Multi-factorial investigation of various housing systems for laying hens

Shimmura, Tsuyoshi; Hirahara, Satoshi; Azuma, T; Suzuki, T; Eguchi, Yusuke; Uetake, Katsuji; Tanaka, Toshio

doi:10.1080/00071660903421167

Cited by 58 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…As a consequence there is an increase of dirty, cracked or soiled eggs (Abrahamsson and Ragnar, 1997;Huneau-Salaün et al, 2011), while no effects were observed on internal egg quality (Karaman et al, 2006). The effect of group size on performance of laying hens raises in cages with equal amount of space available per bird, as it has been studied in groups with less than 10 birds (Abrahamsson and Tauson, 1997;Shimmura et al, 2010) or with different cage models (Vits et al, 2005). Recently, there is an increasing number of studies on the effect of group size on performance of laying hens raised in cage with similar design and structures but with group sizes ranging from 8 to 60 birds (Wall, 2011;Huneau-Salaün et al, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Group Size on Performance and Egg Quality of Laying Hens During 20 to 36 Weeks of Age

Bovera

Iannaccone

Piccolo

et al. 2014

Italian Journal of Animal Science

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The aim of this study was to improve knowledge on the effect of group size on productive performance and egg quality of hens raised in furnished cages equally designed. A total of 520, 15-week-old Lohmann Brown laying hens were divided into 2 groups to have a similar initial body weight (average 1392±16.3 g). The cages of S25 group (240 L x 78 W x 50 H cm, 749 cm 2 /hen) hosted a total of 200 hens, while those of S40 group (462 L x 65 W x 50 H, 751 cm 2 /hen) included 320 birds. Experimental data were recorded after an adaptation period of 5 weeks (20 to 36 weeks of age). Hens were submitted to 15 h of light/d. The average temperature inside the building was 24.6±2.5°C over the entire experimental period with higher values at 24, 26, 28 and 30 weeks of age. The relative humidity recorded inside the building was 55% at week 20 and 60% all through the experimental period. Hens raised from S40 group had lower percentage of egg production (84.91 vs 88.90%, P<0.01) and higher feed conversion ratio (2.70 vs 2.25, P<0.0001) than S25 group. The percentage of eggs laid out of the nest was higher in S25 than S40 group (0.26 vs 0.19%, P<0.01). As expected, the week of age affected almost all the parameters (feed intake, body weight, laying percentage, egg weight, yolk, shell and albumen indexes, shell thickness, Haugh unit). However, the effect of group size was particularly evident during the hot period.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Group Size on Performance and Egg Quality of Laying Hens During 20 to 36 Weeks of Age

Bovera

Iannaccone

Piccolo

et al. 2014

Italian Journal of Animal Science

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“…However, there are also a small number of scientific declarations that such separation is difficult. For example, the scientific declaration ‘aggressive interactions were increased by decreased litter area’ (Shimmura et al . 2007a, 2008c, 2009) cannot be separated but should be attached to one measurement: ‘litter floor’.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During construction of our model and its evaluation of the six housing systems, we assessed these housing systems using animal‐based measurement (Shimmura et al . 2009).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Overall welfare assessment of laying hens: Comparing science‐based, environment‐based and animal‐based assessments

Shimmura

Bracke

Mol

et al. 2011

Animal Science Journal

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To increase the validity of evaluations and facilitate expansion and maintenance of assessment systems, we constructed a database of studies on the welfare of laying hens around the world. On the basis of this database, we devised a science-based welfare assessment model. Our model includes measurements, levels and weightings based on the scientific studies in the database, and can clarify the advantages and disadvantages of housing systems for laying hens from the viewpoint of the five freedoms. We also evaluated the usefulness of our model by comparing it with environment-based Animal Needs Index (ANI), another science-based model called FOWEL, and animal-based measurements. Our model showed that freedom from injury, pain and disease, and freedom from discomfort were more secure in the cage system, while non-cage systems scored better for natural behavior and freedom from fear and distress. A significant strong-positive correlation was found between the animal-based assessment and the total scores of ANI (rs = 0.94, P < 0.05), FOWEL (rs = 0.99, P < 0.05) or our model (rs = 0.99, P < 0.05), which indicate that these different approaches to welfare assessment may be used almost interchangeably to 'measure' a common property ('overall laying hen welfare'). However, assessments using our model and FOWEL were more sensitive than ANI and can be applied to cage systems, which suggest that our model and FOWEL may have added value.

