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Sans ECDO, Dahlke F, Freitas Federici J, Tuyttens FAM, Forte Maiolino Molento C. Welfare of broiler chickens in Brazilian free-range versus intensive indoor production systems. J APPL ANIM WELF SCI 2023; 26:505-517. [PMID: 34761970 DOI: 10.1080/10888705.2021.1992280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
We compared broiler chicken welfare in free-range (FR) and intensive indoor (IN) systems using the Welfare Quality® Protocol. Ten FR and 11 IN farms in Brazil were assessed. Results are shown as either scores ranging from 0 to 100, where higher scores indicate better welfare, or prevalence, where lower prevalence indicates better welfare. In FR, the median prevalence was lower than in IN for mortality (2.0% vs. 4.7%, p = 0.0262), culling (0.0% vs. 0.6%, p = 0.0168), ascites (0.0% vs. 0.17%, p = 0.0431). Median welfare scores on FR farms were better for plumage cleanliness (100 vs. 59, p = 0.0001), panting or huddling (100 vs. 29, p = 0.0001), lameness (81 vs. 19, p = 0.0001), hock burn (93 vs. 37, p = 0.0001), footpad dermatitis (35 vs. 26, p = 0.0018). However, FR scores were worse for litter quality (34 vs. 100, p = 0.0003), dust (53 vs. 78, p = 0.0002), breast blisters (90 vs. 100, p = 0.0077), touch test (70 vs. 99, p = 0.0082). Better emotional states were observed in FR (p < 0.001). Even though there is room for welfare improvement in both systems, the number of welfare indicators with better results was superior in FR than in IN farms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fabiano Dahlke
- Department of Animal Science and Rural Development, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Juliana Freitas Federici
- Animal Welfare Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
| | - Frank Andre Maurice Tuyttens
- Animal Sciences Unit, Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (Ilvo), Melle, Belgium
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
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Spieß F, Reckels B, Abd-el Wahab A, Ahmed MFE, Sürie C, Auerbach M, Rautenschlein S, Distl O, Hartung J, Visscher C. The Influence of Different Types of Environmental Enrichment on the Performance and Welfare of Broiler Chickens and the Possibilities of Real-Time Monitoring via a Farmer-Assistant System. Sustainability 2022; 14:5727. [DOI: 10.3390/su14095727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of environmental enrichment on the growth performance, litter and/or air quality as well as animal welfare indicators of broilers. Control groups (CG) and trial groups (TG) were housed under identical conditions during six fattening runs, with the TG having three types of environmental enrichment and a Farmer-Assistant System (FAS). A representative number of 50 birds were weighed and litter samples were taken at d 14, 21 and 28. Additionally, the same broilers were examined for foot pad dermatitis (FPD) on those days. The average bodyweight of the birds in the CG was significantly lower (1671 g) only at d 28 compared to TG (1704 g); at d 14, d 21 and d 33 at the slaughterhouse, no significant differences were observed. The dry matter content in the litter did not significantly differ between CG and TG. Birds housed in CG had significantly higher FPD scores at d 14 (1.24) and d 21 (2.19) compared to those housed in TG (0.73 and 1.52, respectively). No effects on air quality parameters, such as CO2 and NH3, were seen between the groups. Overall, our study shows no negative influences of environmental enrichment on growth performance, litter and air quality.
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Davoodi P, Ehsani A, Vaez Torshizi R, Masoudi A. A meta-analysis comparing the composition and quality differences between chicken meats produced under the free-range and conventional systems. WORLD POULTRY SCI J 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/00439339.2022.2008781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- P. Davoodi
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - A. Ehsani
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - R. Vaez Torshizi
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - A.A. Masoudi
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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Sans ECDO, Tuyttens FAM, Taconeli CA, Rueda PM, Ciocca JR, Molento CFM. Welfare of broiler chickens reared in two different industrial house types during the winter season in Southern Brazil. Br Poult Sci 2021; 62:621-631. [PMID: 33769158 DOI: 10.1080/00071668.2021.1908519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
1. The following trial compared broiler chicken welfare in closed-sided (CS) versus open-sided (OS) industrial house types during the winter season in the South of Brazil.2. Ten flocks in each house type were evaluated as follows: a) bird health: contact dermatitis on the breast and abdominal areas (CDE), bird soiling (BSO), footpad dermatitis (FPD), hock burn (HBU), lameness (LAM), fractures (FRA), bruising (BRU), scratches (SCR), dead on arrival (DOA), and diseases (DIS); b) house environmental measurements: relative humidity (RHU), temperature (TEM), air velocity (AVE), illuminance (ILL), ammonia concentration (NH3), and carbon dioxide concentration (CO2), and c) bird behaviour and affective states: bird behaviour (BBE), touch test (TTE), and qualitative behaviour assessment (QBA).3. Statistical analyses were based on regression models for CDE, BSO, FPD, HBU, LAM and generalised linear models for DOA, FRA, BRU, SCR, and DIS. The Mann-Whitney test was used for RHU, TEM, AVE, ILL, NH3, CO2, and the t-test for TTE and LMO, with a specific regression model for BBE data and Principal Component Analysis for QBA.4. According to odds ratio for worse scores for CS relative to OS, birds were less likely to have severe scores for CDE (P = 0.040 and P = 0.007), BSO (P = 0.031, P = 0.016, and P = 0.038), and HBU (P = 0.017), and had higher median values for AVE (2.3, 0.0-7.8 m s-1 vs. 0.0, 0.0-4.3 m s-1), lower NH3 concentration (9.0, 0.0-64.0 ppm vs. 12.0, 0.0-60.0 ppm) and TTE scores (98, 96-100 vs. 67, 25-100). Worse results were observed in CS houses for higher stocking density (13.8 ± 0.2 birds/m2 vs. 12.0 ± 0.2 birds/m2), RHU (74.5, 50.7-99.9% vs 72.3, 47.4-99.9%), and TEM (23.9, 14.6-29.2°C vs. 21.7, 12.9-30.1°C), lower ILL (16.0, 1.0-60.0 lx vs. 161.0, 8.0-2380.0 lx), less drinking (P = 0.007), more inactive behaviour (P < 0.001) and lower positive emotions, according to QBA (P = 0.028).5. In the studied region and season, CS houses seemed to offer fewer welfare problems in terms of the health indicators; however, OS houses showed fewer behavioural restrictions and higher positive emotional states.
