Footpad dermatitis, hock burns and condemnation rates at slaughterhouse as on-farm welfare indicators

Abstract

Background: Data collected during meat inspection in slaughterhouses are important for monitoring and surveillance of the welfare and health of broilers.The objective of this study was to assess the health and welfare of 70 commercial broilers flocks in three different slaughterhouses based on: emaciation, dirty feathers (DF), footpad dermatitis (FPD), hock burn (HB), breast burn (BB), breast blister, breast ulcer, scratches, ascites, septicemia/abnormal color, cellulitis, extensive traumatisms, dead on arrival (DoA) and condemnation rate. A 3-point scale (0, 1 or 2) was used to classify DF, FPD and HB measures; a 2-point scale (present or absent) was used to classify BB, breast blisters, breast ulcer and scratches measures and the causes of total condemnation (ascites, septicemia/abnormal color, cellulitis, extensive traumatisms and DoA) were registered and presented in percentages. Eleven pavilions that obtained the worst results for these indicators were audited. Results: Two flocks presented condemnations rates higher than 4% and 11 flocks presented DoA rates higher than 0.5%. Twenty-one flocks achieved the warning (grade 1) for FPD and 14 the alarm for FPD (grade 2). Extensive trauma was observed in 0.01% of the slaughtered animals and none flock reached the threshold of 2%. Breast blister, breast ulcer and scratches lesions were not observed in the studied flocks. The associations obtained for FPD2, HB2 and BB1, as well as for emaciation, HB0 and BB0 indicate simultaneous occurrences. FPD, HB, DoA and condemnation rates were the main indicators in the detection of farms with poor welfare conditions. Conclusions: FPD, HB, DoA and condemnation rates should be systematically included in welfare monitoring of broilers. Audits on farms suggested that improvements in environmental and strutural conditions such as house temperature, insulation, ventilation, light program, air quality and reduce stocking densities are key factors to improve animal welfare on farms.