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“…However, to a certain degree it appears that no single housing system is ideal from a hen welfare perspective (Lay et al, 2011). Currently modern poultry industry is represented by both conventional and alternative intensive housing, which can be responsible for different health problems that are characteristic for hens kept in cages or floor, respectively (Rodenburg et al, 2005;Shimmura et al, 2010;Shini et al, 2006;Weitzenburger et al, 2005).…”

Section: Data Processing and Statistical Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Fatty Liver Haemorrhagic Syndrome in Laying Hens: Field and Experimental Investigations

Shini¹

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Field and experimental investigations were conducted to study the fatty liver haemorrhagic syndrome (FLHS) in caged laying hens. The main goal of the research was to gain a greater understanding of the aetiology and pathogenesis of this non-infectious disease. The disease is characterized by excessive accumulation of fat in the liver and abdominal cavity, subsequent liver rupture, haemorrhage and sudden death of hens. It has been shown that the balance between hepatic synthesis and secretion of lipids is the key point that regulates hepatic and extrahepatic fat deposition in hens. Liver fat accumulation can be increased by many factors, especially nutrition, housing conditions, and inflammatory challenges. A description of normal and abnormal lipid metabolism in the hen, and consequences for hen health and disease (including FLHS) is given in the literature review (Chapter 2).The initial study examined mortality of layer flocks kept in three different housing systems (cage, barn and free range) on the Gatton Campus, University of Queensland (Chapter 4). It was shown that there were no significant differences in mortality rates of hens (6.1%, 6.4% and 5.8%, for cages, barns and free range, respectively) between the housing systems but the causes of death were different. The most common cause of death in hens kept in cages was FLHS with 74% of dead hens dying from the condition. In contrast, FLHS only accounted for 0 to 5% of hen mortality in the other systems. Post-mortem of dead hens and body weight monitoring of flocks throughout the laying cycle were recommended as tools to predict FLHS.An epidemiological survey (Chapter 5) of caged flocks in South-Eastern Queensland was undertaken to explore the prevalence of FLHS in commercial layer flocks. From necropsies of dead birds from 7 flocks of different ages, it was found that approximately 40% of hens died due to FLHS. This result indicated that FLHS continues to be the major cause of mortality in commercial caged laying hens kept in either controlled environment sheds or naturally ventilated sheds. As part of the epidemiological study, a questionnaire was circulated among farms and the responses revealed that there is a general lack of knowledge of FLHS in the industry.The study of the pathogenesis of FLHS is very difficult as it occurs sporadically and over an extended period of time in the field. In the studies in Chapter 6, an oestradiol (E 2 ) hen model was used to study the condition. The administration of exogenous E 2 reproduced the disease in 30 wk old laying hens, and was associated with significant changes in E 2 plasma levels and metabolic iv profiles, increased liver weights, and macroscopic (fat depositions, haemorrhages and haematomas) and microscopic alterations. Hens exposed to E 2 and fed ad libitum diet experienced severe FLHS and had a higher incidence of FLHS than hens that had their feed intake restricted by 10%. One interesting observation from this study (not reported from other investigators) was the alteration of total leukocyte n...

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Multi-factorial investigation of various housing systems for laying hens

Cited by 58 publications

References 48 publications

Effect of Group Size on Performance and Egg Quality of Laying Hens During 20 to 36 Weeks of Age

Effect of Group Size on Performance and Egg Quality of Laying Hens During 20 to 36 Weeks of Age

Overall welfare assessment of laying hens: Comparing science‐based, environment‐based and animal‐based assessments

Fatty Liver Haemorrhagic Syndrome in Laying Hens: Field and Experimental Investigations

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