Ethical Concerns in Poultry Production: A German Consumer Survey About Dual Purpose Chickens

Busse, Maria; Kernecker, Maria; Zscheischler, Jana; Zoll, Felix; Siebert, Rosemarie

doi:10.1007/s10806-019-09806-y

Cited by 32 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Finally, it is important to mention that consumers see the concept of dual-purpose breeds as a more animal-friendly practice [1,5,47,48] for which they would be willing to pay a higher price if meat quality is improved while their expectations on animal welfare are met [1,4,5]. Additionally, studies have shown that consumers are willing to pay more for regional products [49,50].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Meat Quality Parameters and Sensory Properties of One High-Performing and Two Local Chicken Breeds Fed with Vicia faba

Bosque

Altmann

Ciulu

et al. 2020

Foods

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The current practices of the poultry industry have raised concerns among consumers. Among these is the culling of day-old male chicks of laying hybrids; a suitable alternative for this could be the use of dual-purpose breeds where both sexes are used. Another practice that causes concern is the import of large quantities of soybeans for feedstuff production. Substitutes for these soybean-based products are regional protein crops, such as faba beans (Vicia faba L.; FBs). The objective of this study was to test the suitability of FB as a locally produced soybean meal replacement for two local dual-purpose chicken breeds and one high-performing layer line. The breast and leg meat of male Bresse Gauloise (BG), Vorwerkhuhn (VH), and White Rock (WR) animals was evaluated for different meat quality parameters: pH, color, water holding capacity, and tenderness. Sensory properties of the samples were evaluated by a trained panel with a conventional descriptive analysis. Results show different effects of FB diets on meat quality parameters in the different breeds. The attributes mostly affected by the diet are related to aroma, flavor, and texture, particularly in VH and WR. Overall, faba beans appear to be an acceptable dietary protein source for rearing these breeds for meat production.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Meat Quality Parameters and Sensory Properties of One High-Performing and Two Local Chicken Breeds Fed with Vicia faba

Bosque

Altmann

Ciulu

et al. 2020

Foods

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“…Among these alternatives is the use of dual-purpose breeds (DPBs) that can be used for egg production (female animals) and broiler production (male animals) (Damme 2015;Krautwald-Junghanns et al 2018). However, the concept of DPBs is not familiar to most consumers (Gangnat et al 2018;Brümmer et al 2017;Busse et al 2019). Nonetheless, when introduced to this alternative, consumers see it as a positive practice that is more animal-friendly and ethically justifiable (Gangnat et al 2018;Brümmer et al 2017;Leenstra et al 2011;Busse et al 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the concept of DPBs is not familiar to most consumers (Gangnat et al 2018;Brümmer et al 2017;Busse et al 2019). Nonetheless, when introduced to this alternative, consumers see it as a positive practice that is more animal-friendly and ethically justifiable (Gangnat et al 2018;Brümmer et al 2017;Leenstra et al 2011;Busse et al 2019). Nowadays, there are commercial DPBs available such as Lohmann Dual (Lohmann Tierzucht GmbH, Cuxhaven, Germany), and traditional DPBs that have a lower fattening/laying performance (Mueller et al 2018), for example Vorwerkhuhn, which are used rarely on farms.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

My Meat Does Not Have Feathers: Consumers’ Associations with Pictures of Different Chicken Breeds

