Evaluation of platform enrichments in a commercial broiler house

López, Rocío Gloria Fernández; Weimer, Shawna L.; Balderama, E.S.; Tarrant, Katy

doi:10.1016/j.japr.2022.100294

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 18 publications

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“…The chickens will either climb on them or hide under them (Figure 3). There are many different designs of elevated platforms and ramps [36][37][38]. The author has observed broilers hopping up and riding small suspended scales (Figure 4).…”

Section: Enrichment For Broiler Chickensmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Practical Approach to Providing Environmental Enrichment to Pigs and Broiler Chickens Housed in Intensive Systems

Grandin

2023

Animals

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In Europe, regulations contain guidance to maintain high standards of animal welfare. In many parts of the world, large buyers for supermarkets or restaurants are the main enforcers of basic animal welfare standards. They can have considerable influence on improving standards on large commercial farms. Research clearly shows that straw is one of the most effective environmental enrichment for pigs. On some large farms, there are concerns that straw will either clog waste management systems or bring in disease. This paper contains a review of both scientific research and practical experience with enrichment devices that are easy to implement. Pigs prefer enrichment objects that they can chew up and deform. Broiler chickens prefer to climb up on objects, hide under them or peck them. It is always essential to uphold basic welfare standards such as animal cleanliness and low levels of lameness (difficulty walking). It is also important to reduce lesions, and maintain body conditions of breeding animals. An environment enrichment device is never a substitute for poorly managed facilities. It should enhance animal welfare on well-managed farms.

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Section: Enrichment For Broiler Chickensmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Practical Approach to Providing Environmental Enrichment to Pigs and Broiler Chickens Housed in Intensive Systems

Grandin

2023

Animals

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Field report: Methods for assessing laser environmental enrichment application in commercial broilers

Meyer,

Johnson,

Leyk

et al. 2024

Journal of Applied Poultry Research

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Environmental complexity impacts anxiety in broiler chickens depending on genetic strain and body weight

Ulans,

Brooks,

Jacobs

2024

Sci Rep

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The objective was to assess the impact of environmental complexity on affective state (anxiety) in fast- and slow-growing broilers (Gallus gallus domesticus) as they gain weight. Six hundred fast-growing broilers (Ross 708; “fast-growers”) and 600 slow-growing broilers (Hubbard Redbro Mini; “slow-growers”) were raised in 24 pens with simple (standard; SE) or complex (permanent and temporary enrichments; CE) environments. Six birds/pen underwent the attention bias test on day 23 (fast-growers only), 28–29, 35–36, 42–43, and 56–57 (slow-growers only), with individuals only tested once (n = 576). Proportion of birds feeding, time spent vigilant and latencies to eat and step were recorded. Greater vigilance and longer latencies indicate more anxiety. Slow-growers fed more (p = 0.001), were less vigilant (p = 0.003), and stepped sooner than fast-growers (p = 0.007). For both strains, likelihood of feeding was unrelated to weight in SE, but decreased with increasing weight in CE (p = 0.048). Birds in CE stepped sooner than birds in SE (p = 0.030). Vigilance increased with body weight (p = 0.024). These results indicate that affective state (anxiety) can change as birds gain weight, depending on environmental complexity and genetic strain. Overall, slow-growers showed reduced anxiety compared to fast-growers, across housing treatments or weights.

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Evaluation of platform enrichments in a commercial broiler house

Cited by 4 publications

References 18 publications

A Practical Approach to Providing Environmental Enrichment to Pigs and Broiler Chickens Housed in Intensive Systems

A Practical Approach to Providing Environmental Enrichment to Pigs and Broiler Chickens Housed in Intensive Systems

Field report: Methods for assessing laser environmental enrichment application in commercial broilers

Environmental complexity impacts anxiety in broiler chickens depending on genetic strain and body weight

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