Effects of pasture management on poultry welfare and meat quality in organic poultry production systems

Sossidou, E.; Bosco, Alessandro Dal; Castellini, Cesare; Grashorn, M. A.

doi:10.1017/s0043933915000379

Cited by 65 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Free-range laying hens in this study have been reported to spend up to 75% of their day outdoors. A potential feature of access to outdoor areas is the availability of supplementary feed items, whether animal, vegetable or mineral [ 23 – 27 ]. All farmers indicated ingestion of range components in this study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Demographics and practices of semi-intensive free-range farming systems in Australia with an outdoor stocking density of ≤1500 hens/hectare

et al. 2017

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Baseline information on demographics and practices on semi-intensive free-range egg farms with an outdoor stocking density of ≤1500 hens/hectare in Australia is presented. Free-range egg production is changing the structure of the egg industry in Australia and a broad variety and tiers of free-range systems have emerged due to lack of concrete legislative standards on outdoor stocking densities in the past. Information was extracted from a pre-existing online free-range poultry survey dataset, consisting of a total of 79 questions related to nutrition, pasture management, welfare and health, animal housing, environmental impact and economics. Forty-one free-range egg farms, with an outdoor stocking density of ≤1500 hens/hectare, were identified in the dataset from all major Australian states. Two types of semi-intensive free-range housing systems were documented: mobile (modified caravan/trailer) housing (56%), and fixed sheds (44%). Seventy-two percent of respondents reported >75% of the hens in the flock used the outdoor range. All respondents reported ingestion of range components by hens in the form of vegetation, insects, stones and grit. Up to 10% mortality was reported by 40% respondents with predation (34%), cannibalism (29%), heat stress (24%) and grass impaction (19.5%) as major causes. Biosecurity on farms was sub-optimal with 8 of the 10 actions implemented by <50% respondents. Customer demand, consumer sentiment and welfare were the major factors for farmers moving into free-range egg production. This study resulted in identification of current practices and key challenges on semi-intensive free-range egg farms. Applied research and communication of results to farmers is highly recommended to ensure optimum health and welfare of free-range laying hens and sustained egg production.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Demographics and practices of semi-intensive free-range farming systems in Australia with an outdoor stocking density of ≤1500 hens/hectare

et al. 2017

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“…Therefore, the use of slower growing strains on Cornwall farms might have contributed to the lower rates of DOA/DIL and ascites found here. On the other hand, fast-growing strains and/or inadequate pasture management can lead to higher rates of skin conditions and skeletal damage in free-range systems [ 86 ], which might have contributed to the relatively higher rates of dermatitis and joint lesions in Cornwall-reared broilers. Whereas, the large range in bruising/fracture cases, with spatial clustering of comparable PRs, might be explained by discrepancies in the skill of catching teams and/or slaughterhouse staff who work in different regions, in the slaughter line environment of different establishments, and/or in the maintenance of catching and/or transportation equipment used by different regional teams [ 42 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence rates of health and welfare conditions in broiler chickens change with weather in a temperate climate

et al. 2016

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Climate change impact assessment and adaptation research in agriculture has focused primarily on crop production, with less known about the potential impacts on livestock. We investigated how the prevalence of health and welfare conditions in broiler (meat) chickens changes with weather (temperature, rainfall, air frost) in a temperate climate. Cases of 16 conditions were recorded at approved slaughterhouses in Great Britain. National prevalence rates and distribution mapping were based on data from more than 2.4 billion individuals, collected between January 2011 and December 2013. Analysis of temporal distribution and associations with national weather were based on monthly data from more than 6.8 billion individuals, collected between January 2003 and December 2013. Ascites, bruising/fractures, hepatitis and abnormal colour/fever were most common, at annual average rates of 29.95, 28.00, 23.76 and 22.29 per 10 000, respectively. Ascites and abnormal colour/fever demonstrated clear annual cycles, with higher rates in winter than in summer. Ascites prevalence correlated strongly with maximum temperature at 0 and −1 month lags. Abnormal colour/fever correlated strongly with temperature at 0 lag. Maximum temperatures of approximately 8°C and approximately 19°C marked the turning points of curve in a U-shaped relationship with mortality during transportation and lairage. Future climate change research on broilers should focus on preslaughter mortality.

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“…The presence of trees can help chicken feel more secure from predators and more sheltered from sun and the elements so they can venture further away from the huts and eat more forage [45]. Another benefit of tree and forage cover is a better distribution of hens across the range area, which may reduce the risk of parasitic contamination [46].…”

Section: Free-range Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feeding Forage in Poultry: A Promising Alternative for the Future of Production Systems

2018

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Abstract:The present review discusses the existing research findings on the nutritional impact of forages in poultry diet and the significance of forages in sustainable poultry production systems. The nutritional composition and antinutritional factors of the main forages and the pros and cons of feeding forage on poultry meat and egg quality under free-range and organic production systems are also discussed. This review highlights the importance of forages and forage meals in poultry ration, considering that these feedstuffs may have greater value to the success of local poultry production in many regions of the world due to their potential of production.

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Effects of pasture management on poultry welfare and meat quality in organic poultry production systems

Cited by 65 publications

References 32 publications

Demographics and practices of semi-intensive free-range farming systems in Australia with an outdoor stocking density of ≤1500 hens/hectare

Demographics and practices of semi-intensive free-range farming systems in Australia with an outdoor stocking density of ≤1500 hens/hectare

Prevalence rates of health and welfare conditions in broiler chickens change with weather in a temperate climate

Feeding Forage in Poultry: A Promising Alternative for the Future of Production Systems

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