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Arulnathan V, Turner I, Bamber N, Ferdous J, Grassauer F, Doyon M, Pelletier N. A systematic review of potential productivity, egg quality, and animal welfare implications of extended lay cycles in commercial laying hens in Canada. Poult Sci 2024; 103:103475. [PMID: 38364604 PMCID: PMC10877952 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.103475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Lay cycle lengths in the Canadian egg industry are currently 50 to 52 wk (68-70 wk of age). In light of increased productivity in commercial laying hens over the last few decades, the much longer lay cycle lengths already implemented in other countries, extending lay cycle lengths in Canada, should be considered with careful attention to potential environmental, economic, and animal welfare implications. However, there is a lack of information in the public domain that provides robust evidence of performance levels and potential trade-offs to support comprehensive consideration of the desirability of extending lay cycles beyond current Canadian norms. Hence, a systematic literature review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology was undertaken. Data collection focused primarily on information related to feed-, flock management-, and hen genetics/physiology-related interventions that were studied in literature to support extension of lay cycles (review objective 1), and compiling and analyzing productivity, egg quality, and animal welfare outcomes reported at 70 wk of age or beyond (review objective 2). Several feed-related interventions such as high-protein diets, and probiotics supplements, and flock management interventions such split-feeding were found to potentially improve productivity, and especially egg quality, outcomes in the late laying phase. More studies with bigger flock sizes and in commercial lay facilities need to be undertaken before any of these interventions can be definitively recommended for commercial egg production. Under objective 2, productivity was found to be at acceptable levels well beyond 70 wk of age. Performance on most egg quality traits and animal welfare indicators were also at acceptable levels past 70 wk of age but increased variability was observed beyond ∼80 wk of age. There were also inconclusive indications on how hens in caged housing and white laying hens fare relative to hens in noncaged housing and brown-type layers during the late laying phase. Economic data were limited but suggested that lay cycle lengths beyond 90 wk might not generated net economic benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivek Arulnathan
- FIP 226, Food Systems PRISM Lab, Fipke Centre for Innovative Research, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, BC, V1V 1V7, Canada.
| | - Ian Turner
- FIP 226, Food Systems PRISM Lab, Fipke Centre for Innovative Research, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, BC, V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Nicole Bamber
- FIP 226, Food Systems PRISM Lab, Fipke Centre for Innovative Research, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, BC, V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Jannatul Ferdous
- FIP 226, Food Systems PRISM Lab, Fipke Centre for Innovative Research, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, BC, V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Florian Grassauer
- FIP 226, Food Systems PRISM Lab, Fipke Centre for Innovative Research, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, BC, V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Maurice Doyon
- Paul-Comtois, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Nathan Pelletier
- FIP 226, Food Systems PRISM Lab, Fipke Centre for Innovative Research, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, BC, V1V 1V7, Canada
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Abraham ME, Robison CI, Kim WK, Regmi P, Karcher DM. n-3 essential fatty acid and vitamin D supplementation improve skeletal health in laying hens. Poult Sci 2023; 102:103089. [PMID: 37852049 PMCID: PMC10591011 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.103089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Keel bone fractures and osteoporosis are prevalent and damaging skeletal issues in the laying hen industry. There is a large interest in improving bone quality parameters to reduce or eliminate these conditions, thus improving bird welfare. Both essential fatty acids (EFA) and vitamin D can play a role in bone metabolism. The hypothesis of this study was that birds supplemented with lower n-6:n-3 EFA ratio or vitamin D would have improved bone properties compared to a control diet. A total of 3,520 Lohmann Brown-Lite pullets were used in this study. Pullets were housed on the floor from 0 to 17 wk of age and then moved to an aviary (17-52 wk of age). Starting at 12 wk of age, birds were split into diet treatments-control, flax, fish, or vitamin D diets with n-6:n-3 ratios of 6.750, 0.534, 0.534, and 6.750, respectively. Diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric. Basal vitamin D3 levels were formulated to be 2,760 IU/kg across all diets; for the vitamin D diet, the vitamin D3 level was increased to 5,520 IU/kg. Hens on fish and vitamin D diets had greater bone density, keel bone volume, digital bone mineral content, and keel condition compared to flax and control hens. Additionally, birds fed the vitamin D diet had the heaviest body weights compared to birds fed fish or control diets. Birds fed the flax and vitamin D diets had improved feather coverage across multiple body regions. Feeding an n-3 EFA- or vitamin D-enriched diet decreased mortality by 1.6 to 3.3% compared to the control. The fish and vitamin D diets generated mixed production performance. Compared to the other treatments, the vitamin D diet generated higher case weights but lower hen day percentage throughout the study. When compared to the other treatments, the fish diet had the lowest case weights but had a greater hen day percentage after 36 wk of age. Results indicate that a fish-based EFA and vitamin D supplementation show promise in improving skeletal health but require further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meagan E Abraham
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2050, USA
| | - Cara I Robison
- Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-2604, USA
| | - Woo K Kim
- Department of Poultry Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Prafulla Regmi
- Department of Poultry Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Darrin M Karcher
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2050, USA.
