Husbandry Conditions and Welfare Outcomes in Organic Egg Production in Eight European Countries

Animals

卷:10

Paolo Ferrari¹  Monique Bestman²  Stefan Gunnarsson³  Jan Tind Sørensen⁴  Christine Brenninkmeyer⁵  Ute Knierim⁵  Lisa Jung⁵  Frank A. M. Tuyttens⁶  Knut Niebuhr⁷ 

[1] CRPA, Research Centre for Animal Producton, V.le Timavo 43/2, 42121 Reggio Emilia, Italy;

[2] Department of Agriculture, Louis Bolk Institute, Kosterijland 3–5, 3981 AJ Bunnik, The Netherlands;

[3] Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), P.O. Box 234, S-532 23 Skara, Sweden;

[4] Department of Animal Science, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark;

[5] Farm Animal Behaviour and Husbandry Section, University of Kassel, Nordbahnhofstraße 1a, 37213 Witzenhausen, Germany;

[6] Farm Animal Welfare and Behaviour Group, Animal Sciences Unit, Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Scheldeweg 68, B-9090 Melle and Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Heidestraat 19, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium;

[7] Institute of Animal Husbandry and Animal Welfare, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria;

关键词: animal welfare;    laying hen health;    feather pecking;    keel bone damage;    laying hen;    parasite load;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ani10112102

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

In the European research project HealthyHens, welfare indicators as well as husbandry and management conditions were recorded in 107 organic laying hen farms in eight countries. Farms were visited at peak and end of lay. Egg production was on average comparable to breeder specifications. A mean mortality of 5.7% and mean prevalences of footpad lesions of 30.5%, keel bone damage of 44.5%, 57.3% of flocks with on average >200 Ascarid eggs per gram faeces and 28.2% of flocks with >100 mites/trap were recorded. A large variation between flocks indicated options for improvement. Based on the results, the following measures can be recommended: (i) decreasing mite and worm infestation and (ii) providing an attractive covered veranda, because of their association with decreased mortality; (iii) maximising access to the free range, because of its relation to decreased A. galli infection and less injurious pecking; (iv) feeding sufficient protein levels and (v) providing adequate litter as preventive measure against feather pecking and cannibalism; (vi) ensuring that the birds have sufficient weight and (vii) preventing accidents by adequate hen house facilities and light conditions to reduce keel bone damage. These primarily management-based measures have the potential to improve bird welfare both in terms of behavioural and health aspects.

【 授权许可】

Unknown