Effects of environmental complexity on fearfulness and learning ability in fast growing broiler chickens

Tahamtani, Fernanda M.; Pedersen, Ida J.; Toinon, Claire; Riber, Anja B.

doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2018.04.005

Cited by 40 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…This study, therefore, sets out to address this limitation by exploring the financial implications of eight types of environmental enrichment ( Table 1). The data used in this analysis was derived from a larger study reported in several earlier studies [12][13][14][15]. These previously published studies investigated the effect of the same eight types of environmental enrichment on a range of health and welfare measures, fearfulness, learning ability and activity levels.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Productivity and Financial Impacts of Eight Types of Environmental Enrichment for Broiler Chickens

Jones

Tahamtani

Pedersen

et al. 2020

Animals

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Reduced mobility in broilers can contribute to leg health problems. Environmental enrichment has been suggested as one approach to combat this through stimulating increased physical activity. Past studies have tested the effect of environmental enrichments on bird behaviour, health and welfare, but few have estimated their financial impacts. This study tested the impact of eight types of environmental enrichment on enterprise net margin, accounting for direct intervention costs plus indirect effects via changes to bird mortality, weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and foot pad dermatitis. The trial used 58 pens each containing approximately 500 broilers (Ross 308) at a stocking density of 40 kg/m2. The environmental enrichments were: roughage, vertical panels, straw bales, elevated platforms (5 and 30 cm), increased distances between feed and water (7 and 3.5 m) and stocking density reduced to 34 kg/m2, plus a control group. Mortality was recorded daily and feed intake and weight weekly. Footpad dermatitis was assessed on day 35. Only one intervention improved financial performance (3.5 m between feed and water) above the control, suggesting that most environmental enrichment would have a negative financial impact due to the additional intervention costs, unless consumers were willing to pay a price premium.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Productivity and Financial Impacts of Eight Types of Environmental Enrichment for Broiler Chickens

Jones

Tahamtani

Pedersen

et al. 2020

Animals

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“…Nevertheless, this aspect has not been investigated in the present report, but it merits further research in both fast and slow-growing broilers. In fast-growing broilers, a few studies have reported positive effects of platforms on decreasing fearfulness and improving welfare Tahamtani, et al, 2018). Moreover, as already reported for fast-growers, platforms do not seem to affect growth in the slow-growing broilers.…”

Section: Summing Up On Point-source Enrichmentsmentioning

confidence: 67%

“…Adapted from Riber and collaborators (Riber, et al, 2018). Information written in bold correspond to literature published in or after the year 2017, which were added to the original The conference article of Pedersen and collaborators (Pedersen, et al, 2017) was removed from the table of Riber and collaborators and replaced by the peer-reviewed article of Tahamtani and collaborators (Tahamtani, et al, 2018), which contains similar information that was already partly published in Pedersen et al (2017).…”

Section: Tablementioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the particular case of platforms, recent studies have indicated that they may reduce fearfulness and thereby improve welfare of fast-growing broiler chickens Tahamtani, et al, 2018). So far, the of platforms effect on fearfulness has not been tested in slow-growing breeds, but it is an important aspect for these breeds due to their higher activity level than fast growing breeds (Bokkers and Koene, 2003;Rothschild, et al, 2019) as compared to fast-growing breeds.…”

Section: Environmental Enrichmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Literature update on effective environmental enrichment and light provision in broiler chickens

Silva

Jong

2019

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The results of a literature study to the effect of different types of environmental enrichment and light conditions on broiler chickens welfare are described, in order to attempt to provide an environment to slow-growing broiler chickens that better meets their behavioural requirements. With respect to environmental enrichment, a review paper has been used as a starting point and more recent information has been collected and summarised. With respect to lighting, in consultation with stakeholders we chose to limit the literature study to a few potential interesting areas of research (e.g. natural light provision and its variation across the broiler house). There are several research questions in relation to enrichment provision, e.g., optimal perch design, multiple use of enrichments and the actual number of enrichments that should be provided. Currently, little is known about the need for light in slow-growing broiler chickens and how this interacts with the environmental enrichment offered. Future research priorities include the optimization of methods of natural light provision (which is often applied in higher welfare indoor systems with slow-growing breeds), testing effects of ultraviolet wavelengths on chicken behaviour, and light colour preferences in slow-growing breeds.

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“…Several studies showed that many of the broiler's natural behaviors like pecking, scratching, and dust bathing are exhibited in contact to bedding material ( Shields et al., 2005 , Villagrá et al., 2014 , Baxter et al., 2018 ). In addition, it was reported that an enrichment of the housing environment through elevated surfaces, ramps, and other structural elements increases the complexity of the housing system and thus animal welfare ( Ventura et al., 2012 , Bergmann et al., 2017 , Tahamtani et al., 2018 , Tahamtani et al., 2019 , Bach et al., 2019 , De Jong and Gunnink, 2019 ). For example, Baxter et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of a partially perforated flooring system on animal-based welfare indicators in broiler housing

et al. 2020

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Alternative flooring designs in broiler housing have been the subject of intensive research. Research comparing different floor types with a focus on animal-based welfare indicators might be of special interest to meet the animal's needs. This case–control study investigated the effect of a partially perforated vs. a littered flooring system on health- and behavior-based welfare indicators of fast-growing Ross 308 broilers. Furthermore, production performance was assessed. The experimental barn was partially (50%) equipped with a perforated floor directly underneath the feeders and water lines accessible by perforated ramps. Conventional wood shavings were used in the control barn, as usual in practice. There were 4 fattening periods (repetitions) of 31 to 32 D performed with 500 animals per barn (final density of 39 kg m −2 ). Beside the flooring system, management conditions were identical. Health- and behavior-based welfare indicators were assessed weekly. Production performance indicators were measured continuously during animal control. During the avoidance distance test, animals were less fearful on day 21 ( P = 0.010) and tended to be less fearful on day 28 ( P = 0.083) in the barn with the partially perforated flooring system compared to the littered control barn. More animals around the novel object were also assessed in the barn with the partially perforated flooring system during the novel object test on day 1 ( P < 0.001) and a tendency was found on day 28 ( P = 0.064). Results showed that the partially perforated flooring system had a positive influence on foot pad dermatitis from day 14 (all P ≤ 0.007) and hock burn on day 28 ( P < 0.001). With regard to the production performance, animals showed no differences in final body weight for both floor types. In this study, the partially perforated flooring system had a positive effect on animal health and behavior as indicated by welfare indicators without a reduction in production performance.

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Effects of environmental complexity on fearfulness and learning ability in fast growing broiler chickens

Cited by 40 publications

References 34 publications

The Productivity and Financial Impacts of Eight Types of Environmental Enrichment for Broiler Chickens

The Productivity and Financial Impacts of Eight Types of Environmental Enrichment for Broiler Chickens

Literature update on effective environmental enrichment and light provision in broiler chickens

Effects of a partially perforated flooring system on animal-based welfare indicators in broiler housing

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