Scientific report updating the EFSA opinions on the welfare of broilers and broiler breeders

Abstract

The EFSA AHAW panel is requested to develop several scientific opinions concerning animal based measures to assess the welfare of livestock animals. The main objective of this report is to review the broiler welfare literature to identify gaps and potential areas to strengthen and update three SCAHAW and EFSA opinions: i) The welfare of chickens kept for meat production (broilers) (SCAHAW, 2000), ii) Influence of genetic parameters on the welfare and resistance to stress of commercial broilers (EFSA, 2010), iii) Welfare aspects of the management and housing of the grand-parent and parent stocks raised and kept for breeding purposes (EFSA, 2010). The literature review was done by a group of authors and reviewers, under the supervision of an editorial team. A large number of new scientific references are quoted. Regarding the first and oldest opinion, this review presents 47 amended and new conclusions. In addition, it suggests twelve new recommendations and proposes a list of hazards. Especially the paragraphs on behavioural restriction, light, stocking density and environmental enrichment are updated with new information from a large number of new scientific references. Regarding the second opinion, nine new conclusions are proposed. Recommendations of the previous EFSA report are further supported by new information, and one new recommendation is a suggestion to further study the role of incubation conditions on welfare issues such as gait abnormalities, thermal discomfort and ascites. A limited number of new hazards are proposed. Regarding the third opinion, four new conclusions are proposed. Recommendations of the previous EFSA report are also in this case further supported by new information. One new recommendation is a suggestion to further study the impact of management on forced mating behaviour. A couple of new hazards are proposed.

Risicobeoordeling waterverstrekking aan vleeskuikens en vleeskuikenouderdieren

“…respiratoire aandoeningen en contact dermatitis) (o.a., De Jong et al, 2012;Vanderhasselt, 2013), daarnaast bevordert droog en rul strooisel natuurlijk gedrag, zoals scharrelen en stofbaden (Shields et al, 2004). Daarbij is er altijd sprake van een balans tussen het kunnen opnemen van voldoende water voor optimale groei van de vleeskuikens en het voorkomen van de negatieve effecten van nat strooisel.…”

“…Er is een relatie gevonden tussen dehydratie en kreupelheid bij vleeskuikens (Butterworth et al, 2002 (Sanotra et al, 2002). De Jong, et al, 2012;Houldcroft et al, 2008;Vanderhasselt, 2013). Het feit dat langdurige waterbeperking meestal niet wordt toegepast bij vleeskuikens is mogelijk de reden dat de hoeveelheid wetenschappelijke publicaties met betrekking tot het effect van waterbeperking bij vleeskuikens zeer beperkt is.…”

Technology and Poultry Welfare

“…Movement sensors have been used to study different aspects of movement in broilers and in laying hens. Piezoelectric crystal sensors were used to determine locomotion deficiencies, one of the major indicators of broiler welfare [51], by examining the peak vertical force on both feet during walking sequences [52]. With this equipment, the authors were able to detect an asymmetry of the peak force in each foot that led to uneven walking in male broilers, which is a first approach towards real time broiler gait assessment.…”

Vocalisation sound pattern identification in young broiler chickens

“…Progress has been made in the last 10 years to develop indices and potential on-farm measures of animal welfare, for example, the AWIN (2015) and Welfare Quality (2009) protocols. It is apparent that no one single measure sufices animal health and welfare and is currently common to use a number of different indicators of health, welfare and animal experience to provide a 'holistic' assessment of animal welfafe (de Jong et al, 2012). Assessment of animal behaviours may be one of the measures used in these multi aspect assessments of welfare.…”