• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.536-546
• /
• 2024

Objective: This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of grain-based pecking blocks on productivity and welfare status at two commercial broiler welfare-certified farms. Methods: Production and welfare indicators were assessed at two farms (designated Farm A and B). Both farms had two windowless houses with forced tunnel-type ventilation and housed broilers at stocking densities of approximately 16.7 birds/m² (Farm A) and 16.8 birds/m² (Farm B). Each house was divided into two or three equal sections and was provided with or without pecking blocks. Grain-based pecking blocks, measuring 25 × 25 × 25 cm, were given to broilers in both farms at 1 block per 1,000 birds. Various parameters including productivity (body weight and flock uniformity), corticosterone levels (in fecal droppings and feathers), footpad dermatitis, hock burn, feather dirtiness, gait score, litter quality, body surface temperature, and volatile fatty acids in fecal samples were assessed at 26 days of age, whereas litter quality was analyzed at 13 and 26 days of age. Results: There were no significant effects of providing pecking blocks on productivity (body weight and uniformity), fecal and feather corticosterone, welfare indicators (i.e., footpad dermatitis, hock burn, feather cleanliness, and gait score), and litter quality (i.e., moisture, nitrogen, and pH). No differences in body surface temperature between the control and enrichment treatments were noted in Farm B, but body surface temperatures of the head (p = 0.029) and legs (p = 0.011) in the enrichment vs. control group were elevated in Farm A. Butyrate concentration in the enrichment vs control group was higher in Farm B (p = 0.023), but this effect was not detected in Farm A. Conclusion: It is concluded that grain-based pecking blocks did not affect performance and welfare indicators. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the potential impact of grain-based pecking blocks on gut health indicators.

• KOREAN POULTRY JOURNAL
• /
• v.34 no.3 s.389
• /
• pp.128-130
• /
• 2002

• KOREAN POULTRY JOURNAL
• /
• v.55 no.9
• /
• pp.148-152
• /
• 2023

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.589-600
• /
• 2021

The present study investigated the effect of perch material type (wood and steel) on performance, blood characteristics, and feather pecking. A total of 1,700, one-day-old female Hy-Line brown chicks were evenly assigned to two treatments (wood and steel). The body weight and uniformity of birds were investigated over a 10-week experimental period. Blood characteristics and feather pecking was conducted at week 10. The wood perch treatment (WP) and steel perch treatment (SP) did not differ in their body weight, uniformity, and serum biochemical profile (except inorganic phosphorus) of pullets. Inorganic phosphorus on serum in WP significantly higher than that in SP (P<0.05). Blood corpuscle composition (leukocyte, erythrocyte, and Heterophil / Lymphocyte ratio) of pullets did not show any significant differences among treatments at week 10. Serum corticosterone and feather score that is stress and welfare indices were not affected by the type of perch material. In conclusion, our results suggest that performance, blood characteristics, and feather pecking of pullets were not affected by the perch material type. The results of this study can serve as basic data for investigating the effects of perch type on layer pullets.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.47 no.2
• /
• pp.83-93
• /
• 2020

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of stocking density on feather condition, egg quality, blood parameters, and corticosterone levels of laying hens reared in conventional cages. A total of 500, 28 weeks-old Hy-Line Brown laying hens were evenly assigned to two stocking densities (750 and 500 ㎠/bird). There were 50 replicates of each treatment, each consisting of 750 ㎠/birds (n=6) or 500 ㎠/bird (n=4) birds in a cage, respectively. We observed an increase in the laying period of, the group that was assigned 500 ㎠/bird, however, this group experienced significant feather damage when compared with the group allotted 750 ㎠ bird. There was no effect of stocking densities on egg quality. These results suggest that the 500 ㎠/bird stocking density in the conventional cage can negatively affect feather condition and cause the birds to experience more stress than the group allotted 750 ㎠/bird.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.584-591
• /
• 2012

