Behaviour and welfare concepts in laying hens and their association with housing systems

This study investigated the welfare of laying hens in different non-caged housing systems, namely a deep-litter barn system (BS), a free-range system (FRS) and an organic system (OS). The study was conducted on 270 hens of a native breed Green-legged Partridge (Z-11) and 270 Hy-Line Brown hybrids. Visual scans were performed to record behaviour of hens. Hens were housed in groups of 30 and observed over the course of one day at 20, 36 and 56 weeks of age. Dustbathing, scratching, wing stretching, wing flapping and preening were recorded as comfort behaviours. Pecking, fighting, threatening and chasing were recorded as agonistic behaviours. The percentage of run use was higher in native hens than in commercial hens (p < 0.05). The proportion of hens exhibiting comfort behaviours housed in the FRS and OS was similar but over twice as high as in the BS (p < 0.05). In the FRS and OS, the percentage of hens displaying comfort behaviours increased with age (p < 0.05). In all the production systems, the percentage of birds displaying comfort behaviours was higher in native breed hens than in commercial breeds (p < 0.05). In the BS, the higher proportion of hens displaying an agonistic behaviour was seen more in commercial breed than in the native breed hens (p < 0.05). The percentage of birds displaying an agonistic behaviour declined with hen age, both in commercial and native breed hens.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of the Type of Non-Caged Housing System, Genotype and Age on the Behaviour of Laying Hens

Sokołowicz

Dykiel

Topczewska

et al. 2020

“…Worldwide, CC are still the predominant housing form for commercial egg production. In contrast, broilers are reared mainly in littered floor pens [66]. In order to improve animal welfare, alternative housing systems are however becoming increasingly popular [66,67].…”

Section: Impact Of Housing Systems On the Immune System In Chickensmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In contrast, broilers are reared mainly in littered floor pens [66]. In order to improve animal welfare, alternative housing systems are however becoming increasingly popular [66,67]. In general, birds kept in alternative systems can express their full natural behavior repertoire and display more comfort and activity behavior than in cage systems.…”

Section: Impact Of Housing Systems On the Immune System In Chickensmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In general, birds kept in alternative systems can express their full natural behavior repertoire and display more comfort and activity behavior than in cage systems. On the other hand, birds kept in alternative systems show more aggression, feather pecking, cannibalism and a higher incidence of diseases [66,67]. The influence of different housing systems on behavior, performance and some general health parameters has already been reviewed in earlier studies [65][66][67][68][69].…”

Section: Impact Of Housing Systems On the Immune System In Chickensmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Impact of Housing Environment on the Immune System in Chickens: A Review

Hofmann

Schmucker

Bessei

et al. 2020

During their lifespan, chickens are confronted with a wide range of acute and chronic stressors in their housing environment that may threaten their welfare and health by modulating the immune system. Especially chronic stressful conditions can exceed the individual’s allostatic load, with negative consequences for immunity. A fully functional immune system is mandatory for health and welfare and, consequently, also for high productivity and safe animal products. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the impact of housing form, light regime as well as aerial ammonia and hydrogen sulfide concentrations on the immune system in chickens. Certain housing conditions are clearly associated with immunological alterations which potentially impair the success of vaccinations or affect disease susceptibility. Such poor conditions counteract sustainable poultry production. This review also outlines current knowledge gaps and provides recommendations for future research.

“…The housing forms for poultry and birds differ mainly in the freedom of movement; indoor/outdoor loose housing where they can express their natural behavior and in cage systems. Loose housing is the prerequisite for high productivity, health, and welfare [ 82 ]. Research findings point that the innate immune system of loose housing poultry has stronger responsiveness [ 83 , 84 , 85 , 86 ].…”

Section: Environmental Stressors and Gene Responsesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Omics Insights into Animal Resilience and Stress Factors

Basile

Capaccia

Zampini

et al. 2020

Resilience is conceived as a dynamic developmental process involving the achievement of positive adaptation within the context of significant adversity. Resilience is not a unique ability but rather a set of capacities of a system put in place to absorb a disturbance and to reorganize while trying to retain the same function, structure, and identity. This review describes the characteristics and the molecular mechanisms of resilience to understand the core elements of resilience and its indicators. The objectives of this review are: (1) to define some of the leading environmental stressors and clarify the mechanism of vulnerability or resilience outcomes; (2) to clarify some of the prominent epigenetic modulations mediating resilience or vulnerability as a stress response; (3) to highlight the neural mechanisms related to stress resilience since the central nervous system is a highly dynamic structure characterized by an everlasting plasticity feature, which therefore has the opportunity to modify resilience. The review aims to introduce the reader to the concept of resilience seen as an ability acquired in life and not only inherited from birth.