Reducing stocking density benefits behaviour of fast- and slower-growing broilers

Eijk, Jerine A.J. van der; Gunnink, H.; Melis, Stephanie; Riel, J.W. van; Jong, I.C. de

doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105754

Cited by 19 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…For example, broilers were more likely to be observed foraging in the LD compared with the HD treatment, even at 7 weeks of age. This is in line with previous work documenting a negative impact of high stocking densities on the proportion of birds foraging [ 79 , 80 ]. Similarly, birds spent more time drinking at LD compared with HD and were more likely to be observed eating at LD compared with HD in the LC environment.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Environmental Complexity and Reduced Stocking Density Promote Positive Behavioral Outcomes in Broiler Chickens

Evans

Brooks

Anderson

et al. 2023

Animals

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The objective was to evaluate the impacts of a complex environment and stocking density on Ross 708 broiler chicken behaviors. Eight pens contained either high complexity (HC) or low complexity (LC) environments, and high (HD) or low (LD) density. Through focal-animal sampling, the frequency and duration of behaviors were recorded continuously for 5 min at two timepoints for one day in weeks 2, 4, and 7. Birds were active for 30% of the observed time, with birds showing more activity in HC compared with LC. Birds in HC pens spent more time preening and foraging than birds in LC pens, which was interpreted as a positive outcome. Dustbathing and play were not impacted by complexity, possibly due to the observation method. Birds were more frequently active at HD compared with LD, but did not spend more time being active, suggesting disturbances. Birds foraged, drank, and ate less frequently in HD compared with LD, presumably because birds had more difficulty accessing resources. Activity and active behaviors reduced as birds aged, while preening frequency increased, possibly due to frustration, but this was not confirmed. Perching was unaffected by age, showing a persistent motivation to perform the behavior. Our results indicate that a complex environment provides positive stimulation for foraging, locomotion, preening, and overall activity. Despite reduced activity, many benefits of the tested environmental complexity and low density persisted as birds aged.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Environmental Complexity and Reduced Stocking Density Promote Positive Behavioral Outcomes in Broiler Chickens

Evans

Brooks

Anderson

et al. 2023

Animals

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“…More positive behaviour such as locomotion, comfort and foraging behaviour are shown by the slower‐growing hybrid Ranger Classic that uses the enrichment (straw bales) better than the fast‐growing hybrid Ross 308 . Ranger Classic birds are also less fearful than Ross 308 (van der Eijk et al., 2022a ). It has to be noted, that animal welfare is the better the more slowly the hybrid is growing.…”

Section: Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Welfare of broilers on farm

Nielsen¹,

Álvarez²,

Bicout³

et al. 2023

EFS2

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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.

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“…Exploration and foraging all [28,33,34] broilers [30,[39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50] laying hens [51][52][53] turkeys [54,55] ducks [56] geese [57] Comfort general all [27][28][29]34] dustbathing broilers [42,49,58,59] laying hens [31,51,52,[60][61][62][63][64] quails [65] preening all [28,33,34] broilers [40,41,44,58] laying hens [31,52,61,66,…”

Section: Behavioral Parametersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In poultry, exploration is correlated to foraging and feeding behavior, performed by pecking and scratching on the ground and, sometimes, pecking the environment in general [126]. Slow-growing breeds of broilers explore their environment more compared to fast-growing commercial broilers, are more active, forage more, and use more the provided environmental enrichment [39,41,44,47,48]. Rayner et al [47] observed that slow-growing broilers ground-scratched more than fast-growing broilers under commercial conditions, and the behavior decreased as stocking density increased or the age of the animals increased.…”

Section: Exploration and Foragingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Positive Welfare Indicators and Their Association with Sustainable Management Systems in Poultry

et al. 2023

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Animal welfare is a key and distinct component of sustainable agriculture and food security. People, both as citizens and consumers, have become more concerned about the husbandry of livestock species. Positive welfare goes a step further than the common welfare approach, supporting that a good life for animals is not only the alleviation of negative aspects, but also the promotion of positive affectivities. So, a sustainable management system for any livestock species should promote positive aspects in the lives of animals. Poultry is one of the species whose welfare is most impaired, and numerous concerns are raised by society. For all the above, we reviewed the positive welfare indicators that have been studied in livestock poultry and that can be used to promote positive effects and assess welfare for the most common species, i.e., broilers, laying hens, turkeys, ducks, geese, quails and ostriches. We analyzed the results categorized by species, discussed the connection of the indicators with sustainable management, and made proposals for future studies. Exploration and dustbathing have been extensively studied and seem most promising, especially in broilers and laying hens, followed by nesting and perching, and swimming for waterfowl. Qualitative behavioral assessment (QBA) is already applied in protocols for broilers and laying hens, but the results are not as promising due to the homogeneity of the flock and the difficulty in observations. Play has been studied mostly in broilers but is a behavior difficult to recognize and needs further understanding. The results are limited for all species, except broilers and laying hens.

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Reducing stocking density benefits behaviour of fast- and slower-growing broilers

Cited by 19 publications

References 43 publications

Environmental Complexity and Reduced Stocking Density Promote Positive Behavioral Outcomes in Broiler Chickens

Environmental Complexity and Reduced Stocking Density Promote Positive Behavioral Outcomes in Broiler Chickens

Welfare of broilers on farm

Positive Welfare Indicators and Their Association with Sustainable Management Systems in Poultry

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