To evaluate the role of using forage, shade and shelterbelts in attracting birds into the range, three trials were undertaken with free range layers both on a research facility and on commercial farms. Each of the trials on the free range research facility in South Australia used a total of 120 laying hens (Hyline Brown). Birds were housed in an eco-shelter which had 6 internal pens of equal size with a free range area adjoining the shelter. The on-farm trials were undertaken on commercial free range layer farms in the Darling Downs in Southeast Queensland with bird numbers on farms ranging from 2,000-6,800 hens. The first research trial examined the role of shaded areas in the range; the second trial examined the role of forage and the third trial examined the influence of shelterbelts in the range. These treatments were compared to a free range area with no enrichment. Aggressive feather pecking was only observed on a few occasions in all of the trials due to the low bird numbers housed. Enriching the free range environment attracted more birds into the range. Shaded areas were used by 18% of the hens with a tendency (p = 0.07) for more hens to be in the paddock. When forage was provided in paddocks more control birds (55%) were observed in the range in morning than in the afternoon (30%) while for the forage treatments 45% of the birds were in the range both during the morning and afternoon. When shelterbelts were provided there was a significantly (p<0.05) higher % of birds in the range (43% vs. 24%) and greater numbers of birds were observed in areas further away from the poultry house. The results from the on-farm trials mirrored the research trials. Overall 3 times more hens used the shaded areas than the non shaded areas, with slightly more using the shade in the morning than in the afternoon. As the environmental temperature increased the number of birds using the outdoor shade also increased. Overall 17 times more hens used the shelterbelt areas than the control areas, with slightly more using the shelterbelts in the afternoon than in the morning. Approximately 17 times more birds used the forage areas compared to the control area in the corresponding range. There were 8 times more birds using a hay bale enriched area compared to the area with no hay bales. The use of forage sources (including hay bales) were the most successful method on-farm to attract birds into the range followed by shelterbelts and artificial shade. Free range egg farmers are encouraged to provide pasture, shaded areas and shelterbelts to attract birds into the free range.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.887-894
• /
• 2016

This study was conducted to compare the effects of layout of furniture (a perch, nest, and sandbox) in cages on behavior and welfare of hens. Two hundred and sixteen Hyline Brown laying hens were divided into five groups (treatments) with four replicates per group: small furnished cages (SFC), medium furnished cages type I (MFC-I), medium furnished cages type II (MFC-II), and medium furnished cages type III (MFC-III) and conventional cages (CC). The experiment started at 18 week of age and finished at 52 week of age. Hens' behaviors were filmed during the following periods: 8:00 to 10:00; 13:00 to 14:00; 16:00 to 17:00 on three separate days and two hens from each cage were measured for welfare parameters at 50 wk of age. The results showed that feeding and laying of all hens showed no effect by cage type (p>0.05), and the hens in the furnished cages had significantly lower standing and higher walking than CC hens (p<0.05). The birds in MFC-III had significant higher preening, scratching and feather-pecking behavior than in the other cages (p<0.05). No difference in nesting behavior was found in the hens between the furnished cages (p>0.05). The hens in MFC-I, -II, and -III showed a significant higher socializing behavior than SFC and CC (p<0.05). The lowest perching was for the hens in SFC and the highest perching found for the hens in MFC-III. Overall, the hens in CC showed poorer welfare conditions than the furnished cages, in which the feather condition score, gait score and tonic immobility duration of the hens in CC was significantly higher than SFC, MFC-I, MFC-II, and MFC-III (p<0.05). In conclusion, the furnished cage design affected both behavior and welfare states of hens. Overall, MFC-III cage design was better than SFC, MFC-I, and MFC-II cage designs.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.20 no.7
• /
• pp.145-150
• /
• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate farmers' field survey to improve animal welfare certification standards and to obtain basic data on the animal welfare level for certified farmers to develop evaluation methods of animal welfare level suitable for domestic farm environment. The subjects of the study were selected 10 animal welfare laying certified farmhouses. The farming certified farming facility survey collected breeding form, head, feed and drink space, breeding density, length and shape of perch. Animal welfare was assessed by the presence of sand bath, spawning, enrichment measures, free range, feathers pecking. The results of the study showed that most the certified animal welfare laying hens complied with the certification standards. All the farms were providing the nest box, but there were farms with more than 20% of the spawning rate. The perches were provided in sufficient length, but only three of ten farms were using rounded perches. Feather damage has been identified in most survey farms, which is likely to be due to feather damage caused by roosters producing both fertilized eggs. In this study, 10 farm households were surveyed. It was not possible to represent the whole certified farmhouse. Therefore, it should be analyzed thoroughly to evaluate the level of animal welfare.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.61-80
• /
• 2010

