Influence of a raised slatted area in front of the nest on leg health, mating behaviour and floor eggs in broiler breeders

Oever, Anna C.M. van den; Candelotto, Laura; Kemp, B.; Rodenburg, T.B.; Bolhuis, J.E.; Graat, E.A.M.; Ven, L.J.F. van de; Guggisberg, Dominik; Toscano, Michael J.

doi:10.1016/j.animal.2020.100109

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 29 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Barriers are sometimes used to reduce the frequency of unwanted sexual behaviour in large groups (Leone and Estévez, 2008 ). Outside Europe, group nests are mainly placed on the floor and no raised slats are provided (van den Oever et al., 2021 ). In an experimental system introduced in The Netherlands, broiler breeder males and females are separated for 5 h a day using separate feeding systems and a movable partition (Van Emous and de Jong, 2013 ).…”

Section: Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Welfare of broilers on farm

Nielsen¹,

Álvarez²,

Bicout³

et al. 2023

EFS2

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This Scientific Opinion considers the welfare of domestic fowl (Gallus gallus) related to the production of meat (broilers) and includes the keeping of day-old chicks, broiler breeders, and broiler chickens. Currently used husbandry systems in the EU are described. Overall, 19 highly relevant welfare consequences (WCs) were identified based on severity, duration and frequency of occurrence: 'bone lesions', 'cold stress', 'gastro-enteric disorders', 'group stress', 'handling stress', 'heat stress', 'isolation stress', 'inability to perform comfort behaviour', 'inability to perform exploratory or foraging behaviour', 'inability to avoid unwanted sexual behaviour', 'locomotory disorders', 'prolonged hunger', 'prolonged thirst', 'predation stress', 'restriction of movement', 'resting problems', 'sensory under-and overstimulation', 'soft tissue and integument damage' and 'umbilical disorders'. These WCs and their animal-based measures (ABMs) that can identify them are described in detail. A variety of hazards related to the different husbandry systems were identified as well as ABMs for assessing the different WCs. Measures to prevent or correct the hazards and/or mitigate each of the WCs are listed. Recommendations are provided on quantitative or qualitative criteria to answer specific questions on the welfare of broilers and related to genetic selection, temperature, feed and water restriction, use of cages, light, air quality and mutilations in breeders such as beak trimming, de-toeing and comb dubbing. In addition, minimal requirements (e.g. stocking density, group size, nests, provision of litter, perches and platforms, drinkers and feeders, of covered veranda and outdoor range) for an enclosure for keeping broiler chickens (fast-growing, slower-growing and broiler breeders) are recommended. Finally, 'total mortality', 'wounds', 'carcass condemnation' and 'footpad dermatitis' are proposed as indicators for monitoring at slaughter the welfare of broilers on-farm.

show abstract

Section: Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Welfare of broilers on farm

Nielsen¹,

Álvarez²,

Bicout³

et al. 2023

EFS2

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Floor laying causes a variety of negative effects on manual egg collection efficiency, qualification rate, hatching rate, egg contamination and disease transmission, and individual egg production records, as well as animal welfare. In poultry production, there is a lack of effective measures or methods to control or solve the problem of floor laying ( Hulzebosch, 2006 ; van den Oever et al, 2021 ). Although some studies have proposed a novel method of robotic pick-up of eggs, it requires high investment and has not yet been applied on a large scale in production ( Li et al, 2022 ; Zhang et al, 2023 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Floor eggs in goose breeders: patterns, genetic and environmental influences, and physiological indexes

Gu,

Chang,

et al. 2024

Poultry Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…If we provide birds with attractive perches that results in more perching, we need to investigate the potential effects on their keelbone. Furthermore, several studies report a high prevalence of footpad dermatitis ( FPD ) in broiler breeders ( Thøfner et al, 2019 ; van der Oever et al, 2021 ). Although no negative effects of perches on FPD have been reported, this needs to be investigated further in commercial breeder flocks with access to perches.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%