Modules for Welfare Quality® laying hen protocol

Abstract

Summary UK To get more information out of the Welfare Quality assessment, three modules are developed, to get more detailed information on three aspects. These detailed scores fit on the original WQ-scores, so that the overall welfare assessment according to the WQ-methodology can be done.Two modules (keel bones and beaks) had a good repeatability and provided useful information. The module for subtle feather damage was not further developed, because this damage didn't appear to have much relation with feather pecking and the actual causes of this damage were unclear.