Behavioural indicators of range use in four broiler strains

Early and late cognitive and behavioral aspects associated with range use in free-range laying hens (Gallus gallus domesticus)

“…Interestingly, we did not find any relationship between foraging behavior and range use, as previous seen for broilers ( Ferreira et al, 2021a ; Ferreira et al, 2022 ). These contrasting results reinforce that behavioral/cognitive predictors of range use may diverge between laying hens and broilers, but also among distinct strains ( Wurtz et al, 2022 ; Bonnefous et al, 2023 ), and that these differences need to be further investigated to understand how these traits shape how chickens perceive, interpret, and interact with their environment.…”

“…In previous studies, different behaviors expressed before range access were seen to correlate with range use, either negatively as was the case of social motivation (broilers: Ferreira et al, 2020a ), or positively as was the case of foraging/exploration (broilers: Ferreira et al, 2021 ; Ferreira et al, 2022 ; Bonnefous et al, 2023 ); (laying hens: Kolakshyapati et al, 2020 ). To further investigate these relationships, here, we applied a multivariate test aimed to measure the expression of several animal behavioral traits, indirectly, such as its degree of social motivation, exploration and boldness from its use of the arena, or directly, such as foraging ( Karlsson et al, 2011 ; Wirén and Jensen, 2011 ; Zidar et al, 2018 ; Bonnefous et al, 2023 ).…”

“…Specifically, a negative correlation was observed between the willingness to approach conspecifics during a social motivation test and range use, while foraging behavior exhibited a positive correlation with range use ( Ferreira et al, 2020a ; Ferreira et al, 2021a ). However, it is noteworthy that these findings did not consistently hold true across different stages of bird development and for different strains ( Ferreira et al, 2022 ; Bonnefous et al, 2023 ). In the case of laying hens, a few studies investigated how birds’ exploratory and fear tendencies before range access may be related to range use.…”

“…To assess the birds’ individual use of the range, we adopted the same procedures as described by ( Ferreira et al, 2021 ; Ferreira et al, 2022 ; Bonnefous et al, 2023 ). In summary, on each scan day, an observer quietly entered the range.…”

Mix it—cograzing with cattle reduces broiler losses and increases broiler range use

“…Those high ranging individuals even preferred feed they had to search for over readily available feed – a concept also known as “contrafreeloading.” This could also extend to feed sources in and around cow pats. Higher ranging animals could be achieved by changing the feeding regimen ( Horsted et al, 2007 ) and use of different breeds for example, Bresse ( Almeida et al, 2012 ; Bonnefous et al, 2023 ) or Barred Plymouth Rock ( Clark and Gage, 1996 ).…”