Correlations among behavior, performance and environment in broiler breeders using multivariate analysis

Abstract

Animal welfare issues have received much attention not only to supply farmed animal requirements, but also to ethical and cultural public concerns. Daily collected information, as well as the systematic follow-up of production stages, produces important statistical data for production assessment and control, as well as for improvement possibilities. In this scenario, this research study analyzed behavioral, production, and environmental data using Main Component Multivariable Analysis, which correlated observed behaviors, recorded using video cameras and electronic identification, with performance parameters of female broiler breeders. The aim was to start building a system to support decision-making in broiler breeder housing, based on bird behavioral parameters. Birds were housed in an environmental chamber, with three pens with different controlled environments. Bird sensitivity to environmental conditions were indicated by their behaviors, stressing the importance of behavioral observations for modern poultry management. A strong association between performance parameters and the behavior "at the nest", suggesting that this behavior may be used to predict productivity. The behaviors of "ruffling feathers", "opening wings", "preening", and "at the drinker" were negatively correlated with environmental temperature, suggesting that the increase of in the frequency of these behaviors indicate improvement of thermal welfare

Presence of roosters in an alternative egg production system aiming at animal welfare

“…This may explain the fact that this behavior was more frequent at the hottest times of the day, between 13.00 and 17.00 h, whereas at 9:00 h, its frequency was lower than 3.0%. Pereira et al (2007) reported that the frequency of dust bathing is positively correlated with temperature. According to the European Commission (2000), this is considered important for birds because it helps maintain plumage in good condition.…”

Comportamento de frangos de corte criados em condições de estresse térmico alimentados com dietas contendo diferentes níveis de selênio

“…Após os dez primeiros dias de idade das aves, os ventiladores foram acionados, nos períodos mais quentes do dia, com a finalidade de diminuir o estresse calórico. A construção do etograma que é o inventário dos padrões de comportamento observados nos animais (Tabela 3) foi adaptada, segundo metodologia descrita por Salgado et al (2007), Bizeray et al (2002, Estevez et al (2003). As observações comportamentais foram realizadas visualmente por pessoas que passaram por treinamentos prévios nos boxes e com as aves identificadas, equipadas com pranchetas e lápis, sendo uma pessoa para acompanhar três boxes.…”

Performance of Laying Hens and Economic Viability of Different Climatization Systems

“…A moderate thermal environment was reported throughout the poultry house with tunnel-like ventilation and pad cooling. These factors contributed towards an increase in production, improvement in egg quality and decrease in laying hens mortality rates, as envisaged by assay by Faria et al (2001), Barbosa Filho et al (2006, Pereira et al (2007) and Trindade et al (2007). High performance of the poultry house with tunnel-like ventilation system (negative pressure) has also been registered by Abreu and Abreu (2011) in so far as the poultry house was totally sealed and adequately climatized.…”