A comparison of fast growing broiler chickens with a slower-growing breed type reared on Higher Welfare commercial farms

Slowing the growth of modern broiler chickens can have a positive effect on a number of welfare outcomes. However, relatively few studies have compared fast and slower growing broiler chickens reared under the same commercial conditions. The main aim of this study was to evaluate a slower growing br...

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Autores principales:	Mary Baxter, Anne Richmond, Ursula Lavery, Niamh E. O’Connell
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2021
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/2de1e65b15084c2d9850061a26fd78cf
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:2de1e65b15084c2d9850061a26fd78cf2021-11-11T07:14:42ZA comparison of fast growing broiler chickens with a slower-growing breed type reared on Higher Welfare commercial farms1932-6203https://doaj.org/article/2de1e65b15084c2d9850061a26fd78cf2021-01-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8568122/?tool=EBIhttps://doaj.org/toc/1932-6203Slowing the growth of modern broiler chickens can have a positive effect on a number of welfare outcomes. However, relatively few studies have compared fast and slower growing broiler chickens reared under the same commercial conditions. The main aim of this study was to evaluate a slower growing breed and standard fast growing broilers on commercial farms. Ross 308 broilers and slower growing Hubbard Redbro broilers were housed on six farms for 17 production cycles. Production data were available for all cycles. Behaviour and environmental measures were taken over one cycle on each of two farms. The farms were visited during weeks 3–6 for both breeds and week 7 for Redbros. We found that breed had a significant effect on a number of measures, including gait score, latency to lie, feather cover, avoidance distances, perch use and play behaviour (p < 0.05). Gait scores were consistently lower among the Redbro flocks during weeks 4, 5, 6 and 7. Redbro broilers generally had longer latency to lie times, better feather cover, and were more reactive to approaching observers. They also showed higher levels of perch use and play. Despite these indications of improved locomotion and physical ability, we found little difference in their general behaviour. However, Redbro broilers did perform longer activity bouts in week 7 than Ross 308s in their final week. There was no effect of breed on dust levels, ammonia concentration or litter condition. Redbro broilers were slaughtered 5.5 days later than Ross 308 birds at a lower average weight (2.32 vs 2.52kg) and had lower mortality, fewer culls and fewer carcasses downgraded at the abattoir. Our results suggest that the slower growing strain was healthier throughout the cycle and more capable of displaying some natural behaviours.Mary BaxterAnne RichmondUrsula LaveryNiamh E. O’ConnellPublic Library of Science (PLoS)articleMedicineRScienceQENPLoS ONE, Vol 16, Iss 11 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Mary Baxter Anne Richmond Ursula Lavery Niamh E. O’Connell A comparison of fast growing broiler chickens with a slower-growing breed type reared on Higher Welfare commercial farms
description	Slowing the growth of modern broiler chickens can have a positive effect on a number of welfare outcomes. However, relatively few studies have compared fast and slower growing broiler chickens reared under the same commercial conditions. The main aim of this study was to evaluate a slower growing breed and standard fast growing broilers on commercial farms. Ross 308 broilers and slower growing Hubbard Redbro broilers were housed on six farms for 17 production cycles. Production data were available for all cycles. Behaviour and environmental measures were taken over one cycle on each of two farms. The farms were visited during weeks 3–6 for both breeds and week 7 for Redbros. We found that breed had a significant effect on a number of measures, including gait score, latency to lie, feather cover, avoidance distances, perch use and play behaviour (p < 0.05). Gait scores were consistently lower among the Redbro flocks during weeks 4, 5, 6 and 7. Redbro broilers generally had longer latency to lie times, better feather cover, and were more reactive to approaching observers. They also showed higher levels of perch use and play. Despite these indications of improved locomotion and physical ability, we found little difference in their general behaviour. However, Redbro broilers did perform longer activity bouts in week 7 than Ross 308s in their final week. There was no effect of breed on dust levels, ammonia concentration or litter condition. Redbro broilers were slaughtered 5.5 days later than Ross 308 birds at a lower average weight (2.32 vs 2.52kg) and had lower mortality, fewer culls and fewer carcasses downgraded at the abattoir. Our results suggest that the slower growing strain was healthier throughout the cycle and more capable of displaying some natural behaviours.
format	article
author	Mary Baxter Anne Richmond Ursula Lavery Niamh E. O’Connell
author_facet	Mary Baxter Anne Richmond Ursula Lavery Niamh E. O’Connell
author_sort	Mary Baxter
title	A comparison of fast growing broiler chickens with a slower-growing breed type reared on Higher Welfare commercial farms
title_short	A comparison of fast growing broiler chickens with a slower-growing breed type reared on Higher Welfare commercial farms
title_full	A comparison of fast growing broiler chickens with a slower-growing breed type reared on Higher Welfare commercial farms
title_fullStr	A comparison of fast growing broiler chickens with a slower-growing breed type reared on Higher Welfare commercial farms
title_full_unstemmed	A comparison of fast growing broiler chickens with a slower-growing breed type reared on Higher Welfare commercial farms
title_sort	comparison of fast growing broiler chickens with a slower-growing breed type reared on higher welfare commercial farms
publisher	Public Library of Science (PLoS)
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/2de1e65b15084c2d9850061a26fd78cf
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A comparison of fast growing broiler chickens with a slower-growing breed type reared on Higher Welfare commercial farms

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