Implications for Welfare, Productivity and Sustainability of the Variation in Reported Levels of Mortality for Laying Hen Flocks Kept in Different Housing Systems: A Meta-Analysis of Ten Studies

Weeks, Claire A; Lambton, Sarah L; Williams, A.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0146394

Cited by 71 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Access to an outdoor range reduces the risk of feather pecking behaviour (Green et al 2000;Lambton et al 2010) and may provide further opportunity to fulfil behavioural needs such as foraging and dustbathing (Weeks and Nicol 2006). However, range use is often low (Pettersson et al 2016b) and mortality and injurious pecking behaviour are generally at higher levels than recorded in cage systems (Sherwin et al 2010;Weeks et al 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Provision of a resource package reduces feather pecking and improves ranging distribution on free-range layer farms

Pettersson

Weeks

Nicol

2017

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

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The effect of a resource package designed to reduce inter-bird pecking and increase range use was tested on fourteen free-range farms in the UK. The package comprised two types of objects intended to attract pecking behaviour: 'pecking pans' containing a particulate pecking block, and wind chimes; plus long, narrow shelters placed just outside the popholes, bridging a barren area 2-10m from the house, with the aim of improving bird distribution on the range. We predicted that if the resource package succeeded in these aims, overall bird welfare would also be improved. Fourteen commercial farms were enrolled for this two-year study. Flocks were assessed for pecking behaviour, range use and general indicators of welfare at 40 weeks in Year 1 without the resource package. The resource package was then added to the same houses at the start of the next flock cycle in Year 2. The new flocks were assessed in the same way at 40 weeks with additional observations taken of their use of the resource package at 25 and 40 weeks. These additional observations showed that most aspects of pecking behaviour directed at the pecking pans remained consistent from 25 to 40 weeks although a reduction in substrate pecking frequency was seen (p<0.001) and birds perched on the pan for longer (p=0.033) and more often (p=0.010) at 40 weeks. Although consistent within houses, wind chime use was very variable between houses, with pecking observed in only 8 of the 14 houses. The number of birds under the shelters increased from 25 to 40 weeks (p=0.018), as did the proportion of birds that went under a shelter within 5 minutes of entering the range area (p=0.021). Birds were more likely to use a shelter within 5 minutes if they exited the shed via a pophole within 10m of the shelter rather than a pophole more than 10m away at both 25 weeks (p<0.001) and 40 weeks (p=0.001). A reduction in gentle feather pecking (p=0.001) and severe feather pecking (p=0.018) behaviour was seen when the resource package was provided in Year 2. Range distribution also improved, with a greater proportion of birds seen 2-10m from the house (p=0.023). Additionally, the proportion of abnormal eggs (p=0.010), headshaking behaviour (p=0.009) and the percentage of wet/capped litter (p=0.043) decreased in Year 2.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Provision of a resource package reduces feather pecking and improves ranging distribution on free-range layer farms

Pettersson

Weeks

Nicol

2017

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

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“…Free-range hens are exposed to more environmental stressors, such as extreme weather conditions, predation, exposure to wild birds, and aggression, in comparison with hens from barn and cage systems (2)(3)(4). The findings from a recent Australian survey revealed that free-range egg producers imputed financial losses to heat stress, cannibalism, grass impaction, diseases, and malnutrition (5).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamics of Salmonella Shedding and Welfare of Hens in Free-Range Egg Production Systems

