Behaviour in one fast-growing and one slower-growing broiler (<i>Gallus gallus domesticus</i>) hybrid fed a high- or low-protein diet during a 10-week rearing period

Wallenbeck, Anna; Wilhelmsson, Sofia; Jönsson, Lennart; Gunnarsson, Stefan; Yngvesson, Jenny

doi:10.1080/09064702.2017.1303081

Cited by 27 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…To get an idea about possible effects of age and time of day on the traits and the need for standardisation this has been analysed whenever the dataset allowed. The effect of age for the traits 'active' and foraging is in agreement with literature, showing that the activity of broiler chickens decreases with increasing age (e.g., fast growing broilers: Shields et al, 2005;Bailie et al, 2013;Bailie et al, 2018b;Baxter et al, 2018; De Jong and Gunnink, 2019); slower growing broilers: Bokkers and Koene, 2003;Wallenbeck et al, 2016). A consistent age effect was not found for comfort behaviour and dustbathing but both behaviours were only seen infrequently.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Possible improvement of measures within the principle ‘appropriate behaviour’ of the Welfare Quality® boiler assessment protocol

Jong

Riel

Hoevenaar

et al. 2019

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The aim of the current study was twofold. First, we tested whether or not a scan sampling technique can be used as a relatively quick, simple scoring of the behaviour in commercial-size broiler chicken flocks, and could thus be included as a measure of appropriate behaviour in the Welfare Quality® broiler assessment protocol. Four existing datasets were analysed, these were collected for different purposes but were based on the same sampling technique, i.e. counting the number of broilers engaged in different behaviours using direct observations, at different time intervals and at different locations in the house. Analysis showed that various factors affected the outcome. Whereas those such as observer, time of the day and location could be taken into account when designing an observation protocol (e.g. by training, by selection of different observation locations and times), it must first be determined how to take into account the effect of subsequent scans, the apparent difference between flocks and genetic strains, and the effects of different behaviours. This is important when e.g. thresholds need to be set or scores reliably assigned regarding the prevalence of birds showing certain behaviours during a farm visit. Second, it was tested whether alternative measures (rather than distance to observer or a novel object) could be used as indicators of fear in broiler chickens. Previous research suggested a possible relationship between walking ability and the number of birds within arm's reach in the touch test, thus implying that the touch test may be confounded by impaired walking ability and might thus be a suboptimal method of assessing fear of humans in broilers. The present study was carried out at an experimental farm and reported in detail in a student thesis. An extended summary is included in this report. The results showed that both distance to observer or novel object and behaviour of the bird (alert body posture, neck posture, body position towards object or observer) seemed to be valid indicators of fear, however, when a relatively short time is available for testing, the birds' behaviour should always be measured as older broilers need more time to move away.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Possible improvement of measures within the principle ‘appropriate behaviour’ of the Welfare Quality® boiler assessment protocol

Jong

Riel

Hoevenaar

et al. 2019

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“…to their high weight and unbalanced bodies, an initial interest in perching followed by a decline as the birds gain weight could be expected (Bokkers & Koene 2003). This was confirmed by results in this study and previous studies investigating perching behaviour in fastgrowing broilers, as perching was found to decrease with increasing age (Bizeray et al, 2002;Bailie & O'Connell, 2015;Wallenbeck et al, 2016). Furthermore, previous studies have found that increasing body weight can inhibit broilers from performing behaviours that are highly motivated, which may lead to frustration in the birds (Bokkers et al, 2007) and thereby reduce their welfare (Jensen & Toates, 1993;Olsson & Keeling, 2000).…”

Section: Daytime Resting Behaviour and Positionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Let me sleep! Welfare of broilers (Gallus gallus domesticus) with disrupted resting behaviour

Yngvesson

Wedin

Gunnarsson

et al. 2017

Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A — Animal Science

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Perching is important for broiler welfare, however, hampered by body weight. In a mixed flock, resting behaviour and location were compared between three broiler hybrids (Rowan Ranger, Hubbard CYJA57 & Ross 308; n = 100/hybrid), differing in growth. Rearing was in a large littered pen (1.84 birds/m 2), with perches. Behaviour and position was observed in focal birds on daytime and as group scans on daytime (days 11, 45, 61 and 80) and night-time (days 63, 70 and 77). Birds were slaughtered at 84 days and accumulated mortality in fast-growing birds was 20% and 2% in slow-growing. Resting frequency did not differ though fast-growing broilers perched less and lower, at night (P < .01) and day (P < .01). On daytime, males disturbed birds resting on the floor more than females did (P < .05). Disrupted rest is a potential welfare issue in broilers, hence perches or other elevated structures would improve welfare.

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“…The high incidences of mortality due to lameness and circulatory problems reported for birds of fast-growing breeds reared in organic production systems with long rearing periods further reduce the net yield (e.g. Wallenbeck et al 2017;Rezaei et al 2017). For pigs, productivity is mostly lower in organic production, with higher intake of feed in organic sows and a lower number or weaned piglets per sow.…”

Section: Livestock Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One example is the use of more suitable breeds that are available internationally today. The use of slower-growing breeds in broiler production could improve animal health and also increase net yield at flock level, due to more appropriate behaviour leading to an increased number of broilers being healthy at slaughter compared with fast-growing breeds (Rezaei et al 2017;Wallenbeck et al 2017).…”

Section: Animal Health and Welfarementioning

confidence: 99%

Risks and opportunities of increasing yields in organic farming. A review

Röös

Mie

Wivstad

et al. 2018

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

182

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Current organic agriculture performs well in several sustainability domains, like animal welfare, farm profitability and low pesticide use, but yields are commonly lower than in conventional farming. There is now a revitalized interest in increasing yields in organic agriculture to provide more organic food for a growing, more affluent population and reduce negative impacts per unit produced. However, past yield increases have been accompanied by several negative side-effects. Here, we review risks and opportunities related to a broad range of sustainability domains associated with increasing yields in organic agriculture in the Northern European context. We identify increased N input, weed, disease and pest control, improved livestock feeding, breeding for higher yields and reduced losses as the main measures for yield increases. We review the implications of their implementation for biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, nutrient losses, soil fertility, animal health and welfare, human nutrition and health and farm profitability. Our findings from this first-of-its-kind integrated analysis reveal which strategies for increasing yields are unlikely to produce negative side-effects and therefore should be a high priority, and which strategies need to be implemented with great attention to trade-offs. For example, increased N inputs in cropping carry many risks and few opportunities, whereas there are many risk-free opportunities for improved pest control through the management of ecosystem services. For most yield increasing strategies, both risks and opportunities arise, and the actual effect depends on management including active mitigation of side-effects. Our review shows that, to be a driving force for increased food system sustainability, organic agriculture may need to reconsider certain fundamental principles. Novel plant nutrient sources, including increased nutrient recycling in society, and in some cases mineral nitrogen fertilisers from renewable sources, and truly alternative animal production systems may need to be developed and accepted.

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Behaviour in one fast-growing and one slower-growing broiler (Gallus gallus domesticus) hybrid fed a high- or low-protein diet during a 10-week rearing period

Cited by 27 publications

References 30 publications

Possible improvement of measures within the principle ‘appropriate behaviour’ of the Welfare Quality® boiler assessment protocol

Possible improvement of measures within the principle ‘appropriate behaviour’ of the Welfare Quality® boiler assessment protocol

Let me sleep! Welfare of broilers (Gallus gallus domesticus) with disrupted resting behaviour

Risks and opportunities of increasing yields in organic farming. A review

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