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Affiliation(s)
- E C D O Sans
- Animal Welfare Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - F A M Tuyttens
- Animal Sciences Unit, Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Melle, Belgium.,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - C A Taconeli
- Department of Statistics, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - P M Rueda
- Department of Farm Animals, World Animal Protection, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - J R Ciocca
- Department of Farm Animals, World Animal Protection, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - C F M Molento
- Animal Welfare Laboratory, Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
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Marchewka J, Sztandarski P, Zdanowska-Sąsiadek Ż, Damaziak K, Wojciechowski F, Riber AB, Gunnarsson S. Associations between welfare and ranging profile in free-range commercial and heritage meat-purpose chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus). Poult Sci 2020; 99:4141-4152. [PMID: 32867957 PMCID: PMC7598102 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2020.05.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite consumers' belief that access to an outdoor range improves chicken welfare, still little is known about whether this is true and whether individual ranging profiles relate to the birds' welfare. The aim of the present study was to identify and compare welfare issues of the traditional broiler hybrid Sasso and the Polish heritage chicken Green-legged Partridge, having outdoor access, and examine if the birds' welfare status was associated with the ranging profile: outdoor-preferring, moderate-outdoor, and indoor-preferring. In August 2018, 60 non-beak trimmed birds per genetic strain were housed in groups of 10 from weeks 5 to 10, under conditions exceeding EU requirements of organic meat chicken production. Each pen had access to an individual outdoor range that was video-recorded continuously to obtain frequencies of individual birds' use of the ranges. Plumage condition, comb pecking wounds, skin injuries, dirtiness, toe damage, eye pathologies, footpad dermatitis, hock burns, respiratory infections, diarrhea, and walking difficulties were assessed at the end of the experiment. Statistical analysis was conducted applying generalized linear mixed models, with binomial distribution and logit link using SAS software, applying breed and ranging profile as fixed factors and their interaction, with pen as random factor. A tendency for more respiratory infections was observed in Sasso birds from each ranging profile, as compared to matching ranging profiles presented by Green-legged Partridges (outdoor-preferring: P = 0.0012; moderate-outdoor: P < 0.0001; and indoor-preferring: P = 0.0247). Indoor-preferring Green-legged Partridges tended to present more respiratory infections, as compared to the 2 other ranging profiles within the breed (outdoor-preferring: P = 0.0291; moderate-outdoor: P = 0.0448). Regardless of the breed, toe damages were more frequent in indoor-preferring birds, as compared to other ranging profiles (P = 0.017). It remains unknown whether the use of outdoor areas prevents development of welfare issues or if birds with a suboptimal welfare condition become indoor-preferring individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Marchewka
- Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Polish Academy of Sciences, 05-552 Magdalenka, Poland.
