Let me sleep! Welfare of broilers (Gallus gallus domesticus) with disrupted resting behaviour

Abstract

Perching is important for broiler welfare, however, hampered by body weight. In a mixed flock, resting behaviour and location were compared between three broiler hybrids (Rowan Ranger, Hubbard CYJA57 & Ross 308; n=100/hybrid), differing in growth. Rearing was in a large littered pen (1.84 birds/m(2)), with perches. Behaviour and position was observed in focal birds on daytime and as group scans on daytime (days 11, 45, 61 and 80) and night-time (days 63, 70 and 77). Birds were slaughtered at 84 days and accumulated mortality in fast-growing birds was 20% and 2% in slow-growing. Resting frequency did not differ though fast-growing broilers perched less and lower, at night (P<.01) and day (P<.01). On daytime, males disturbed birds resting on the floor more than females did (P<.05). Disrupted rest is a potential welfare issue in broilers, hence perches or other elevated structures would improve welfare.

Keywords

Perching; hybrids; behaviour; growth rate; rest

Published in

Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A - Animal Science
2017, volume: 67, number: 3-4, pages: 123-133

SLU Authors

• Yngvesson, Jenny

  • Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Vedin, Maja

  • Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Jönsson, Lotta

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Blokhuis, Harry

  • Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Wallenbeck, Anna

  • Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Gunnarsson, Stefan

  • Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Associated SLU-program

Centre of Excellence in Animal Welfare Science

UKÄ Subject classification

Animal and Dairy Science

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09064702.2018.1485729

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/95748