Alleviation of grass impaction in a flock of free‐range hens

Christensen, N.H.

doi:10.1136/vr.143.14.397

Cited by 14 publications

(11 citation statements)

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“…The short length of chopped forage in TMR better enabled forage feeding to the day-old chickens. Longer fibre length might have induced problems, such as crop and gizzard impaction (Christensen 1998). The provision of foraging material in a TMR in the present study decreased the intake of pellets in the haylage group in the first half of experiment 1, which may be explained by the fast-growing broilers sensitivity to dietary quality and structure of the feed (Tufarelli et al 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 50%

Silage and haylage as forage in slow and fast-growing broilers – effects on performance in Campylobacter jejuni infected birds

Valečková

Ivarsson

Ellström

et al. 2020

British Poultry Science

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1. This study investigated the effects of daily intake of silage or haylage on broiler production performance and organ development. Furthermore, effects of daily intake of Lactobacillus plantarum either via silage or by supplemented drinking water, on Campylobacter jejuni loads in faeces were studied. 2. To test this, a 42-d experiment using Ross 308 and a 63-d experiment with Rowan Rangers hybrids, were performed. Silage inoculated with L. plantarum strain 256 and haylage were fed in total mixed rations with mixtures of 85% of pellets and 15% of respective forage (DM-based weight). Feed intake (FI), forage intake, body weight (BW) and feed conversion ration (FCR) were monitored weekly. Mortality was recorded daily, and organ weights were registered at slaughter. Quantification of C. jejuni was performed by colony counts from faecal samples after culture on agar plates. 3. There was a negative effect of haylage on BW and FI in the fast-growing Ross 308 hybrid. Silage had a negative effect on BW only on week four and six. Water inoculated with L. plantarum 256 increased BW in the starter period. Interestingly, no significant adverse effect of forage inclusion was observed in the Rowan Ranger birds. 4. Relative weight of the emptied gizzard was higher in both Ross 308 and Rowan Ranger birds fed haylage and silage than in the control group. In Ross 308 birds, both forages significantly reased the relative weight of gizzard with digestive content when compared to birds fed solely pellets. 5. In both studies, higher consumption of silage than haylage was observed. 6. In conclusion, daily intake of L. plantarum 256 either via silage or supplemented in drinking water, was not effective in reducing the shedding of C. jejuni in either Ross 308 or Rowan Ranger hybrids at the end of the rearing period.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 50%

Silage and haylage as forage in slow and fast-growing broilers – effects on performance in Campylobacter jejuni infected birds

Valečková

Ivarsson

Ellström

et al. 2020

British Poultry Science

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“…5 If potential impactions are found, owners may try to decrease the pH of the diet to help pass compacted material through the gastrointestinal tract (Ruhnke I, et al 2015) or supplement the diet with magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt) and molasses to create a laxative effect. 2 However, it should be noted that surgical intervention may be required to remove impactions. 8 To reduce the chances of gastrointestinal impactions being induced by underlying lesions of Marek's disease, owners should also strongly consider obtaining birds that are vaccinated against Marek's disease.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/289515590_Gut_ impaction_in_free_range_hens). 1,2,5,6,14 In conventional poultry production, grass impactions are not a concern because flocks do not have access to forage. However, gastrointestinal impactions resulting from ingestion of other materials such as feathers by caged layers, 9 bale net wrap by laying hen pullets, 13 and litter material by broiler breeders 12 have been reported.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…The consumption of long forage material is more likely to lead to impaction in the gizzard or small intestine, whereas the over-consumption of forage is more likely to lead to impactions in the crop. 2 This is the result, in part, of the function of the avian crop and gizzard, which function primarily for storage and mechanical breakdown of ingesta, respectively. In order to break down less digestible material (e.g., grass) into smaller particle sizes, the gizzard utilizes grit and retains the material for a longer period.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Gastrointestinal impactions in backyard poultry

et al. 2019

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In contrast to conventional commercial poultry, which are raised primarily in controlled indoor environments, backyard poultry are typically raised in less restricted settings, potentially exposing them to a greater variety of ingestible substances, including multiple types of forage. Consequently, problems such as gastrointestinal impactions caused by ingesta have been noted in backyard poultry. To determine the prevalence of these impactions in backyard poultry, we performed a retrospective database search for autopsy submissions to the California Animal Health and Food Safety laboratory system and found that gastrointestinal impaction was associated with the death of 42 backyard poultry cases (40 chickens, 1 turkey, and 1 goose) from January 2013 to July 2018. In 32 of these 42 (76%) cases, the impaction was caused by fibrous plant material, 7 (17%) by compacted feed, and 3 (7%) by miscellaneous ingesta (tortilla, plastic, and wood shavings). The large proportion of grass impactions indicate that foraging is the predominant source of impaction material in backyard poultry, and that long grasses may be a significant health hazard for poultry. Backyard, pasture-raised, and free-range poultry producers are advised to maintain short pastures, avoid feeds that may expand in the gastrointestinal tract, and provide adequate grit to prevent impactions.

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“…In 2009, 255 g fertilizer were applied per plot, in 2010 510 g were applied. During the rest period of each grazing cycle, the plots were mown to 7 cm stubble height one week before re-stocking in order to create similar conditions of sward height, and cuttings were removed to prevent grass impaction (Christensen 1998). Additionally, the plots were also mown regularly when not grazed in order to maintain a dense sward: In both years, the plots were mown once post-stocking (three weeks after release from stocking) and four times (2009) or twice (2010) pre-stocking, the last cut pre-stocking in both years being 10 d prior to the start of grazing.…”

Section: Experimental Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response to disturbance and plant-animal interactions of grassland swards for chicken free-range husbandry

Breitsameter¹

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Alleviation of grass impaction in a flock of free‐range hens

Cited by 14 publications

References 1 publication

Silage and haylage as forage in slow and fast-growing broilers – effects on performance in Campylobacter jejuni infected birds

Silage and haylage as forage in slow and fast-growing broilers – effects on performance in Campylobacter jejuni infected birds

Gastrointestinal impactions in backyard poultry

Response to disturbance and plant-animal interactions of grassland swards for chicken free-range husbandry

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