Influence of crate height on the welfare of broilers during transport

Vinco, L.J.; Archetti, I. L.; Giacomelli, Stefano; Lombardi, Giovanna

doi:10.1016/j.jveb.2016.06.006

Cited by 10 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 8 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In a paper discussing the height of cages for transporting broilers to slaughter, it was proposed that the height of a standing commercial broiler is 35–40 cm (Vinco et al., 2016 ). Based on a standing height of 40 cm (i.e.…”

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

“…During transport, in thermal stress, birds show behavioural response, change their location and direction to resist, and sometimes climb up to each other, and that causes injuries. 26 A low density of the birds in the pens during transportation allows the birds to regulate their body temperature. 27 However, the higher space to the birds during the transportation is also directly related to the injuries during transport, which may increase the chance to reject rates.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Ambient Temperature on The Death Rate, Reject Rate, Dressing Percentage, and Economic Loss in Broilers During Transport to Slaughterhouse

Çavuşoğlu

Riaz

2021

Journal of Research in Veterinary Medicine

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The process of transporting broilers from the farm to the slaughterhouse is critical for animal welfare and for the production economy. During the transport process, the animal may suffer and die and this situation negatively affects animal welfare and profitability. The present study aimed to assess the impact of ambient temperature on the death rate, reject rate, and total economic loss in broilers during transportations in Turkey. The data of a total of 1,015,336 broilers transported for a two-year period were collected from a commercial abattoir. The average ambient temperature of the exact days of consignments was divided into three subgroups: Temperature (T), T1 (10.0-14.0 °C), T2 (14.1-19.0 °C), T3 (19.1-24.0 °C). The average death rates were 1.890%, 1.393%, 0.326%, and reject rates were 1.151%, 1.611%, and 1.441% found for T1, T2, and T3, respectively. Analysis of data showed the significant (p<0.001) effect of the ambient temperature on the death rate, and the higher impact was observed for T1 and lower for the T3. The reject rate among all groups was statistically significant (p=0.044), and the highest reject rate was found in T2 while the lowest reject rate was found in T1. The net economic loss due to rejected birds and death were 35,403 US$ and 30,692 US$, respectively, while the total economic loss was 66,095 US$. In conclusion, the results of the present study showed that death rate, reject rates, and dressing percentage are impacted by the ambient temperature. Furthermore, death rates, rejection rates, and potential economic losses of the birds are linked with transportation from farm to the processing plant, and there is a need for management strategies to be refined through research by assessing the on-farm to processing plant risk factors, their linkages, as well as their potential contributions in Turkish integrated broiler production system.

show abstract

“…Other factors, not necessarily associated with training, may have influenced results, for example bird factors such as age, sex and weight [48], loading conditions [28], environmental conditions [28,32], time of day of transportation [32], length of transport time [49] and crates/drawers stocking density [50] are all known to have effects on bruising and meat quality. These variables were not controlled by the methodology of this study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Influence of Welfare Training on Bird Welfare and Carcass Quality in Two Commercial Poultry Primary Processing Plants

Wigham

Grist

Mullan

et al. 2019

Animals

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The number of broilers slaughtered globally is increasing. Ensuring acceptable welfare conditions for birds at the time of slaughter is paramount in meeting legislative and retailer specifications, and in producing high quality meat. There is knowledge that welfare training programs for members of the farming and red meat slaughter industry can improve animal welfare measures and product quality, however there is little evidence of the effects of welfare training in poultry processing plants. In our study, a comprehensive welfare training program was introduced to a Costa Rican and a British commercial broiler primary processing plant, both of which slaughter birds by way of neck cut post electrical water bath stunning. The effects of this program on some welfare and product quality measures were investigated, both immediately and six months post training. The welfare measures that showed significant improvements post training included; flapping at shackling, pre-stun shocks, stun parameters and effective neck cut. Product quality measures including broken wings and red pygostyles also improved, however the positive effect of training was not seen in all quality measures. Welfare training does have the potential to improve broiler welfare and product quality at slaughter, and these data could help the development and targeting of future welfare training courses and encourage the uptake of welfare training in the poultry slaughter industry.

show abstract

Influence of crate height on the welfare of broilers during transport

Cited by 10 publications

References 8 publications

Welfare of broilers on farm

Welfare of broilers on farm

The Effect of Ambient Temperature on The Death Rate, Reject Rate, Dressing Percentage, and Economic Loss in Broilers During Transport to Slaughterhouse

The Influence of Welfare Training on Bird Welfare and Carcass Quality in Two Commercial Poultry Primary Processing Plants

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About