Poultry biodiversity for alternative farming systems development

Abstract

Poultry biodiversity represents a key factor to improve poultry resilience and promote sustainable and low input farming systems. The EU and member states promote protection of livestock biodiversity and the development of alternative farming through funding projects such as “Local Chicken Breeds in Alternative Production Chain: Welfare, Quality and Sustainability” (funded by the Italian Ministry of Research and University). The aim of the present research was to identify among five different poultry genotypes Bionda Piemontese (BP), Robusta Maculata (RM), RM x Sasso (RMxS), BP x Sasso (BPxS) and a commercial hybrid (Ross 308) the best suitable breed in terms of productivity and welfare for alternative housing system. A total of 300 (60 x genotype), 21 days old male birds were randomly allotted in two housing systems: 1) standard intensive farming (controlled environment, 33 kg/m2 and standard diet) and 2) free-range (“natural” environmental conditions, 21 kg/m2, access to outdoor area and low-input diet). Slaughtering was performed at 81 days of age. During the trial, the productive performance and behaviour of the animals were evaluated. The housing system, the genotype and their interaction significantly affected many of the studied variables, showing broiler not the ideal genotype for extensive farming system, which is more suited for low/medium performance strains.

Assessment of the Economic Profitability of Fattening Selected Chicken Genotypes in an Organic Farm

“…This is understandable given the fact that the rearing period was longer than that in the conventional system. In a study by Cygan-Szczegielniak and Bogucka [37], the final BW of Ross 308 chickens reared for 82 days in an organic farm was much lower (3.00 kg in ♂and 2.88 kg in ♀), whereas in the work of Fiorilla et al [38], the average BW of chickens reached 4.2 kg, and it was similar to that noted in the current study. In the first 42 days of rearing, feed consumption reached 3.4 kg, and average BW reached 1.81 kg, which was somewhat lower than in Ross 308 chickens produced in the conventional system (average BW-2.80 kg; feed consumption-4.7 kg).…”

“…Males mature earlier, at around 9-10 weeks of age, and females generally reach maturity at 12 weeks. This breed is also highly resistant to Marek's disease [38]. In terms of health, Sussex (S-66) broilers are highly suited for small farms and extensive production of "Label Rouge" type broiler chickens.…”

Effect of housing system and housing density on performance, viability, and gastrointestinal tract growth of broiler chicks during the first 2 wk of age

“…This was due to some limitations of the ventilation system in that the direct airflow and it should be redesigned. According to Fiorilla et al (2022) , Ross mortality was higher and Ross growth performance was less in both free-range and industrial controlled systems, with a higher percentage in the free-range system than the industrial one. Bogosavljevic-Boskovic et al (2012) reviewed that the lower performance and mortality of broilers in free-range systems compared to intensive rearing.…”

Potential of guar gum as a leaky gut model in broilers: Digestibility, performance, and microbiota responses

“…In chicken, most of the recent studies addressing the improvement of animal resilience focused primarily on zootechnical performances with very limited health and physiological parameters such as genetic background ( Bedere et al., 2022 ), biodiversity ( Fiorilla et al., 2022 ), pathogens and lesion scores ( Santos et al., 2022 ; Wijnen et al., 2022 ) due to the complexity and dynamics of the numerous biological networks involved in animal health and resilience ( Scheffer et al., 2018 ). Therefore, in the current study, we investigate whether GG supplementation degrades the broilers' performances by affecting gut integrity as well as other biological systems, such as, the immune response and the microbial ecology which can aggravate the impact on digestibility.…”