Poultry welfare has recently appeared as worldwide concern as well as Korea. The recent action plan for farm animal welfare introduced by the European Commission intends to expand the body of regulatory standards. In this context, many countries and/or organization are on the verge of establishing the most optimum poultry welfare standards. To establish the most optimum standards, comparative analysis of feeding regimen before and after welfare-bestowed environment need to be preceded. Most guidelines or standards for poultry welfare do not suggest the nutritional requirements and feeding system in detail, although it is deterimental especially for the farmer. This review intends to find scientific base to establish detailed welfare feeding guidelines. However, only limited research has been conducted in the view of actual poultry welfare. The results indicated the incidence of SDS, ascites, skeletal dysfunctions caused by fast growth rate in broiler, feather pecking and cannibalism in laying hen, and feed restriction in broiler breeder could be reduced by changing nutritional regimen and feeding strategies or both. The regimen and feeding strategies are certainly near to the direction that the poultry welfare ought to be in the right track. In this article, feeding and drinking guidelines in many standards as well as welfare feeding experiments have been reviewed and compared In the view of chicken productivity, welfare physiology and poultry health.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.13 no.11
• /
• pp.1619-1637
• /
• 2000

A review was undertaken to obtain information on the range of beak-trimming methods available or under development. Beak-trimming of commercial layer replacement pullets is a common yet critical management tool that can affect the performance for the life of the flock. The most obvious advantage of beak-trimming is a reduction in cannibalism although the extent of the reduction in cannibalism depends on the strain, season, and type of housing, flock health and other factors. Beak-trimming also improves feed conversion by reducing food wastage. A further advantage of beak-trimming is a reduction in the chronic stress associated with dominance interactions in the flock. Beak-trimming of birds at 7-10 days is favoured by Industry but research over last 10 years has shown that beak-trimming at day-old causes the least stress on birds and efforts are needed to encourage Industry to adopt the practice of beak-trimming birds at day-old. Proper beak-trimming can result in greatly improved layer performance but improper beak-trimming can ruin an other wise good flock of hens. Re-trimming is practiced in most flocks, although there are some flocks that only need one trimming. Given the continuing welfare scrutiny of using a hot blade to cut the beak, attempts have been made to develop more welfare friendly methods of beak-trimming. Despite the developments in design of hot blade beak-trimmers the process has remained largely unchanged. That is, a red-hot blade cuts and cauterises the beak. The variables in the process are blade temperature, cauterisation time, operator ability, severity of trimming, age of trimming, strain of bird and beak length. This method of beak-trimming is still overwhelmingly favoured in Industry and there appears to be no other alternative procedures that are more effective. Sharp secateurs have been used trim the upper beak of both layers and turkeys. Bleeding from the upper mandible ceases shortly after the operation, and despite the regrowth of the beak a reduction of cannibalism has been reported. Very few differences have been noted between behaviour and production of the hot blade and cold blade cut chickens. This method has not been used on a large scale in Industry. There are anecdotal reports of cannibalism outbreaks in birds with regrown beaks. A robotic beak-trimming machine was developed in France, which permitted simultaneous, automated beak-trimming and vaccination of day-old chicks of up to 4,500 chickens per hour. Use of the machine was not successful because if the chicks were not loaded correctly they could drop off the line, receive excessive beak-trimming or very light trimming. Robotic beak-trimming was not effective if there was a variation in the weight or size of chickens. Capsaicin can cause degeneration of sensory nerves in mammals and decreases the rate of beak regrowth by its action on the sensory nerves. Capsaicin is a cheap, non-toxic substance that can be readily applied at the time of less severe beak-trimming. It suffers the disadvantage of causing an extreme burning sensation in operators who come in contact with the substance during its application to the bird. Methods of applying the substance to minimise the risk to operators of coming in contact with capsaicin need to be explored. A method was reported which cuts the beaks with a laser beam in day-old chickens. No details were provided on the type of laser used, or the severity of beak-trimming, but by 16 weeks the beaks of laser trimmed birds resembled the untrimmed beaks, but without the bill tip. Feather pecking and cannibalism during the laying period were highest among the laser trimmed hens. Currently laser machines are available that are transportable and research to investigate the effectiveness of beak-trimming using ablasive and coagulative lasers used in human medicine should be explored. Liquid nitrogen was used to declaw emu toes but was not effective. There was regrowth of the claws and the time and cost involved in the procedure limit the potential of using this process to beak-trim birds.