Training of catching teams and reduction of back scratches in broilers

Pilecco, Márcio; Paz, Icl Almeida; Tabaldi, Luciane Almeri; Nääs, Irenilza de Alencar; Garcia, Rodrigo Garófallo; Caldara, Fabiana Ribeiro; Francisco, NS

doi:10.1590/s1516-635x2013000300017

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…The Humane Slaughter Association and EU’s “Animal Transport Guides” (Consortium of the Animal Transport Guides Project) recommend catching birds individually with a grip over the wings, in an upright position [ 3 , 10 ]. The same catching method is recommended in Brazil due to a reduced risk of injuries for the birds [ 11 ]. Catching and carrying in an upright position can reduce handling stress, measured as corticosteroid concentration [ 12 , 13 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Evaluation of Two Different Broiler Catching Methods

Kittelsen

Granquist

Aunsmo

et al. 2018

Animals

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Simple SummaryCatching is the process that transfers birds from the poultry house to the transport modules. The catching process and its associated handling may lead to stress, injuries, mortality and reduced welfare for the animals. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the effect of two manual broiler catching methods. Broilers were either caught by both legs and carried inverted to the drawers or caught under the abdomen and carried in an upright position. Effects of catching method on crating time, number of animals in the drawers, wing and leg fractures, animals on their back in the drawers and broilers dead-on-arrival were investigated. The results showed that the abdominal and upright method was faster and gave a lower and more consistent number of birds per drawer. In addition, this method tended towards fewer wing fractures. No broken legs, birds on their back in the drawers or broilers dead-on-arrival were observed in the study. Catching is a critical phase in the pre-slaughter chain, and this study shows that the catching and carrying method affects broiler welfare.AbstractCatching is the first step in the pre-slaughter chain for broiler chickens. The process may be detrimental for animal welfare due to the associated handling. The aim of this pilot study was to compare two different methods to manually catch broilers: Catching the broilers by two legs and carrying them inverted (LEGS) or catching the broilers under the abdomen and carrying them in an upright position (UPRIGHT). Wing and leg fractures upon arrival at the abattoir, animal density in the drawers, birds on their back, broilers dead-on-arrival and time to fill the transport modules were investigated. The results showed that mean crating time was shorter in the UPRIGHT method (p = 0.007). There was a tendency for more wing fractures in broilers caught by the LEGS (p = 0.06). The animal density in the drawers was lower and with a smaller range in the UPRIGHT method (p = 0.022). The results indicate that catching the broilers under the abdomen in an upright position may improve broiler welfare in terms of fewer wing fractures, more consistent stocking density in drawers and potentially reduced loading time.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Evaluation of Two Different Broiler Catching Methods

Kittelsen

Granquist

Aunsmo

et al. 2018

Animals

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“…In the present study, the difference between catchers may have been due to differences in age, knowledge, and number of training episodes regarding good handling practices and animal welfare. It is known that previous experience, age, training of the people, and the type of management received by the animals influence the quality of catching (Cransberg et al, 2000; Pilecco et al., 2013). It is worth mentioning that catchers who prevented agitation in the held birds also prevented the birds from striking the crate entrance (e.g., catchers 1 and 4).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other factors such as the catchers working conditions and the individual characteristics of the catchers, such as their behavior and attitudes, can directly influence handling practices (Hemsworth and Coleman, 2011). Previous experience and training of the staff can also influence the quality of animal handling (Pilecco et al, 2013). In this way, it is possible to observe that when workers receive training in good animal handling practices, they present more positive attitudes, and are able to better identify the risks related to the handling procedures (Grandin, 2010, 2018; Ceballos et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of different catching practices during manual upright handling on broiler welfare and behavior

et al. 2019

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The aim of this study was to identify the influence of different catching practices during manual upright handling on broiler welfare and behavior. Catching was examined in a total of 4,595 Cobb broilers with average live weight of 3.2 kg and 42 days old. Six catching practices were evaluated: shed curtain position, loading time, catching method, catching team, height of the crates from the floor, and placement of the bird in the crate. Behavioral welfare indicators were defined as follows: 1) broiler agitation in the catcher's hands, measured when the birds flapped their wings, kicked, or wriggled in the hands; 2) broiler striking the crate entrance as it was being placed in the crate, measured when the birds get the head, wings, or legs, hit at the crate entrance; and 3) broiler agitation in the crate, measured when birds flapped the wings or jumped inside the crate for 3 s or more after placement in the crate. A logistic regression model was used to calculate the chance of occurrence of each behavioral welfare indicator due to the handling factors. All catching practices evaluated in the present study influenced the birds’ welfare and behavior. Thus, some procedures during broiler catching potentially improved their behavior, making them less prone to accidents, and consequently improved their welfare. The catching process should be performed with the curtains in the closed position, carrying one broiler per catcher in an upright position while containing its wings, carefully placing the birds inside the crates, and with the crates being positioned at a height of at least 21 cm from the ground. Additionally, it was concluded that more attention should be given to the broiler catchers, since the position of the curtain, loading time, and position of the crate during handling can influence the work done by them, affecting the welfare and behavior of both humans and birds.

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“…Jacobs, Delezie, Duchateau, Goethals and Tuyttens [28] reported that the incidence of bruised wings tended to differ among different professional catching crews. Training catching crews in “better practice” can improve carcass quality [47] however this was beyond the scope of the current study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Influence of Welfare Training on Bird Welfare and Carcass Quality in Two Commercial Poultry Primary Processing Plants

Wigham

Grist

Mullan

et al. 2019

Animals

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The number of broilers slaughtered globally is increasing. Ensuring acceptable welfare conditions for birds at the time of slaughter is paramount in meeting legislative and retailer specifications, and in producing high quality meat. There is knowledge that welfare training programs for members of the farming and red meat slaughter industry can improve animal welfare measures and product quality, however there is little evidence of the effects of welfare training in poultry processing plants. In our study, a comprehensive welfare training program was introduced to a Costa Rican and a British commercial broiler primary processing plant, both of which slaughter birds by way of neck cut post electrical water bath stunning. The effects of this program on some welfare and product quality measures were investigated, both immediately and six months post training. The welfare measures that showed significant improvements post training included; flapping at shackling, pre-stun shocks, stun parameters and effective neck cut. Product quality measures including broken wings and red pygostyles also improved, however the positive effect of training was not seen in all quality measures. Welfare training does have the potential to improve broiler welfare and product quality at slaughter, and these data could help the development and targeting of future welfare training courses and encourage the uptake of welfare training in the poultry slaughter industry.

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Training of catching teams and reduction of back scratches in broilers

Cited by 9 publications

References 8 publications

An Evaluation of Two Different Broiler Catching Methods

An Evaluation of Two Different Broiler Catching Methods

Effect of different catching practices during manual upright handling on broiler welfare and behavior

The Influence of Welfare Training on Bird Welfare and Carcass Quality in Two Commercial Poultry Primary Processing Plants

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