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Evans L, Brooks GC, Anderson MG, Campbell AM, Jacobs L. Environmental Complexity and Reduced Stocking Density Promote Positive Behavioral Outcomes in Broiler Chickens. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2074. [PMID: 37443872 PMCID: PMC10339985 DOI: 10.3390/ani13132074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The objective was to evaluate the impacts of a complex environment and stocking density on Ross 708 broiler chicken behaviors. Eight pens contained either high complexity (HC) or low complexity (LC) environments, and high (HD) or low (LD) density. Through focal-animal sampling, the frequency and duration of behaviors were recorded continuously for 5 min at two timepoints for one day in weeks 2, 4, and 7. Birds were active for 30% of the observed time, with birds showing more activity in HC compared with LC. Birds in HC pens spent more time preening and foraging than birds in LC pens, which was interpreted as a positive outcome. Dustbathing and play were not impacted by complexity, possibly due to the observation method. Birds were more frequently active at HD compared with LD, but did not spend more time being active, suggesting disturbances. Birds foraged, drank, and ate less frequently in HD compared with LD, presumably because birds had more difficulty accessing resources. Activity and active behaviors reduced as birds aged, while preening frequency increased, possibly due to frustration, but this was not confirmed. Perching was unaffected by age, showing a persistent motivation to perform the behavior. Our results indicate that a complex environment provides positive stimulation for foraging, locomotion, preening, and overall activity. Despite reduced activity, many benefits of the tested environmental complexity and low density persisted as birds aged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Evans
- Virginia Tech, School of Animal Sciences, 175 West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (L.E.); (M.G.A.); (A.M.C.)
| | - George C. Brooks
- Virginia Tech, Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, 310 West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA;
| | - Mallory G. Anderson
- Virginia Tech, School of Animal Sciences, 175 West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (L.E.); (M.G.A.); (A.M.C.)
| | - Andrew M. Campbell
- Virginia Tech, School of Animal Sciences, 175 West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (L.E.); (M.G.A.); (A.M.C.)
| | - Leonie Jacobs
- Virginia Tech, School of Animal Sciences, 175 West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (L.E.); (M.G.A.); (A.M.C.)
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Horna F, Leandro GDS, Bícego KC, Macari M, Reis MP, Cerrate S, Sakomura NK. Energy cost of physical activities in growing broilers. Br Poult Sci 2023:1-8. [PMID: 36947419 DOI: 10.1080/00071668.2023.2191309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
The time-energy budget method estimates the energy used for physical activity (PA) based on recorded daily patterns and indirect calorimetry. Nevertheless, information about individual energy cost by type of PA are not available and so this study estimated the energy cost of PA for growing broilers.An indirect calorimetry system for single birds was constructed to measure the variation in the rate of O2 consumption (V˙O2, L/min) and rate of CO2 production (V˙CO2, L/min) produced by these PAs.A total of five birds were used in a replicated trialwhere their body weight (BW) ranged from 1.5 to 2.5 kg to measure the increase in heat production (HP) above resting levels as a result of PA. The procedure in the chamber was divided into five steps: (1) initial baselining, (2) resting metabolic rate, (3) PA such as feeding, drinking and other standing activities, (4) removal of gas exchange produced in step 3 and (5) final baselining. The PA was recorded using a video camera fixed at the chamber's top (and outside).The area under V˙CO2 and V˙O2 curves was used to calculate the CO2 production (vCO2, L) and O2 consumption (vO2, L). Then, the HP (cal/kg-0.75) was calculated according to the Brouwer equation. Two observers analysed the video records to estimate the time spent for each PA (seconds and frequency).To calculate the energetic coefficients, the HP was regressed with the function of time spent to perform each PA allowing to estimate the energy cost for eating, drinking and stand activities, which were 0.607, 0.352 and 0.938 cal/kg-0.75/s, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Freddy Horna
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Da Silva Leandro
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Kênia Carsdoso Bícego
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcos Macari
