Welfare issues of modern laying hen farming

Ferrante, V.

doi:10.4081/ijas.2009.s1.175

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 89 publications

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“…About 86% of the hens are reared in cages, and only 3% of these cages are enriched. As for the remaining 14%, 9% is reared in barn systems, 2% in free‐range systems and 3% in organic systems (Ferrante, 2009). Total turnover is around €1.4 billion (National Union of Aviculture, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Italian consumer awareness of layer hens' welfare standards: a cluster analysis

Vecchio

Annunziata

2011

Int J Consumer Studies

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Animal welfare has assumed in recent years an increasing significance for European consumers, becoming part of the Community Agricultural Policy strategy that encourages farmers to achieve higher standards of animal welfare. Undoubtedly, the superior social sensitivity towards animal welfare has produced over time notable changes within European Union (EU) Policy. However, while EU legislation has progressively focused on granting animals better possibilities to express their behavioural repertoire, recent analysis shows that consumer knowledge of animal welfare compulsory standards is still quite limited. Drawing on the results of a direct survey on 300 Italian food shoppers, our research analyses consumer knowledge of the welfare standards of laying hens. Our findings highlight important market opportunities and policy implications. Our research shows that, although the majority of the sample expressed concern on hen husbandry systems, most of respondents were unaware of the current mandatory labelling system for eggs. Through cluster analysis three segments were found: the inactive consumer cluster, the conflicted consumer cluster and the ethically competent consumer cluster. This segmentation is especially valuable for producers of 'animal-friendly' eggs to identify market opportunities and formulate appropriate marketing strategies

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Italian consumer awareness of layer hens' welfare standards: a cluster analysis

Vecchio

Annunziata

2011

Int J Consumer Studies

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“…The back, breast and neck regions are largely acknowledged in the literature as the areas in which feather pecking lesions are observed more frequently [ 31 , 32 , 34 , 35 , 36 ]. This increase in feather pecking behaviour in VM and reduction in FM compared to the control group, however, highlights an inconsistent effect of ramps on animal welfare, seeming to indicate that pecking is more present when vertical movement is allowed but lateral movement is limited (VM group), therefore in this group the (relatively) higher density and competition, although only in localized areas delimitated by partitions and likely at the higher end of the ramps, may have triggered feather pecking behaviour [ 37 , 38 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Increased Freedom of Movement on Welfare and Egg Laying Pattern of Hens Kept in Aviaries

Nannoni¹,

Buonaiuto²,

Martelli³

et al. 2022

Animals

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This work investigates the effects of structural modifications on the welfare level and laying patterns of hens in a three-tier commercial aviary system. Four experimental groups were used: C (control, housed in a traditional aviary); LM (longitudinal movement, in which internal partitions were removed); VM (vertical movement, in which ramps were installed); and FM (freedom of movement, both LM and VM modifications). Hens showed worse body condition scores (p < 0.05) in all the modified aviaries, while plumage condition was improved in FM but worsened in VM (p < 0.05). No significant effect was observed on egg deposition patterns, egg quality or keel bone damage. When ramps were available (VM and FM groups), hens reduced the number of flights and increased the number of walks from 0.52 to 7.7% of the displacements on average (p < 0.05). Apart from some feather pecking concerns in VM (likely due to overcrowding in some favourite aviary areas), LM and FM seemed to facilitate animal movement and promote species–specific behaviour. It is concluded that hen welfare in aviary systems can be improved by means of tailored structural modifications. Producers may therefore adopt some of these modifications (providing ramps and/or removing vertical barriers) to enhance the welfare of hens.

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“…Reduction of occurrence of feather pecking in free-range system has been declared by [33,34]. This attributed to the lower stocking density of the system [35].…”

Section: Organic Production System and Poultry Welfarementioning

confidence: 97%

Poultry Meat Quality and Welfare as Affected by Organic Production System

Abbas¹

2015

AVS

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Abstract:Most of consumers preferring organic food accompanied emerge of environmental awareness in the last decades.Organic production system is considered as an important solution for the environment problems because it improves sustainable agriculture by using organic compounds and avoiding synthetic chemical ones, restricting intensive production and making the entire chain of production under control. Therefore, it is encouraged and supported by environmental protection agencies in spite of the higher production cost of organic production compounds. Due to its higher production cost most producers prefer intensive systems because they focus on reducing cost and increasing production regardless of environmental degradation. Organic poultry system usually mentioned with free-range system and poultry welfare. That is because all organic systems are free-range. Organic system gets a lot of attention of animal welfare organizations because it assists birds to express normal behavior by offering plenty space. Organic or free-range system by some modifications and developing of the system regarding good management of its environment in addition to establishment of biosecurity measures it could considered as a suitable system for human, poultry and environment rather than intensive system because it achieves human health by avoiding dangerous remainders in food such as chemical residues, and for poultry by offering good welfare and health, and also to environment by improving sustainable agriculture.

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Welfare issues of modern laying hen farming

Cited by 6 publications

References 89 publications

Italian consumer awareness of layer hens' welfare standards: a cluster analysis

Italian consumer awareness of layer hens' welfare standards: a cluster analysis

Influence of Increased Freedom of Movement on Welfare and Egg Laying Pattern of Hens Kept in Aviaries

Poultry Meat Quality and Welfare as Affected by Organic Production System

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