Assessment of a global positioning system to evaluate activities of organic chickens at pasture

Abstract

he aims of the present study were to assess the use of a global positioning system (GPS) monitoring device to evaluate the activities of organic chickens at pasture. Two hundred male birds from 2 strains (100 slow-growing and 100 fast-growing birds) were reared separately in 4 indoor pens (0.10 m2/bird), each with access to a grass paddock (10 m2/bird; 2 replications/genotype). During the last week of age (from 73 to 80 d of age), the kinetic activity of chickens was monitored by behavioral observations (n = 20; focal bird sampling method) and a GPS (n = 10; Super Trackstick, Atex International, Route d’Esch, Luxembourg) equipped with a universal serial bus port for quick viewing on Google Earth’s 3-D model, giving information concerning the date, hour, environmental conditions, and coordinates of monitored birds. Based on the focal bird sampling method, fast-growing birds tended to stay indoors rather than forage in the pasture, whereas slow-growing birds spent more time outdoors (P < 0.05). Moreover, visual observations confirmed GPS records, whereas slow-growing birds were observed to perform more active behaviors, stand less, and spend more time outdoors than indoors. Based on GPS tracks, slow-growing chickens covered an average daily distance of 1,230 m, whereas fast-growing birds covered only 125 m. In conclusion, GPS appears to be a suitable way to evaluate the kinetic activity of chickens. We also concluded that locomotor activity, which requires a high energy consumption, is low in fast-growing birds compared with slow-growing ones, allowing the fast-growing birds to reallocate energy to productive traits

Fattening rabbits in mobile arks: effect of housing system on in vivo oxidative status and meat quality

“…On the other hand, the TBARs value was higher in plasma of rabbits reared in mobile arks compared to rabbits reared in cages, likely due to the different locomotor activity. The balance in the body between antioxidant protection and oxidative stability is unstable and depends on training and exercise (Dal Bosco et al, 2010) Oxidative stress, resulting from an increased production of free-radicals and ROS, damages biological macromolecules and disrupts normal metabolism and physiology (Tse et al, 2004). In the present trial, rabbits reared in mobile arks showed higher values of AP and ROMs.…”

Effect of Slaughtering Age in Different Commercial Chicken Genotypes Reared According to the Organic System: 2. Fatty Acid and Oxidative Status of Meat

“…Previous studies (Dal Bosco et al, 2012;Fanatico et al, 2005) underlined that fastgrowing chicks are not appropriate for extensive rearing conditions, as they exhibit muscular-skeletal problems, very low motor activity and foraging behaviour (Castellini et al, 2002a(Castellini et al, , 2002bDal Bosco et al, 2010;Sirri et al, 2010). On the contrary, slow-growing strains generally have a remarkable consumption of fresh forage which implies a reliable intake of antioxidant compounds (tocopherols, tocotrienols and carotenoids; Kerry et al, 2000) and -linoleic acid (C18:3n-3, ALA) which is partly converted to long-chain derivatives [C20:5n-3, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and C22:6n-3, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)].…”

Carcass Yield Characteristics of Normal Feathered Indigenous Malawian Chickens

“…In addition, [15] reported a higher locomotor activity in chickens with free range system. According to [16], chickens on free range system can scavenge across large areas. The increased kinetic activity together with the uncontrolled environmental conditions could increase energy expenditure, ultimately affecting their carcass yield.…”