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Matheus Paula Reis
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Nilva Kazue Sakomura
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
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Nielsen SS, Alvarez J, Bicout DJ, Calistri P, Canali E, Drewe JA, Garin‐Bastuji B, Gonzales Rojas JL, Schmidt CG, Herskin MS, Miranda Chueca MÁ, Padalino B, Pasquali P, Roberts HC, Spoolder H, Stahl K, Velarde A, Viltrop A, Winckler C, Tiemann I, de Jong I, Gebhardt‐Henrich SG, Keeling L, Riber AB, Ashe S, Candiani D, García Matas R, Hempen M, Mosbach‐Schulz O, Rojo Gimeno C, Van der Stede Y, Vitali M, Bailly‐Caumette E, Michel V. Welfare of broilers on farm. EFSA J 2023; 21:e07788. [PMID: 36824680 PMCID: PMC9941850 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2023.7788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
This Scientific Opinion considers the welfare of domestic fowl (Gallus gallus) related to the production of meat (broilers) and includes the keeping of day-old chicks, broiler breeders, and broiler chickens. Currently used husbandry systems in the EU are described. Overall, 19 highly relevant welfare consequences (WCs) were identified based on severity, duration and frequency of occurrence: 'bone lesions', 'cold stress', 'gastro-enteric disorders', 'group stress', 'handling stress', 'heat stress', 'isolation stress', 'inability to perform comfort behaviour', 'inability to perform exploratory or foraging behaviour', 'inability to avoid unwanted sexual behaviour', 'locomotory disorders', 'prolonged hunger', 'prolonged thirst', 'predation stress', 'restriction of movement', 'resting problems', 'sensory under- and overstimulation', 'soft tissue and integument damage' and 'umbilical disorders'. These WCs and their animal-based measures (ABMs) that can identify them are described in detail. A variety of hazards related to the different husbandry systems were identified as well as ABMs for assessing the different WCs. Measures to prevent or correct the hazards and/or mitigate each of the WCs are listed. Recommendations are provided on quantitative or qualitative criteria to answer specific questions on the welfare of broilers and related to genetic selection, temperature, feed and water restriction, use of cages, light, air quality and mutilations in breeders such as beak trimming, de-toeing and comb dubbing. In addition, minimal requirements (e.g. stocking density, group size, nests, provision of litter, perches and platforms, drinkers and feeders, of covered veranda and outdoor range) for an enclosure for keeping broiler chickens (fast-growing, slower-growing and broiler breeders) are recommended. Finally, 'total mortality', 'wounds', 'carcass condemnation' and 'footpad dermatitis' are proposed as indicators for monitoring at slaughter the welfare of broilers on-farm.
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Holt RV, Vas J, Vasdal G, Newberry RC. A buffet of litters - Broiler chickens behave differently according to litter type and freshness. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2023.105856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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Biasato I, Bellezza Oddon S, Chemello G, Gariglio M, Fiorilla E, Dabbou S, Pipan M, Dekleva D, Macchi E, Gasco L, Schiavone A. Welfare implications for broiler chickens reared in an insect larvae-enriched environment: Focus on bird behaviour, plumage status, leg health, and excreta corticosterone. Front Physiol 2022; 13:930158. [PMID: 36091356 PMCID: PMC9452844 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.930158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of insect live larvae as environmental enrichment has recently been proposed in broiler chickens, but the concomitant administration of black soldier fly (BSF) and yellow mealworm (YM) has never been tested yet. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the effects of live BSF and YM larvae as environmental enrichments for broiler chickens by means of plumage status, behaviour, leg health, and excreta corticosterone metabolites (CM). A total of 180 4-day old male Ross 308 broiler chickens were randomly distributed in 3 experimental treatments (6 replicates/treatment, 10 birds/replicate) and fed for 35 days as follows: 1) control (C, commercial feed), 2) BSF: C + 5% of the expected daily feed intake [DFI] live BSF larvae and 3) YM: C + 5% of the expected DFI live YM larvae. Feathering, hock burn (HB) and footpad dermatitis (FPD) scores (end of the trial), as well as behavioural observations (beginning of the trial [T0] and every 11 days [T1, T2 and T3] during morning, larvae intake and afternoon) through video recordings, were assessed, and excreta