Animal-based welfare indicators of 4 slow-growing broiler genotypes for the approval in an animal welfare label program

Abstract

For broiler genotypes to be merchandized under the animal welfare label of the German Animal Welfare Federation, several animal-based welfare indicators with upper limits are listed in a criteria catalog. We compared the prevalence of animal-based welfare indicators in 4 slow-growing broiler genotypes [ Ranger Classic ( RC ), Ranger Gold ( RG ), Rowan Ranger ( RoR ), and Rambler Ranger ( RaR )] in terms of potential approval of these genotypes for a German animal welfare label program. Chicks were housed in 16 floor pens, of which 8 had access to a winter garden. With 4 replications of each genotype, animal-based welfare indicators were assessed in 160 broilers (10 broilers per pen) on fattening days ( FD ) 36 and 44. The body weight of the 4 broiler genotypes differed on both examination days in decreasing order for RC, RG, RoR, and RaR ( P < 0.001). The walking ability was within the scope of the animal welfare label in all genotypes; it was better in genotypes with a lower mean body weight and correlated positively with the body weight in RG, RoR, RaR, and in the pooled data of the 4 genotypes. Hock burns were only observed at a low severity score, with male broilers being affected more often than female broilers. A positive correlation of the development of hock burn with the weight of the broilers was observed on FD 44 when data of all genotypes were pooled. The footpads of all examined broilers were without lesions at both examinations. Skin scratches were observed in all genotypes at both examinations, and RC broilers differed on FD 36 from the other 3 genotypes by showing a higher prevalence of more severe scratches. Broilers of pens with access to a winter garden were affected by skin scratches more often than broilers without. With the exception of weight gain in 2 genotypes, the investigated indicators showed that all genotypes met the requirements of the animal welfare label.

Bird Health, Housing and Management Routines on Swedish Organic Broiler Chicken Farms

“…The plumage in approximately half of all chickens in the present study was considered slightly or moderately dirty, whereas in the other half it was without remarks. In previous studies on slower-growing hybrids, none of them performed under commercial rearing conditions however, and only one on birds with free-range access [15], the proportions of birds with clean plumage reported have been lower [15,43] as well as higher [42]. No birds were assessed as very dirty in the present study, in accordance with the aforementioned studies [42,43].…”

“…Mild signs of HB were observed in 13% of all chickens, whereas the remaining animals assessed had no signs of HB. Similar results were found in earlier studies on slower-growing hybrids, however these were reared under experimental conditions with [15,42] or without [43,44] winter-garden or outdoor access. The absence of moderate and severe HB lesions is in contrast to some earlier findings [42,43], but in agreement with others [44].…”

“…Numerous studies show significantly lower (better) GSs in slower-growing chickens compared with fast-growing [44,54,[56][57][58]. In previous studies of slower-growing chickens reared under commercial organic [58] or research conditions without outdoor access [42][43][44], no or only a few individuals with the highest (worst) GS were observed. Similarly, in the present study no birds with severe walking impairments were observed.…”

Physical quality characteristics of breast and leg meat of slow- and fast-growing broilers raised in different housing systems

“…Most authors reported a lower final body weight, poorer feed conversion efficiency, and better meat quality in freerange housing systems compared to conventional rearing (Bogosavljevic-Boslovic et al, 2012). Slow-growing genotypes are becoming popular in free-range production and organic chicken meat production due to some welfare problems of fast-growing broilers in conventional production (Hartcher and Lum, 2019;Louton, 2019).…”

Differences in Tibia Shape in Organically Reared Chicken Lines Measured by Means of Geometric Morphometrics

“…The growth rate classification of the different lines was provided by the breeding companies. As for Aviagen strains, a previous study confirmed RC as fast-growing, RG as medium-growing, and RR as slow-growing [ 21 ]. For Hubbard lines, no comparative studies were available, but the breeder company ranking was applied as well (i.e., CY and M medium/fast growing and C slow growing).…”