Evaluating two systems of poultry production: conventional and free-range

Abstract

The improvement in production technology was the major factor that lead Brazil to become the third largest poultry producer. The improvement was world´s based on the careful control of several aspects, including which nutrition and management (environment, health and rearing systems). Nowadays, the search for good welfare conditions is a global tendency in animal production. Concomitantly, an extensive production system of free-range broilers has been increasing in Brazil. This study evaluated in situ production indexes of two different commercial broiler productions, an intensive and conventional (farm A) and a semi-extensive free-range production (farm B), in order to assess the relationship between productivity and management. It was observed that the physical environment in farm A presented higher temperatures and relative humidity. Based on the results, the production index was better in farm A than in farm B. It was not clear that the production index was related to inadequate welfare of broilers under the conventional rearing system

Litter materials and the incidence of carcass lesions in broilers chickens

“…New litter The material used as litters should protect birds from the impact and the friction on the poultry house floor, and this is particularly important when footpad lesions are considered, as their incidence is closely related to the quality and quantity of litter material. The reduction in litter particle size results in lower moisture content, higher density and lower height during the grow out period, minimizing the incidence of tibial diseases (Lima & Nääs, 2005) and lesions in the tarsal-metatarsal joint, footpads and breast (Oliveira et al, 2004). This consequently reduces condemnations of these parts in the processing plant, and therefore, economic losses.…”

Growth, slaughter and gastrointestinal tract traits of three turkey genotypes under barn and free-range housing systems

“…On the other hand, the increase in use of free-range housing systems is correlated with more infections, losses through predation, local overuse and possibly over-fertilization of pasture (Zeltner and Hirt, 2003). However, bird density in conventional poultry, including turkey housing systems directly affects bird welfare as well as productive indexes (Lima and Naas, 2005;Sarica et al, 2007).…”

Free Range Poultry Husbandry and Physiochemical Quality of Meat: A Review

“…Similar results were obtained while evaluating effect of temperature on husbandry system, Ross 308 birds showed 4.2% mortality in free-range birds and not a single case in indoor husbandry, likewise other studies showed mortality of 15% in free range and of 4% in indoor rearing 37,38 . Opposite results were found with 5.3% mortality in indoor and 1.3% mortality in free-range birds by Lima and Naas 25 . Still, all these outcomes show the importance and contribution of farm maintenance to the safety and mortality of chicken.…”

“…Similar results were found in a study as evaluating the impact of husbandry system on Redbro and Arbor Acres strains, which showed that indoor-raised and freerange broilers results in body weights of 1.82 kg and 1.67 kg respectively 4 . Considerable differences in the feed proportion ratio (2.98 vs. 1.97) between hybrids in outdoor and indoor facilities were found by 25 . While, huge differences were seen in day by day picks up (25 g/dvs.56 g/d) and in the time needed to achieve slaughter weight (80 vs 45 days).…”