhage within the brain and spinal cord. However, turkeys killed using CD had more microscopic subdural brain hemorrhage (P = 0.020). Ante-mortem and post-mortem measures suggest that neither manual CD nor the MCD tool used in this study caused immediate insensibility, but CD resulted in a shorter latency to brain death and fewer fractures compared to MCD

Behavioral differences of laying hens with fractured keel bones within furnished cages

High prevalence of keel bone fractures in laying hens is reported in all housing systems. Keel fractures have been associated with pain and restricted mobility in hens in loose housing. The objective was to determine whether keel fractures were associated with activity of hens in furnished cages. Thirty-six pairs of LSL Lite hens (72 wk) were enrolled in the study. One hen with a fractured keel and one hen without were identified by palpation in each of 36 groups of hens housed in either 30 or 60-bird cages stocked at 750cm2/hen. Behavioral activity of each hen was recorded by four observers blind to keel status using focal animal sampling for 10 min within a 2 hr period in the morning (08:00-10:00), afternoon (12:00-14:00), and evening (17:00-19:00). All hens were observed during each of the three sample periods for three days totaling 90 min, and individual hen data was summed for analysis. Hens were euthanized 48hr after final observations, dissected, and classified by keel status: F0 (no fracture, N=24); F1 (single fracture, N=17); F2 (multiple fractures, N=31). The percentages of time hens performed each behavior were analyzed using a mixed procedure in SAS with fracture severity, body weight, cage size, rearing environment, and tier in the model. Fracture severity affected the duration of perching (P=0.04) and standing (P=0.001), bout length of standing (P<0.0001), and location (floor vs perch) of resting behaviors (P=0.01). F2 hens perched longer than F0 hens, 20.0% ± 2.9 and 11.6% ± 3.2. F2 hens spent less time standing, 15.2% ± 1.5, than F0 and F1 hens, 20.7% ± 1.6 and 21.6% ± 1.8. F2 hens had shorter standing bouts (22.0 sec ± 4.2) than both F0 and F1 hens, 33.1 sec ± 4.3 and 27.4 sec ± 4.4. Non-fractured hens spent 80.0% ± 6.9 of total resting time on the floor whereas F1 and F2 hens spent 56.9% ± 12.4 and 51.5% ± 7.7, resting on the floor. Behavioral differences reported here provide insight into possible causes of keel damage, or alternatively, indicate a coping strategy used to offset pain or restricted mobility caused by keel fractures

Working for a dustbath: are hens increasing pleasure rather than reducing suffering?

Dustbathing is one of the major behavioural systems of domestic fowl that is constrained by commercial caging systems. Although research conducted over the last 20 years has revealed a great deal about causation of dustbathing, attempts at measuring the importance to hens of having access to dustbathing substrate have proven difficult. Various economic techniques, operant conditioning and learning trials have been used to determine whether hens have a ‘need’ for dustbathing substrate or ‘think’ about dustbathing in the absence of substrate. In this study, we measured hens\u27 willingness to work to obtain substrate for dustbathing using a vertically swinging door to which weights could be added. Hens were trained to push through the door to enter a goal box containing peat moss. The hens were subjected to two series of trials to compare the maximum weight that they would push to open the door when living in a cage and deprived of dustbathing substrate, with the maximum weight that they would push when living in a pen furnished with litter and a dustbath (non-deprived). Of the 10 hens that opened the door for access to peat moss, six hens pushed more weight when deprived, three hens pushed more weight when non-deprived and one hen pushed an equal amount of weight. Overall, the hens tended to push more weight (860±95.6 vs. 682.5±83.3 g; P\u3c0.10, one-tailed paired t-test) and tended to make more attempts to open the door (P\u3c0.10) when they were deprived than when they were non-deprived. Significantly more trials resulted in dustbathing when hens were deprived (P\u3c0.01) suggesting that following deprivation, the hens were, in fact, more motivated to dustbathe. The results of these trials indicate that although deprived hens may be more motivated to dustbathe, and that most hens may be willing to work to obtain a dusty substrate when they can see it, they are not necessarily willing to work harder when they are in a state of deprivation than when they have recently dustbathed. These results are very difficult to explain using a ‘needs’ model of motivation in which deprivation leads to a state of suffering. They are much more consistent with an ‘opportunity’ model of motivation in which performance of the behaviour, when the opportunity presents itself, leads to a state of pleasure

Fearfulness in commercial laying hens: a meta-analysis comparing brown and white egg layers

ABSTRACT: High fearfulness in commercial laying hens can negatively affect production parameters and animal welfare. Brown and white egg layers differ in several behavioral characteristics, though reported differences in fearfulness are inconsistent. A meta-analysis was conducted to determine whether there are systematic differences in measures of fearfulness between brown and white layers. Twenty-three studies that examined either 1 or both of 2 behavioral tests were included: tonic immobility (TI) (longer duration = higher fearfulness, 16 studies) and novel object (NO) test (lower approach rate = higher fearfulness, 11 studies). The 2 tests were analyzed separately. TI analyses: A generalized linear mixed effect model (GLMM) with a lognormal distribution was fitted to describe the data with experiment nested in study as a random effect. Explanatory (X) variables were considered through backward selection, where potential X-variables included color (brown vs. white layers), decade (1980s, 2000s, 2020s), age (prelay vs. in lay), genetic stock (hybrid vs. grand-/parent stock), and methodology (back vs. side position). NO test analyses: univariable GLMMs with a beta distribution were fitted with approach rate as the Y-variable and color, decade, age, stock, or 2 methodological factors (test duration, single vs. group testing) as X-variables. Models were evaluated by assessing information criteria, residuals/random effect normality, significance of X-variables and model evaluation statistics (mean square prediction error, concordance correlation coefficient). TI duration was best explained by a color-by-decade interaction (P = 0.0006). Whites in the 1980s had longer TI durations (709.43 ± 143.88 s) than browns in the 1980s (282.90 ± 59.70 s), as well as in comparison to browns (208.80 ± 50.82 s) or whites (204.85 ± 49.60 s) in the 2020s. The NO approach rate was best explained by color (P ≤ 0.05 in 3 models), age (P < 0.05 in 3 models), and decade (P = 0.04). Whites had a higher approach rate (0.7 ± 0.07) than browns (0.5 ± 0.11), birds in lay a higher rate (0.8 ± 0.07) than birds prelay (0.4 ± 0.12), and approach rate for papers published in the 2000s (0.8 ± 0.09) was higher than in the 2020s (0.2 ± 0.12). The phylogenetic difference in the 1980s was no longer detectable after enforcing an upper limit on TI durations (10 min), as became common practice in later studies. Our findings suggest that phylogenetic differences in fearfulness and changes over time are test dependent, and this raises important questions and potential consequences for assessing hen welfare in commercial egg production