Bosque

Busch

Spiller

2020

J Agric Environ Ethics

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The use of traditional chicken breeds with a dual purpose (egg and meat production) has become a relevant topic in Germany mainly due to animal welfare concerns and the importance of conserving genetic variability in poultry farming. However, consumers have little knowledge about the different chicken breeds used in the industry; making it challenging to communicate traditional breeds and their advantages to consumers. Hence, this study takes the approach to look at consumers’ perceptions of different breeds. We analyze consumers’ evaluations of pictures showing four dual-purpose chicken breeds. First, an eye-tracking study (n = 24) and think-aloud protocols (n = 28) were used to obtain open associations consumers make with each breed. Based on the results, an online survey was conducted (n = 933) to quantify consumers associations with different breeds and consumers’ interest in meat products with animal pictures on the packaging. Results show that consumers’ attention to pictures of chickens is mostly focused on their body and head, particularly with the Vorwerkhuhn. Consumers associate white breeds to white egg and meat production, while brown breeds are associated to brown egg production. Only a smaller segment of consumers (32%; n = 292), who are more engaged to animal welfare, accept pictures of animals on meat packages. We conclude that the marketing of meat products of traditional chicken breeds by using pictures is not a useful approach for the mass market. However, within smaller market concepts, such pictures can be used to communicate an alternative chicken meat production system that may lead to purchases of traditional dual-purpose breeds.

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“…This fact is associated with both ethical and economic issues in modern egg production as 50% of hatched eggs are wasted. A recent survey among 1000 German consumers shows that 67% of them find the practice of killing day-old chicks ‘very problematic’ [ 5 ]. As some countries, like Germany and France, have taken initiatives on a national level to ban the practice of killing of day-old male layer chicks by 2022 [ 6 , 7 , 8 ], solutions for handling the male layer chickens are necessary.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the benefits of such strategies have not been assessed in the light of consumer/citizen expectations or in comparison to slow-growing broilers reared outdoors. Most consumers, e.g., 82% of German consumers [ 5 ], are not familiar with dual-purpose poultry, i.e., both meat and egg production can be carried out by the same genotype.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dual-Purpose Poultry in Organic Egg Production and Effects on Egg Quality Parameters

Hammershøj

Kristiansen

Steenfeldt

2021

Foods

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Egg laying genotypes have been selected for generations due to their high yield and egg quality, resulting in efficient feed utilization and low body weight; hence, they are not suitable for meat production. This imposes an issue for the male layer chicks, which are killed at one day old. Because of ethical and food waste concerns, the search for suitable dual-purpose genotypes in order to avoid euthanasia of male day-old chicks has intensified. The aim of the present study is to evaluate potential dual-purpose genotypes for their egg quality compared to a representative egg laying genotype. Three dual-purpose genotypes with divergent characteristics were evaluated: genotype A represented an experimental crossbreed based on a broiler type male and an egg layer female, genotype B was a pure breed, and genotype C was a crossbreed of a layer type. These were compared to a control genotype D, which was an egg layer. Eggs were collected six times during the period of 21–54 weeks of hen age, i.e., a total of 1080 shell eggs were analyzed. Examined parameters were weights of egg, shell, yolk, and albumen, by calculating their relative proportions. Shell quality was assessed by shell strength, shell stiffness, and shell thickness. Yolk quality was determined as yolk color and inclusions of blood and meat spots, and albumen quality was evaluated in terms of pH and dry matter (DM) content. The egg layer genotype produced the smallest eggs with least blood and meat spot inclusions compared to that produced by the three dual-purpose genotypes. Shell quality was superior for the layer genotype. However, the experimental genotype A laid eggs of comparable shell quality, albumen DM, and yolk weight, but also with the darkest and most red-yellow colored yolk. The two other dual-purpose genotypes produced eggs of low-medium quality. In conclusion, the genotype A could serve as dual-purpose genotype from an egg quality perspective.

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Ethical Concerns in Poultry Production: A German Consumer Survey About Dual Purpose Chickens

Cited by 32 publications

References 55 publications

Meat Quality Parameters and Sensory Properties of One High-Performing and Two Local Chicken Breeds Fed with Vicia faba

Meat Quality Parameters and Sensory Properties of One High-Performing and Two Local Chicken Breeds Fed with Vicia faba

My Meat Does Not Have Feathers: Consumers’ Associations with Pictures of Different Chicken Breeds

Dual-Purpose Poultry in Organic Egg Production and Effects on Egg Quality Parameters

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