Comparison of Chinese Broiler Production Systems in Economic Performance and Animal Welfare

Abstract

Both proper animal welfare and economic benefit are important to the broiler industry, so it is better to consider these two factors together. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between economic benefit and animal welfare in different production systems of white-feathered broilers in China. Based on the Welfare Quality Assessment (WQA) protocol for poultry, the authors compared and evaluated the results of the Welfare Quality model (WQM) and the deterministic model. The present study conducted welfare evaluations and investigations on 66 broiler chicken flocks on 52 farms in China. These flocks included three types: the net floor system (NFS), the normal cage system (NCS), and the high standard cage system (HCS). In terms of economy, the results were in line with high economic input, high output, and high profit. In terms of animal welfare assessment, the authors calculated the welfare scores per measure and the attributional WQ scores and WQ index scores of each production systems. The results showed that nine welfare measures from four welfare criteria presented different trends in the three production systems. WQ index scores were 778.24 ± 29.45, 691.09 ± 32.97, and 669.82 ± 22.79, respectively. According to Chow test results, significant differences were found between WQ index scores and total cost and profit (all p < 0.01). In conclusion, with the development of white-feathered broiler production in China, from the conventional system to the latest system, both cost and economic profit have been increased, but the welfare score has been decreased.

Centennial Review: Factors affecting the chicken gastrointestinal microbial composition and their association with gut health and productive performance

“…Therefore the majority of colonization of the chick gut with bacteria begins right after hatching via contact with environmental sources at the hatchery, mainly people handling the eggs, transportation boxes, and any feed and water or bedding material available ( Kizerwetter-Świda and Binek, 2008 ; Stanley et al, 2014 ). Young chickens at 1 and 2 d of age are delivered to commercial farms where they are usually placed in bedding material, although rearing of chicks in plastic nets is also practiced in some countries such as China ( Chen et al, 2020 ; Yan et al, 2021 ). Several microbiota taxa from new or reused bedding material and other environmental sources such as feed continue the initial colonization of the gut ( Wang et al, 2016 ).…”

The Impacts of Colony Cages on the Welfare of Chickens Farmed for Meat

“…This incomplete application of the WQA occurred despite the fact that one of the greatest welfare concerns for caged chickens is behavioural deprivation, and the resulting negative emotional state this may bring—aspects that the QBA indicator of the WQA aims to capture. Chen et al [ 12 ] stated, “it is impossible to observe and evaluate broilers in dim, restricted, and high-density cages … [t]hus, the assessment of qualitative behaviors was cancelled in this research” (p. 3). Yet, the WQA (p. 23), explicitly states that lights should be used to help with such measurements.…”

“…Another study mentioned similar equipment from the company Kutlusan [ 22 ]. Four (17%) of the 23 studies described the slatted floor used in their study as “mesh”, “flexible”, “cushioned”, or as a “net” [ 12 , 19 , 22 , 26 ]. Some studies did not give caging details such as origin/design, size, or construction material (e.g., [ 21 , 25 , 28 ].…”

“…Of the four studies that made their use of a flexible material explicit, all are in Table 1 , showing superior welfare outcomes when using a litter floor. However, one did not examine FPD, hock burn, or breast blisters formally [ 26 ], one did not compare slatted floor with litter [ 12 ], one found higher FPD in litter [ 22 ], and one found a significantly lower prevalence of breast blisters in cages, but did not find the same for FPD [ 19 ]. Investigators also highlighted concerns with higher incidence [ 42 ] or at least an ongoing significant prevalence of FPD in slatted floors.…”

Φυσιογνωμία Ζωοτεχνικής Και Οικονομικής Διαχείρισης Κρεοπαραγωγού Πτηνοτροφίας Στην Περιφέρεια Ηπείρου

“…Στις εκτροφές σε κλωβοστοιχίες δεν επηρεάζεται αρνητικά ο αριθμός των ετησίων τοποθετήσεων από το σύστημα εκτροφής. Αντίθετα στις περισσότερες περιπτώσεις αυξάνεται σε ≥ από 6 τοποθετήσεις, καθώς η αυξημένη καταπόνηση των ορνιθίων από τις υψηλές πυκνότητες, οδηγεί σε μειωμένη χρονικά περίοδο εκτροφής για την αποφυγή απωλειών (Chen et al, 2020).…”