samples collected to evaluate the CM. Feathering, HB and FPD scores, and excreta CM were unaffected by insect live larvae administration (p > 0.05). In the morning, the insect-fed birds displayed higher stretching, wing flapping, ground pecking (at T1 and T3), as well as lower preening (at T1 and T2), than the C group (p < 0.05). During the larvae intake, higher scratching, wing flapping and ground pecking, as well as lower stretching, preening and laying down, were observed in the insect-fed (scratching, stretching and laying down) or YM-fed (wing flapping, ground pecking and preening) groups than the C birds (p < 0.05). In the afternoon, insect live larvae administration increased wing flapping (YM) and laying down (BSF and YM), as well as decreased ground pecking (YM, p < 0.05). In conclusion, the administration of insect live larvae as environmental enrichment (especially YM) was capable of positively influencing the bird welfare through the stimulation of foraging behaviour, increase in activity levels, and reduction in bird frustration, without affecting the plumage status, leg health, and excreta CM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Biasato
- Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Sara Bellezza Oddon
- Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Giulia Chemello
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
| | - Marta Gariglio
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Edoardo Fiorilla
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Sihem Dabbou
- Center Agriculture Food Environment, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Miha Pipan
- Entomics Biosystems, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Elisabetta Macchi
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Laura Gasco
- Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Achille Schiavone
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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Akter S, Liu Y, Cheng B, Classen J, Oviedo E, Harris D, Wang-Li L. Impacts of Air Velocity Treatments under Summer Conditions: Part II—Heavy Broiler’s Behavioral Response. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12091050. [PMID: 35565477 PMCID: PMC9103274 DOI: 10.3390/ani12091050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Broiler chickens exposed to heat stress adapt to various behavioral changes to regulate their comfortable body temperature, which is critical to ensure their performance and welfare. Hence, assessing various behavioral responses in birds when they are subjected to environmental changes can be essential for assessing their welfare under heat-stressed conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of two air velocity (AV) treatments on heavy broilers’ behavioral changes from 43 to 54 days under summer conditions. Two AV treatments (high and low) were applied in six poultry growth chambers with three chambers per treatment and 44 COBB broilers per chamber from 28 to 61 days in the summer of 2019. Three video cameras placed inside each chamber (2.44 m × 2.44 m × 2.44 m in dimension) were used to record the behavior of different undisturbed birds, such as feeding, drinking, resting, standing, walking, panting, etc. The results indicate that the number of chickens feeding, drinking, standing, walking, sitting, wing flapping, and leg stretching changed under AV treatments. High AV increased the number of chickens feeding, standing, and walking. Moreover, a two-way interaction with age and the time of day can affect drinking and panting. This study provides insights into heavy broilers’ behavioral changes under heat-stressed conditions and AV treatments, which will help guide management practices to improve birds’ performance and welfare under commercial conditions in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suraiya Akter
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (S.A.); (Y.L.); (B.C.); (J.C.)
| | - Yingying Liu
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (S.A.); (Y.L.); (B.C.); (J.C.)
- Department of Automation, College of Artificial Intelligence, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Bin Cheng
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (S.A.); (Y.L.); (B.C.); (J.C.)
| | - John Classen
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (S.A.); (Y.L.); (B.C.); (J.C.)
| | - Edgar Oviedo
- Prestage Poultry Science Department, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA;
| | - Dan Harris
- Department of Statistics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA;
| | - Lingjuan Wang-Li
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (S.A.); (Y.L.); (B.C.); (J.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-919-515-6762
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