Productive performance, perching behavior, keel bone and other health aspects in dual-purpose compared to conventional laying hens

Malchow, Julia; Eusemann, Beryl; Petow, Stefanie; Krause, Eike; Schrader, Lars

doi:10.1016/j.psj.2022.102095

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 69 publications

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“…Based on a standing height of 40 cm and assuming the 15 cm increase for wing flapping, the requested height would be 55 cm. Breeding birds, especially breeding males, are taller, estimated to be 60 cm when standing (Personnel communication L. Schrader, 2022). These bigger birds will presumably also have longer wings, so the additional height needed to wing flap was increased from 15 cm to 17 cm.…”

Section: Vertical Space Needed For Behavioural Activitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Also, in preference studies laying hens do not show clear preferences for perches that they can grasp when compared with non‐graspable grids or wire while roosting at night (reviewed in: EFSA AHAW Panel, 2015; Schrader and Malchow, 2020). In a recent study, laying hens showed a higher usage of grids compared to perches for night‐time roosting when both resting sites were alternately offered (Malchow et al., 2022). However, in that study usage of resting sites at night was low compared to other studies.…”

Section: Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Welfare of laying hens on farm

Nielsen¹,

Álvarez²,

Bicout³

et al. 2023

EFS2

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This scientific opinion focuses on the welfare of laying hens, pullets and layer breeders on farm. The most relevant husbandry systems used in Europe are described. For each system, highly relevant welfare consequences were identified, as well as related animal‐based measures (ABMs), and hazards leading to the welfare consequences. Moreover, measures to prevent or correct the hazards and/or mitigate the welfare consequences are recommended. The highly relevant welfare consequences based on severity, duration and frequency of occurrence are bone lesions, group stress, inability to avoid unwanted sexual behaviour, inability to perform comfort behaviour, inability to perform exploratory or foraging behaviour, isolation stress, predation stress, resting problems, restriction of movement, skin disorders and soft tissue lesions and integument damage. The welfare consequences of non‐cage compared to cage systems for laying hens are described and minimum enclosure characteristics are described for laying hens, pullets and layer breeders. Beak trimming, which causes negative welfare consequences and is conducted to reduce the prevalence and severity of pecking, is described as well as the risks associated with rearing of non‐beak‐trimmed flocks. Alternatives to reduce sharpness of the beak without trimming are suggested. Finally, total mortality, plumage damage, wounds, keel bone fractures and carcass condemnations are the most promising ABMs for collection at slaughterhouses to monitor the level of laying hen welfare on farm. Main recommendations include housing all birds in non‐cage systems with easily accessible, elevated platforms and provision of dry and friable litter and access to a covered veranda. It is further recommended to implement protocols to define welfare trait information to encourage progress in genetic selection, implement measures to prevent injurious pecking, rear pullets with dark brooders and reduce male aggression in layer breeders.

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Section: Vertical Space Needed For Behavioural Activitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Welfare of laying hens on farm

Nielsen¹,

Álvarez²,

Bicout³

et al. 2023

EFS2

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…During the laying period, usage of elevated structures was higher with grids compared to perches (Malchow et al, 2022). Hens should have access to perches because of their high motivation and preference for perching.…”

Section: The Influence Of Aviary Housing System On the Occurrence Of ...mentioning

confidence: 93%

Occurrence, causes and consequences of keel bone damage of laying hens

Arpášová

2023

Acta fytotechn zootechn

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Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License KBD is a multifactorial problem. This problem applies to all types of housing systems, caged as well as cage-free systems, including free-range and organic. The common causes are in particular collisions with the elements of the environment, such as perches, as well as collisions between hens. Extremely high frequency and severity of damage adversely affects not only welfare of laying hens also their production and egg quality too. This article provides an overview of current knowledge about the occurrence of KBD, the causes of its occurrence and consequences for the quality of life of laying hens in intensive large-scale production conditions. In the introductory part, we describe what keel bone is, the high incidence and prevalence of the problem, which implies the importance of long-term dealing with this issue at the global level. In the next part, we deal with the factors that can cause the occurrence of KBD, the relationship between the occurrence of KBD and bone quality, nutrition with an emphasis on calcium, the relationship between KBD and welfare, individual housing systems, age, genotypes of hens, feathering, efficiency and quality of production of laying hens and in the final part section we present detection methods. As already mentioned, the occurrence of KBD is influenced by a number of factors, but due to the differences in the prevalence of this problem in different countries, further comprehensive research is needed. The deviations and fractures of the keel bone can have a negative impact on the welfare of laying hens, which will subsequently be reflected in the possible painfulness of feed intake, laying, product quality, which ultimately will always affect economic efficiency. The goal of long-term research should to try to reduce the incidence of these conditions, or their prevention. It is important to deal with genetic selection, nutrition, a very important area, as far as KBD is concerned, are the conditions of the breeding environment, especially the housing system and the elements that make up the equipment of the rearing and breeding area, as well as the standardization of the methods used to detect damage to the keel bone. Palpation, post-mortem palpation, multiple sensing technologies are used. Researcher training can significantly improve both the accuracy and reliability of assessment of sternal fractures and deviations. If the results of keel bone prevalence will be compared or combined between individual studies, all methods used to detect keel bone damage should be accurate, i.e. sufficient methodological details should be given for each study and the method of determining prevalence should be standardized.

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The Gordon Memorial Lecture: Laying hen welfare

Nicol

2023

British Poultry Science

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Productive performance, perching behavior, keel bone and other health aspects in dual-purpose compared to conventional laying hens

Cited by 3 publications

References 69 publications

Welfare of laying hens on farm

Welfare of laying hens on farm

Occurrence, causes and consequences of keel bone damage of laying hens

The Gordon Memorial Lecture: Laying hen welfare

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