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Jarrett RA, Erasmus MA, Murillo AC, Scoles KL, Robison CI, Jones DR, Karcher DM. Laying hen production and welfare in a cage-free setting is impacted by the northern fowl mite. J APPL POULTRY RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.japr.2022.100290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
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Garcia J, Jones D, Gast R, Robison C, Regmi P, Karcher D. Influence of forage substrates on environmental and egg microbiology in cage-free aviary housing. J APPL POULTRY RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.japr.2021.100225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
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The Welfare Status of Hens in Different Housing Systems – A Review. ANNALS OF ANIMAL SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.2478/aoas-2021-0021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The currently used poultry farming methods, which aim to maximise economic profit, are based on ever new technological solutions that improve flock management and increase bird performance. However, they do not always meet the natural needs of birds. Every housing method and technological solution currently in use is faced with some issues, such as social stress, adverse temperature/ humidity conditions, risk of zoonoses, and behavioural pathologies, which determine poultry performance and welfare. Disregard for animal welfare involves not only ethical but also practical aspects, because well-being and housing comfort translate into better weight gains, health and productivity of the birds. The studies reported here suggest that every production system, despite the many welfare-improving aspects, causes numerous behavioural, productivity and health abnormalities in laying hens. Therefore, further research is needed to identify various risk factors for the purpose of improving housing systems and increasing the welfare of hens.
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Rufener C, Makagon MM. Keel bone fractures in laying hens: a systematic review of prevalence across age, housing systems, and strains. J Anim Sci 2020; 98:S36-S51. [PMID: 32810250 PMCID: PMC7433929 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skaa145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Christina Rufener
- Department of Animal Science, Center for Animal Welfare, University of California, Davis, CA
| | - Maja M Makagon
- Department of Animal Science, Center for Animal Welfare, University of California, Davis, CA
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Ali ABA, Campbell DLM, Siegford JM. A risk assessment of health, production, and resource occupancy for 4 laying hen strains across the lay cycle in a commercial-style aviary system. Poult Sci 2020; 99:4672-4684. [PMID: 32988502 PMCID: PMC7598334 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2020.05.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Different strains of commercial laying hens have been molded by varying selection pressures, impacting their production, health, and behavior. Therefore, assumptions that all laying hen strains use the given resources within aviary systems similarly and maintain equal health and performance may be false. We investigated interactions among patterns of aviary resource use by 2 strains of white and 2 strains of brown laying hens (4 units per strain, 144 hens per unit) with daily egg production, location of egg laying, keel fractures, and footpad damage across the lay cycle. Hens' distribution among resources (litter, nest, wire floor, ledge, and perch) was recorded during light and dark periods at 28, 54, and 72 wk of age. Daily egg production and location were recorded, and 20% of hens per unit were randomly selected and assessed for keel bone damage, foot health, and plumage quality. Production and health risks associated with hens' resource use were assessed using multivariable regression. During the day, more brown hens occupied wire floors, while larger numbers of white hens were on perches and litter. More brown hens were on lower-tier wire floors in the dark, while more white hens occupied top tiers. Brown hens laid more eggs outside nests, showed lower incidence of keel fractures, and had better plumage quality than white hens. White hens had higher odds of keel fractures (4.2) than brown hens. Odds of keel fractures were 3.7 and 5.7 times higher at 54 and 72 wk than at 28 wk in all strains (P ≤ 0.05). Occupying the upper tier at night increased odds of keel fractures by 5.4 times. Occupying perches was associated with lower odds of foot lesions and poor plumage quality in all strains across the lay cycle (P ≤ 0.05). Finally, white hens were associated with lower odds of non-nest laying (0.76), whereas higher nest use by brown hens resulted in higher odds of non-nest egg laying (1.56) across the lay cycle (P ≤ 0.05). Distinct strain differences in resource use in an aviary were associated with different risks to hens' production, health, and welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed B A Ali
- Animal and Veterinary Science Department, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA.
| | - Dana L M Campbell
- CSIRO, Agriculture and Food, New England Highway, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia
| | - Janice M Siegford
- Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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Karcher D, Jones D, Robison C, Eberle K, Gast R, Anderson K. Production and Well-Being Resulting From Delayed Movement of Pullets to the Hen Facility. J APPL POULTRY RES 2019. [DOI: 10.3382/japr/pfy068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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