The Relationships between Damaging Behaviours and Health in Laying Hens

Several countries and regions have regulations in place to provide standards for the welfare of production animals, which have implications for breeding, management and trade. In the chicken egg production industry, the welfare impacts of this are not well understood. In the past decades, free-range systems were widely used for local chicken breeds in poultry industry in China, but their use has gradually declined due to the lower competitiveness compared to commercial cage systems. However, the practices of free-range systems for hens raising have gradually increased again over the past decade, as consumer individualized demand for higher food quality and animal welfare has increased. We recruited 14 free-range farms and 45 cage farms from Beijing, Shandong, Hebei, Anhui, Yunnan, Gansu and Jiangsu provinces in China, for an evaluation of hen welfare, production and economic outcomes from farm operations. This study provides data for the welfare outcomes of laying hens in China and preliminarily explored the relationship between welfare level and economic income within farming system types. The researchers visited the farms and used Welfare Quality measures to investigate the welfare, and farm self-reported profits. Nonparametric Mann–Whitney U tests were used to compare the welfare scores between cage and free-range rearing farms. Correlation and regression are used for the analysis of the animal welfare scores, economic data, and production metrics. The general income from free-range farms was linearly correlated with red mite score and stocking density (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). The results showed less centimeters of feeder and drinker space per animal in the free-range system than in cage systems (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). Welfare scores for both the stocking density and beak condition were significantly better in the free-range systems than the cage systems (p < 0.001), as were qualitative behavior assessment scores (p < 0.05). The total egg production and peak egg production in cage farms were much higher than in free-range farms (p < 0.001), and egg loss rate was significantly lower (p < 0.001). While the production efficiency of free-range farms was lower than that of cage farms, general income per 10,000 hens was actually higher. Our results provide some evidence that some welfare indicators and general income (per 10,000 hens) in free-range farms in China were better than those of cage farms. The results indicate that better parasite control and lower stocking densities may result in improved hen welfare on free-range farms and potentially improve profitability. The level of welfare and economic benefits of free-range farms vary widely, and there was potential room for improvement in feeding space, drinking water space and human–animal relationship.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Relationship between Animal Welfare and Farm Profitability in Cage and Free-Range Housing Systems for Laying Hens in China

Lin

Jin

et al. 2022

“…The indoor stocking densities under all three systems were below the maximum limit of nine hens per square meter (EU). More space and freedom of movement can reduce stress and fear in laying hens and reduce destructive behaviour, thus reducing mortality in laying hens [ 56 ]. The outdoor activity time of the laying hens in all three systems reached or exceeded 8 h, which is the welfare standard of free-range laying hens stipulated by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) [ 143 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, it has been found that there are benefits associated with improving the welfare of laying hens. For example, giving laying hens greater behavioural opportunities and freedom of movement can reduce their stress and fear, destructive behaviour and, therefore, mortality [ 56 ]. At the same time, environmental enrichment can reduce severe feather pecking and strengthen the immune system of laying hens, thereby reducing losses [ 57 ].…”

Section: Farm Animal Welfarementioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, considering that the access to outdoor areas for laying hens may increase the risk of predation [ 107 ], farmers usually set up fences and henhouses to prevent the invasion of predators [ 108 , 109 ]. On the basis of the Five Freedoms [ 45 ], we assess the welfare status of understory laying hen management systems with reference to the behavioural needs and preferences of laying hens and the standards of free-range systems and organic farming in the European Union (highest animal welfare standards in the world [ 48 ]), the United Kingdom, Australia and other countries or regions [ 110 , 111 , 112 ]: first, food and water, and whether the feed is adequate and organic; second, the perch of laying hens, which includes the form of the henhouse, furniture, and indoor stocking density; third, whether drugs and antibiotics are used [ 113 ]; fourth, whether stress and fear damage can be avoided or reduced; studies have shown that more space and freedom of movement can reduce stress and fear in laying hens [ 56 ]; in addition, the presence of roosters can reduce the fear of laying hens [ 114 ]; fifth, whether the laying hens can express normal behaviour; this is mainly reflected in the degree to which the behavioural needs of the laying hens are met. Therefore, whether the beak is trimmed [ 115 ], outdoor stocking density and activity time need to be taken into consideration.…”