Gole

Woodhouse

Caraguel

et al. 2017

Appl Environ Microbiol

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The current study investigated the effect of environmental stressors (i.e., weather changes) on Salmonella shedding in free-range production systems and the correlations with behavioral and physiological measures (i.e., fecal glucocorticoid metabolites). This involved longitudinal and point-in-time surveys of Salmonella shedding and environmental contamination on four commercial free-range layer farms. The shedding of Salmonella was variable across free-range farms and in different seasons. There was no significant effect of season on the Salmonella prevalence during this investigation. In this study, the combined Salmonella most probable number (MPN) counts in environmental (including feces, egg belt, dust, nest box, and ramp) samples were highest in samples collected during the summer season (4th sampling, performed in February). The predominant serovars isolated during this study were Salmonella enterica serovar Mbandaka and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium phage types 135 and 135a. These two phage types were involved in several egg product-related Salmonella outbreaks in humans. Multilocus variablenumber tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA) results indicated that MLVA types detected from human food poisoning cases exhibited MLVA patterns similar to the strains isolated during this study. All Salmonella isolates (n ϭ 209) were tested for 15 different genes involved in adhesion, invasion, and survival of Salmonella spp. We also observed variations for sopA, ironA, and misL. There were no positive correlations between fecal corticosterone metabolite (FCM) and Salmonella prevalence and/or shedding in feces. Also, there were no positive correlations between Salmonella prevalence and Salmonella count (log MPN) and any of the other welfare parameters.IMPORTANCE In this study, the welfare of laying hens and Salmonella shedding were compared over a prolonged period of time in field conditions. This study investigated the long-term shedding of Salmonella serovars in a free-range egg production system. Given that there is increasing demand for free-range eggs, it is essential to understand the risks associated with such a production system.

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“…Feather pecking and cannibalism are major causes of feather loss, poor welfare, and higher mortality, which are mitigated by the highly controversial practice of beak trimming in many management systems. A recent analysis of data from 3500 commercial flocks in the EU indicated that mortality rates were significantly higher and considerably more variable in non-cage and especially in free-range systems compared to cage systems [89]. In that study, genetic strain of the hen was a significant factor and risks were considerably greater when hens were not beak trimmed.…”

Section: Welfare Trade-offs Related To Different Laying Hen Housing Smentioning

confidence: 84%

“…Several literature reviews and scientific reports have summarized findings from studies comparing the welfare of hens in different housing systems [81][82][83][84], including reports comparing various welfare indicators collected on large-scale commercial farms [85][86][87][88][89]. Generally, all these reports indicate significant trade-offs for different aspects of welfare for hens in different housing systems.…”

Section: Welfare Trade-offs Related To Different Laying Hen Housing Smentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Huge gains can be made for not only improving hen welfare and but also reducing loss in resource efficiencies by refining system design (technology) and optimizing nutrition, genetics, and management of alternative housing systems. The large degree of variability found in the literature (e.g., [89]) highlights the potential for non-cage systems to perform well. Research aimed at improving system design, with regards to hens being able to navigate the system without injury, and to readily use nests is essential.…”

Section: Trade-offs Among Welfare Economics Environmental Impact Anmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sustainability in the Canadian Egg Industry—Learning from the Past, Navigating the Present, Planning for the Future

et al. 2018

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Like other livestock sectors, the Canadian egg industry has evolved substantially over time and will likely experience similarly significant change looking forward, with many of these changes determining the sustainability implications of and for the industry. Influencing factors include: technological and management changes at farm level and along the value chain resulting in greater production efficiencies and improved life cycle resource efficiency and environmental performance; a changing policy/regulatory environment; and shifts in societal expectations and associated market dynamics, including increased attention to animal welfare outcomes-especially in regard to changes in housing systems for laying hens. In the face of this change, effective decision-making is needed to ensure the sustainability of the Canadian egg industry. Attention both to lessons from the past and to the emerging challenges that will shape its future is required and multi-and interdisciplinary perspectives are needed to understand synergies and potential trade-offs between alternative courses of action across multiple aspects of sustainability. Here, we consider the past, present and potential futures for this industry through the lenses of environmental, institutional (i.e., regulatory), and socio-economic sustainability, with an emphasis on animal welfare as an important emergent social consideration. Our analysis identifies preferred pathways, potential pitfalls, and outstanding cross-disciplinary research questions.

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Implications for Welfare, Productivity and Sustainability of the Variation in Reported Levels of Mortality for Laying Hen Flocks Kept in Different Housing Systems: A Meta-Analysis of Ten Studies

Cited by 71 publications

References 22 publications

Provision of a resource package reduces feather pecking and improves ranging distribution on free-range layer farms

Provision of a resource package reduces feather pecking and improves ranging distribution on free-range layer farms

Dynamics of Salmonella Shedding and Welfare of Hens in Free-Range Egg Production Systems

Sustainability in the Canadian Egg Industry—Learning from the Past, Navigating the Present, Planning for the Future

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