Effect of cage density on the performance of 25- to 84-week-old laying hens

Abstract

Three experiments were carrie out to evaluate the influence of cage density on the performance of 25-to 84-week-old laying hens. Forty hundred Lohmann-LSL layers were distributed in cages (100x40x 45x50cm) according to a completely randomized experimental design with split plot in time.Three treatments (10, 12, or 14 hens per cage, corresponding, to 450, 375, and 321cm 2 /bird, respectively), with 15 assessment periods (four weeks each), and eight replicates per treatment were applied. Considering that layer`s production cycle is affected by age, three experimental trials (25 to 44; 45 to 64 and 65 to 84 weeks of age) were carried out, and the data collected in each trial was individually analyzed. Increasing cage density significantly reduced feed intake in all phases studied. Increasing birds/cm 2 significantly decreased feed intake and improved feed conversion at all stages of study, and egg production was only affected in 45-week-old birds. The number of birds per cage should be reduced as birds age in order not to affect their performance. Birds with more cage space in the presented higher feed intake; however, this did not result in higher egg production or lower mortality. These results suggest that up to 45 weeks of age, 375 cm 2 per layer results in the best performance, and from then on, 450 cm 2 per bird is required to maintain egg production and to reduce hen mortality.

The importance of nutrition in alleviating high stocking density stress in poultry - A Review

“…The United Egg Producers (UEP, 2008) on the other hand, suggested the optimum stocking density for white and brown strains as 432 and 555 cm 2 /hen, respectively. Other studies noted that the optimum stocking density for laying hens is 375 cm 2 /hen until 45 weeks of age and 450 cm 2 /hen after 45 weeks of age (Rios et al, 2009), 733 cm 2 /hen (Benyi et al, 2006) or 7-9 hens/m 2 (Zimmerman et al, 2006) in semi-arid regions, and 1,000-2,000 cm 2 /hen (Saki et al, 2012) or 5 hens/m 2 (Kang et al, 2016) depending on the financial condition of the enterprise. EU 2007/43/EC stated that the stocking density for broilers should be 33 kg/m 2 , which could be 39 kg/m 2 under more proper housing conditions, and 42 kg/m 2 if herd management and viability can be guaranteed (European Union, 2007).…”

Comportamento de poedeiras criadas a diferentes densidades e tamanhos de grupo em ambiente enriquecido

“…A criação em gaiolas levantou polêmicas acerca do bem-estar animal, em razão do reduzido espaço oferecido aos animais e da ausência de enriquecimento ambiental, que limitariam o repertório de atividades consideradas importantes para as aves. Além disso, algumas práticas, como a elevada densidade de criação e a debicagem, ainda são rotineiramente questionadas (Alves et al, 2007;Rios et al, 2009). A União Europeia, mercado potencial para a avicultura de postura brasileira, exige desde janeiro de 2012 (Directive 99/74/CE du Conseil du 19-07-99 concernant les volailles de l'espèce Gallus gallus élevées pour la ponte, 1999) que as aves sejam criadas com um mínimo de 550 cm² de área por indivíduo , para gaiolas convencionais, e de 750 cm 2 , para gaiolas enriquecidas.…”

Beak trimming and stocking densities for laying and performance traits and behavioral patterns in Japanese quails

“…High densities might be practiced with some precautions because decreasing feeder, drinker and movement areas decrease feed intake and feed conversion index (Janczak & Riber, 2015;Cardoso et al, 2017), but in addition, muscle and skeletal development can be negatively affected, as well as osteoporosis incidence and higher mortality might occur (Rios et al, 2009). On this respect, El-Tarabany (2015) recommend that during lying phase, quails should be housed in cages with an area up to 107.64 cm 2 /bird to achieve optimal performance.…”