Are Dual-Purpose Chickens Twice as Good? Measuring Performance and Animal Welfare throughout the Fattening Period

Abstract

Chickens are the world’s most widely used farm animal and have a significant genetic diversity. In the current study, we investigated three strains for their suitability as dual-purpose chickens, with a focus on the fattening ability and welfare of the cockerels: 1. layer cockerels (Lohmann Brown, LB, n = 714); 2. cockerels of a dual-purpose hybrid (Lohmann Dual, LD, n = 844); and 3. cockerels of a native breed (Rhinelander, RL, n = 458). Chicks were raised under identical conditions and marked individually to compare focus and random sampling methods for weighing birds weekly. Because chicks of dual-purpose origins are usually raised mixed-sex, cockerels and pullets were weighed and observed together until sexes the were identifiable at week 10 of their life. During the 10th to 20th week of life, investigations were continued on 100 cockerels per genotype. Key figures for growth performance, such as feed conversion ratio (FCR) and European production efficiency factor (EPEF), were also calculated at weekly intervals. LD cockerels showed considerable growth performance (p < 0.001 compared to LB, RL, 2 kg at 9 weeks), whereas LB reached a live weight of 2 kg at 13 weeks and RL at 15 weeks of age. Genotype-dependent differences were also evident, with favorable FCR and EPEF for LD, intermediate for LB, and unfavorable for RL (all p < 0.001). The results of the FCR and EPEF suggest that cockerels should be slaughtered around week 8 of life, although only the carcass of the LD might be marketable. Thus, the optimal time of slaughter based on production parameters such as FCR and EPEF is different from the time when the animal reaches a marketable 2 kg live weight. Animal-based welfare indicators revealed that the RL are not adapted to production environments, including those that are extensive. Further research aimed at adapted feed management, including better FCR, and animals adapted to the respective production environments is necessary to improve alternative poultry production in the future.

Dual-Purpose Poultry in Organic Egg Production and Effects on Egg Quality Parameters

“…By nature, the meat production traits of egg layer genotypes are expected to be lower, and from broiler types to be higher, than that of dual-purpose genotypes, due to large differences in growth rate, feed efficiency, and optimal age of slaughter that impacts the meat quality, which has been demonstrated in a range of recent studies [ 28 , 48 , 49 , 50 ]. The meat quality based on protein, lipids, cholesterol, and fatty acids in hens of dual-purpose varies in comparison to egg layer genotypes, but the results are also affected by the production environment and its interaction with genotype [ 28 ].…”

Incubation characteristics, growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of Saxonian Chicken and German Langshan bantam breeds in a free‐range rearing system

“…Due to their independent breeding histories and different selection criteria, indigenous chicken breeds can possess genetic traits that are potentially useful for commercial breeding programs (Malomane et al., 2019; Weigend et al., 2014). Indigenous chicken breeds are characterised by a high adaptability to different environmental conditions, robustness and improved integument conditions (Ajayi, 2010; Tiemann et al., 2020). Further potential uses of poultry genetic resources relate to agricultural niche production and the preservation of old, endangered breeds as a component of cultural–historical heritage (Weigend et al., 2014).…”

Welfare-Related Behaviors in Chickens: Characterization of Fear and Exploration in Local and Commercial Chicken Strains

“…One frequently discussed option is to include locally adapted chicken strains in commercial poultry production, e.g., as dual-purpose chicken or as cross-strains between local and high-performance strains with regional connection. While commercial strains are intensively kept, local native strains are kept under extensive conditions with smaller groups, pens and potentially lower stocking densities, and show better adaptation to local housing conditions [ 1 , 2 ]. Due to reduced performances [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ] and missing intensive breeding programs which also can influence behavioral traits, local strains might also preserve advantageous behavioral traits, e.g., reduced fear reactions, increased exploration and better adaptive capabilities.…”

“…While commercial strains are intensively kept, local native strains are kept under extensive conditions with smaller groups, pens and potentially lower stocking densities, and show better adaptation to local housing conditions [ 1 , 2 ]. Due to reduced performances [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 ] and missing intensive breeding programs which also can influence behavioral traits, local strains might also preserve advantageous behavioral traits, e.g., reduced fear reactions, increased exploration and better adaptive capabilities. These behavioral traits can favor animal welfare in general [ 6 , 7 ], as animals are often confronted with unknown or threatening stimuli especially in husbandry systems, including free-range.…”

“…Due to the lack of literature regarding characterization of fear and exploration, especially in local chicken breeds, towards an unknown object and a human, the aim of this study was to characterize these behavioral traits based on the avoidance of a novel object (NOT) and the avoidance of a human (ADT) in three different chicken strains from the 1st to the 19th week of life, to identify interesting genetics for future breeding and/or preservation with regards to lower fear reactions. Performance in meat production were also accessed and are reported separately [ 1 ]. Thus, we hypothesize that intensively kept hybrids such as Lohmann Brown, dual-purpose hybrids such as Lohman Dual and extensively kept chicken strains such as Rhinelander differ in their fear responses against unknown objects and humans due to their history of intensive breeding and husbandry.…”