| | - Patryk Sztandarski
- Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Polish Academy of Sciences, 05-552 Magdalenka, Poland
| | | | - Krzysztof Damaziak
- Department of Animal Breeding, Faculty of Animal Breeding, Bioengineering and Conservation, Institute of Animal Science, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Franciszek Wojciechowski
- Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Polish Academy of Sciences, 05-552 Magdalenka, Poland
| | - Anja B Riber
- Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, Aarhus DK-8830, Tjele, Denmark
| | - Stefan Gunnarsson
- Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), S-532 23 Skara, Sweden
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Heidemann MS, Molento CFM, Reis GG, Phillips CJC. Uncoupling Meat From Animal Slaughter and Its Impacts on Human-Animal Relationships. Front Psychol 2020; 11:1824. [PMID: 32849075 PMCID: PMC7418524 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Slaughter sets the debate about what is acceptable to do to animals at an extremely low bar. Recently, there has been considerable investment in developing cell-based meat, an alternative meat production process that does not require the raising and slaughtering of animals, instead using muscle cells cultivated in a bioreactor. We discuss the animal ethics impacts of cell-based and plant-based meat on human-animal interactions from animal welfare and rights perspectives, focusing on industrial meat production scenarios. Our hypothesis is that the insertion of cell-based meat in the global meat market may alleviate farm animal suffering and potentially restore resources for wild fauna. We employed a conservative estimation of the cell-based meat contribution to the global meat market in the year 2040 to analyze the consequences for human-animal relationships for both wild animals and farmed domesticated animals. We discuss possible effects of an animal cell domestication process, previously described as the second domestication, on human-animal relationships. We consider its potential to reduce the impact of human demographic changes and land use on animal life, in particular whether there would be increased biomass availability and free land for wild animals. We anticipate a major reduction in animal suffering due to the decrease in the number of individual animals involved in food production, which justifies the adoption of cell-based meat from a utilitarian perspective. For the conventional animal food production that remains, further consideration is needed to understand which systems, either high or low welfare, will be retained and the impact of the innovation on the average farm animal welfare. Additionally, it seems likely that there will be less acceptance of the necessity of animal suffering in farming systems when meat production is uncoupled from animal raising and slaughter, supported by a deontological perspective of animal ethics. Consequent to this is anticipated the mitigation of relevant barriers to animal protection and to the recognition of animals as subjects by legislation. Thus, the development of the alternative meats may be related to a significant change in our relationship with non-human animals, with greater benefits than the prima facie effects on farm animals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Germano Glufk Reis
- School of Business Administration, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Clive Julian Christie Phillips
- Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics, Faculty of Science, The University of Queensland - Gatton Campus, Gatton, QLD, Australia
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Souillard R, Répérant JM, Experton C, Huneau-Salaun A, Coton J, Balaine L, Le Bouquin S. Husbandry Practices, Health, and Welfare Status of Organic Broilers in France. Animals (Basel) 2019; 9:E97. [PMID: 30893832 DOI: 10.3390/ani9030097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Organic poultry production has grown rapidly in Europe for the past several years in the context of sustainable development within farming. The authors carried out a field study in France between 2014 and 2015 concerning 85 organic broiler flocks that showed a wide diversity of farming management systems from independent farmers set up for direct sales of poultry to farmers under contract with a company for product sales. Health and welfare characteristics did not significantly differ between these two farming systems, except slightly dirtier feathers and more footpad dermatitis on the independent farms, related to the poultry housing conditions in mobile houses. A mortality rate of 2.8% was found, with digestive problems mainly being observed. Better knowledge of husbandry practices, health, and the welfare status of organic poultry is of primary importance to improve the management of organic production and to help in characterizing farming sustainability. Abstract Organic poultry production has increased sharply with growing consumer demand in the context of sustainable development. A study was conducted in 85 organic broiler flocks between 2014 and 2015 to describe the husbandry practices and the health and welfare status of organic broilers in France, and to study farming diversity by comparing independent farms (Ind farms, n = 15) with direct sales to farms working with companies (Comp farms, n = 70). Each flock was visited at 3 and 11 weeks of age to collect data on farming conditions, health disorders, and mortality. Welfare notation of 30 broilers per flock and parasitic examination of 5 broilers per flock was also performed. Findings showed significantly different farming management between Ind farms and Comp farms, with smaller flocks on the Ind farms (476 broilers/house vs. 3062 broilers/house, p < 0.01) more frequently in mobile houses. The mean mortality rate was 2.8%, mainly involving digestive disorders. Helminths were detected in 58.8% of the flocks. On average, 21.9% and 5.8% of broilers in a flock had footpad dermatitis and dirty feathers, respectively. The health and welfare characteristics of organic broilers on Ind farms vs. Comp farms were not significantly different, except dirtier feathers and more footpad dermatitis on Ind farms (19.1% vs. 2.9%, p = 0.03 and 39.6% vs. 18.1%, p = 0.02, respectively), associated with poultry housing conditions in mobile houses (p < 0.01). This study provides greater insight into farming sustainability aspects related to the husbandry practices, and the health and welfare of organic broilers in France.
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Can E, Vieira A, Battini M, Mattiello S, Stilwell G. On-farm welfare assessment of dairy goat farms using animal-based indicators: the example of 30 commercial farms in Portugal. ACTA AGR SCAND A-AN 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/09064702.2016.1208267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- E. Can
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Animal Behaviour and Welfare Lab, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - A. Vieira
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Animal Behaviour and Welfare Lab, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, Lisboa, Portugal
- Centre for Management Studies, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - M. Battini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie e Sanità Pubblica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - S. Mattiello
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie e Sanità Pubblica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - G. Stilwell
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Animal Behaviour and Welfare Lab, Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, Lisboa, Portugal
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Tuyttens F, Federici J, Vanderhasselt R, Goethals K, Duchateau L, Sans E, Molento C. Assessment of welfare of Brazilian and Belgian broiler flocks using the Welfare Quality protocol. Poult Sci 2015; 94:1758-66. [DOI: 10.3382/ps/pev167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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