Floor versus cage rearing: effects on production, egg quality and physical condition of laying hens housed in furnished cages

Roll, Victor Fernando Büttow; Briz, Ricardo Cepero; Levrino, Gustavo Adolfo María

doi:10.1590/s0103-84782009000500034

Cited by 15 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Furthermore, while no statistical testing could be performed, there was a numerical difference in the average weight of eggs between the treatments for ages 28, 41 and 73 weeks, with aviary reared birds laying lighter eggs than cage reared birds. As already mentioned, there are previous reports that cage reared hens produce heavier eggs [7] and floor reared hens produce a higher frequency of dirty and cracked eggs [8]. Taken together these results suggest that environmental conditions influence sexual maturation, rate of lay, and egg size.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

“…Feather pecking, the non-aggressive pulling of feathers of other individuals, is influenced by early rearing [4], [5] and, if developed, increases mortality and the feed conversion ratio [6]. Studies report that hens reared in cages produced heavier eggs compared to aviary hens [7] and floor rearing yields dirty and cracked eggs more frequently than cage rearing [8]. However, hens reared in enriched environments had better performance against Eimeria and infectious Bronchitis [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Does Rearing Laying Hens in Aviaries Adversely Affect Long-Term Welfare following Transfer to Furnished Cages?

Tahamtani¹,

Hansen

Orritt

et al. 2014

PLoS ONE

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This study tests the hypothesis that hens that are reared in aviaries but produce in furnished cages experience poorer welfare in production than hens reared in caged systems. This hypothesis is based on the suggestion that the spatial restriction associated with the transfer from aviaries to cages results in frustration or stress for the aviary reared birds. To assess the difference in welfare between aviary and cage reared hens in production, non-beak trimmed white leghorn birds from both rearing backgrounds were filmed at a commercial farm that used furnished cage housing. The videos were taken at 19 and 21 weeks of age, following the birds' transition to the production environment at 16 weeks. Videos were analysed in terms of the performance of aversion-related behaviour in undisturbed birds, comfort behaviour in undisturbed birds, and alert behaviour directed to a novel object in the home cage. A decrease in the performance of the former behaviour and increase in the performance of the latter two behaviours indicates improved welfare. The results showed that aviary reared birds performed more alert behaviour near to the object than did cage reared birds at 19 but not at 21 weeks of age (P = 0.03). Blood glucose concentrations did not differ between the treatments (P>0.10). There was a significant difference in mortality between treatments (P = 0.000), with more death in aviary reared birds (5.52%) compared to cage birds (2.48%). The higher mortality of aviary-reared birds indicates a negative effect of aviary rearing on bird welfare, whereas the higher duration of alert behavior suggests a positive effect of aviary rearing.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does Rearing Laying Hens in Aviaries Adversely Affect Long-Term Welfare following Transfer to Furnished Cages?

Tahamtani¹,

Hansen

Orritt

et al. 2014

PLoS ONE

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“…The plumage condition was poorer at 60 but not at 75 weeks in the floor-reared birds. A similar study of cage- or floor-reared birds housed during the production period in furnished cages found floor-reared birds to have a poorer plumage at the end of lay (Roll et al., 2009 ).…”

Section: Rearing Conditions Affecting the Welfare Of Laying Hensmentioning

confidence: 97%

Review of rearing-related factors affecting the welfare of laying hens

2015

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Laying hens may face a number of welfare problems including: acute and chronic pain caused by beak trimming; exaggerated fearfulness that may cause stress and suffocation; difficulties in locating resources, resulting potentially in emaciation and dehydration; frustration and boredom, caused by an environment that is barren; feather pecking; cannibalism; foot lesions; and bone fractures. In Europe, a greater proportion of laying hens are housed in non-cage systems compared to the rest of the world. The extent of the different welfare problems may therefore vary between countries as the type of housing system influences the risk of suffering. More generally, many of these welfare problems are influenced by the rearing environment of the pullets. This article therefore focuses on welfare problems in laying hens that can be traced back to rearing. Factors that have been studied in relation to their effects on bird welfare include beak trimming, housing type, furnishing, enrichment, feeding, stocking density, flock size, sound and light levels, concentration of gasses, age at transfer from rearing to production facilities, similarity between rearing and production facilities, competence of staff, and interactions between bird strain and environment. The present review aims to summarize rearing-related risk factors of poor welfare in adult laying hens housed according to European Union legislation. It aims to identify gaps in current knowledge, and suggests strategies for improving bird welfare by improving rearing conditions. Two main conclusions of this work are that attempts should be made to use appropriate genetic material and that beak trimming should be limited where possible. In addition to this, the rearing system should provide constant access to appropriate substrates, perches, and mashed feed, and should be as similar as possible to the housing system used for the adult birds. Finally, young birds (pullets) should be moved to the production facilities before 16 weeks of age. The measures outlined in this review may be useful for improving the welfare of pullets and adult laying hens.

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“…thickness and Haugh unit value (Akyurek & Okur, 2009;Roll et al, 2009), reflecting the overall quality of the eggshell. Apparently, the same effect does not occur with quail breeders.…”

Section: Influence Of European Quail Breeders Age On Egg Quality Incmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of european quail breeders age on egg quality, incubation, fertility and progeny performance

Santos

Murakami

Oliveira

et al. 2015

Rev. Bras. Cienc. Avic.

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The influence of age (85, 140, and 270 days) of European quails breeders on the egg quality and hatching, fertility and progeny performance was evaluated. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 3x3 factorial arrangement (females' age x males' age), with ten replicates and six birds per experimental unit (four females and two males). Egg production and quality were determined during 3 periods of 14 days and incubation parameters were evaluated in eggs obtained in five consecutive days. The live performance of the progenies was analyzed until 35 days. There was no effect of male age or any interaction between the age of males and females for the evaluated variable. The female's age influenced egg production, egg weight and chick weight, with better results obtained for 140-d-old breeders. The age of females reduced the hatchability, increased the late mortality in incubated eggs, and had no effect on fertility, total embryo mortality or eggshell structure, when analyzed by electron microscopy. The number of sperm trapped in the outer perivitelline layer (sptz/mm²) was determined in 10 fertile eggs per experimental unit. Young females fertilized by young males (80 days) had reduced sptz/mm². Progeny live performance was not affected by breeder's age. Breeders with 270 days retain fertility; however, their egg production, weight and hatchability of fertilized eggs is reduced. In conclusion, European quail breeders with 140 days of age have better egg quality, hatching and breeding results.

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Floor versus cage rearing: effects on production, egg quality and physical condition of laying hens housed in furnished cages

Abstract: Cria em piso versus cria em bateria: efeitos na produção, qualidade de ovos e condição física de poedeiras alojadas em gaiolas enriquecidas ABSTRACT

Cited by 15 publications

References 17 publications

Does Rearing Laying Hens in Aviaries Adversely Affect Long-Term Welfare following Transfer to Furnished Cages?

Does Rearing Laying Hens in Aviaries Adversely Affect Long-Term Welfare following Transfer to Furnished Cages?

Review of rearing-related factors affecting the welfare of laying hens

Influence of european quail breeders age on egg quality, incubation, fertility and progeny performance

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