Proportion of insoluble fibre in the diet affects behaviour and hunger in broiler breeders growing at similar rates

Abstract

With a view to alleviate the feeling of hunger in broiler breeders, different types of fibre sources were used in high-fibre diets to increase feed quantity while limiting growth to industry recommended levels. Using scatter feeding, three diets (C1: commercial control diet, 1 3 fibre content, 80% insoluble fibre (ISF); H2: 2 3 fibre content, 89% ISF; and L2: 2 3 fibre content, 71% ISF) were each fed to 10 groups of 16 broiler breeder chickens. Similar growth rates were obtained on different quantities of food with all birds reaching commercial target weight at 15 weeks of age. In a hunger test, birds fed C1 ate significantly faster and showed a higher compensatory feed intake than birds on diets H2 and L2, indicating that the two high-fibre diets did reduce the level of hunger experienced by the birds. Behavioural observations carried out at 14 weeks of age showed high levels of tail pecking in birds fed C1 and almost none in birds fed L2, whereas birds fed H2 were intermediate. Stereotypic pecking at fixtures was seen twice as frequently in birds fed C1. Birds on diet L2 displayed behavioural signs indicative of discomfort, and the high water usage on this diet created problems with litter quality. Birds on diet H2 continued to show foraging behaviour throughout the day, and were more frequently engaged in dust bathing and other comfort behaviour. This experiment indicates that high-fibre diets can alleviate the feeling of hunger currently experienced by broiler breeders, and a high ratio of ISF may improve the well-being of the birds.

Impact of nutrition on welfare aspects of broiler breeder flocks

“…Moreover, because of a higher level of satiety and a lower level of feed competition, hens that were fed a 15% diluted diet had a better flock uniformity, higher egg and chick production as compared to hens fed the standard diet. Addition of soluble fibres (sugar beet pulp) to the diet was found to increase water intake, which was reflected in a reduced friability of the litter and less comfort behaviour of broiler breeders (Nielsen et al, 2011). Nutrient digestibility, however, decreased in broiler breeder pullets that were fed 12% and 23% diluted diets in which palm kernel meal, wheat bran, wheat gluten feed and sunflower seed meal were used as dilution sources.…”

The effect of varying duration of water restriction on drinking behaviour, welfare and production of lactating sows

“…Correspondingly, compensatory feed consumption and reduced latency to eat are used as measures of hunger (e.g. De Jong et al, 2005;Nielsen et al, 2011).…”

“…However, behavioural measures indicative of frustration will strengthen the argument that these measures are associated with negative subjective experiences. In the case of food restriction, measures of frustration due to hunger are tail pecking and stereotypic pecking of fixture in broilers (De Jong et al, 2005;Nielsen et al, 2011), and abnormal behaviour and aggression in pregnant sows (Appleby and Lawrence, 1987;Meunier-Salaün et al, 2001). Similarly, such measures may be indicative of frustration due to thirst, but this has not been investigated.…”

Effects of different dietary protein levels during rearing and different dietary energy levels during lay on behaviour and feather cover in broiler breeder females

“…Scatter feeding and feeding twice a day during rearing resulted in an increased eating time but no positive effects on physiological indicators of stress and hunger (De Jong et al, 2005a). Scatter feeding in combination with high levels of dietary insoluble fibre may improve welfare of broiler breeders due to the absent of stereotypic object pecking and increased dust bathing and comfort behaviour (Nielsen et al, 2011). Dilution of the feed increased the time spent eating, which is noted as a promising method for improving breeder welfare (De Jong et al, 2005b).…”