Effects of environmental enrichment on activity and lameness in commercial broiler production

Abstract

The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the effects of commercially applied environmental enrichments on behavior and lameness in broilers. Two consecutive flocks of broilers were observed at 16 days and 30 days of age to investigate differences between enriched (peat, bales of lucerne hay, and elevated platforms) and control birds with regards to behavioral activities and lameness. More running (p < .001), worm running (p = .006), play fighting (p = .015), dust bathing (p = .009), and ground pecking while standing (p < .001) were observed at 16 days than at 30 days. Across both ages, enriched birds showed more wing flapping (p = .016), wing stretching (p = .002), body shaking (p = .002), ground scratching (p < .001), and ground pecking while standing (p < .001) and lying (p = .003) compared with control birds. Even when no enrichments were close, enriched birds showed more body shaking (p = .008) and ground pecking while standing (p < 0.001) and lying (p = .010) than birds in comparable locations in control pens. There was a tendency for a lower gait score (i.e., reduced lameness) with the enriched treatment (p = .077). In conclusion, enriched birds showed higher levels of several activities compared with control birds, and demonstrated higher levels in areas where no enrichments were present.

Slow-growing broilers are healthier and express more behavioural indicators of positive welfare

“…In the Undisturbed patches, a reduction in Play, Exploration, Comfort behaviour and Any Positive Behaviour counts was observed from the first to last Production Stages. Lower Play in the final production stage is consistent with Vasdal et al 's 41 finding of less play at 30 days compared to 16 days, and the observed reduction in Exploratory behaviour with increasing age is consistent with Bizeray et al 38 . For the Disturbed patches, less Play was recorded in Production Stage 1 than when the birds were older.…”

Literature update on effective environmental enrichment and light provision in broiler chickens

“…Nevertheless, scientific knowledge is unclear about effects of these objects on leg/foot health and on activity (Riber, et al, 2018). Recently, a few studies have reported positive effects of combining bales of straw or lucerne hay with other enrichment on reducing leg/foot problems in fastgrowing broilers (Baxter, et al, 2018b;Vasdal, et al, 2019), and in slow-growing broilers, bales of straw have been found to increase activity levels (Bergmann, et al, 2017), whereas in fast-growing broilers some studies show an increased activity level, and others do not.…”

“…The provision of a more diverse environment, with for instance platforms combined with other type of enrichment (e.g. bales), may aid to improve leg health (Baxter, et al, 2018b;Vasdal, et al, 2019) and reduce smothering and injuries at catching by reducing fearfulness already during the production cycle.…”

Effects of Music Enrichment on Live Body Weight and Meat Quality Grade of Broiler Chickens

“…Environment enrichment는 동물관리의 핵심으로 동물의 행동 욕구가 충족될 수 있도록 동물에게 제공하는 항목을 말하며 (Coleman et al, 2013) (Riber et al, 2018). 농장에서 복 지 환경을 제공하면 생산성에는 영향이 없지만 (Aksit et al, 2017), 닭의 복지 지표 향상 (Vasdal et al, 2019), 면역능 향 상 (Mohamed et al, 2014;Matur et al, 2016), 그리고 닭고기 내 병원성 미생물 오염수준이 감소 (Iannetti et al, 2020)한다 고 보고된 바 있다. 이와 반대로 복지가 향상된 환경에서 자 란 육계에서 생산성 감소, 폐사율 증가 및 가슴육의 전단력 (shear force)이 증가하였다는 결과도 보고된 바 있다 (Zhao et al, 2014).…”