Section: Dawn Of the Implementation Of The Free-range System: Underst...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Potential of Understory Production Systems to Improve Laying Hen Welfare

Yan

Yang

Zhu

et al. 2022

The welfare of laying hens in cage systems is of increasing concern. Represented by the European Union’s ‘End the Cage Age’ initiative, more and more countries have advocated cage-free farming. China, an important country for poultry farming and consumption in the world, is highly dependent on cage systems and lacks confidence in alternative (e.g., free-range) systems. In this context, using China’s abundant woodland resources (including natural forests, plantations, and commercial forests) to facilitate the management of laying hens in a free-range environment may provide highly promising welfare improvement programs. On the basis of the Five Freedoms, we assess the welfare status of understory laying hen management systems with reference to the behavioural needs and preferences of laying hens and the EU standards for free-range and organic production (highest animal welfare standards in the world). The results show that the considered systems meet or even exceed these standards, in terms of key indicators such as outdoor and indoor stocking density, outdoor activity time, and food and drug use. Specifically, the systems provide sufficient organic food for laying hens without using antibiotics. They allow laying hens to avoid beak trimming, as well as to express nesting, foraging, perching, reproductive, dustbathing and other priority behaviours. The presence of roosters and higher use of woodland space allow the laying hens to achieve better feather and bone conditions, thus reducing stress and fear damage. Notably, the predation problem is not yet considered significant. Second, there is evidence that understory laying hen systems are profitable and have been welcomed and supported by farmers and governments in the southwest, south, and north of China. However, whether it can be scaled up is uncertain, and further research is needed. In addition, laying hens in this management system face various risks, such as foot injury, parasitism, and high dependence on consumer markets, which must be considered. Overall, agro-forestry, or accurately, understory poultry raising, provides opportunities and possibilities for free-range laying hens and welfare improvement in China and other countries.

“…Therefore, there is little available information about the effect of toe pecking on mortality, however it is linked with physiological stress and hence reduced welfare [ 33 ]. Toe pecking can be attributed to cannibalism, and complications may be lethal [ 34 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Flock Factors Correlated with Elevated Mortality in Non-Beak Trimmed Aviary-Housed Layers

Kittelsen

Tahamtani

Moe

et al. 2022

The use of non-cage housing systems for layers is increasing in Europe and elsewhere. Knowledge of factors that may affect mortality in these systems is important to be able to improve animal welfare, reduce mortality and enhance sustainability. The aim of this study was to investigate factors that may contribute to increased mortality in non-beak trimmed aviary-housed laying hens in Norway. A total of 39 non-beak trimmed commercial flocks (Lohmann LSL (n = 25) and Dekalb White (n = 14)) were visited between week 70 to 76 of life, and factors related to health, behaviour and management were recorded. Mean mortality in the flocks was 3% (range: 0.5–9%) and increased flock mortality was correlated with total feather loss (p < 0.05); feather loss on the breast (p < 0.02) and feather loss on the head (p < 0.003). There was an association between layer hybrid line and mortality (p = 0.055). Furthermore, a low positive correlation between mortality and dust level inside the barn was found (p < 0.04), showing that mortality was higher when dust level was also high. No correlation between mortality and the provision of environmental enrichment was found. In conclusion, this study found an association between flocks with elevated mortality (>3.0%) and increased feather loss which may indicate feather pecking. The results underline the importance of regularly assessment of plumage condition in commercial layer farms, as a tool to detect early signs of feather pecking in commercial aviary-housed layer flocks. This may help to target feather pecking before cannibalism breaks out.