Rearing experience with ramps improves specific learning and behaviour and welfare on a commercial laying farm

Abstract To access resources in commercial laying houses hens must move between levels with agility to avoid injury. This study considered whether providing ramps during rear improved the ability of birds to transition between levels. Twelve commercial flocks (2000 birds/flock) on a multi-age site w...

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Autores principales:	Kate I. Norman, Claire A. Weeks, John F. Tarlton, Christine J. Nicol
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Nature Portfolio 2021
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/cc73be5fb23c4038b41856ec50241264
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:cc73be5fb23c4038b41856ec502412642021-12-02T17:32:57ZRearing experience with ramps improves specific learning and behaviour and welfare on a commercial laying farm10.1038/s41598-021-88347-92045-2322https://doaj.org/article/cc73be5fb23c4038b41856ec502412642021-04-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88347-9https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322Abstract To access resources in commercial laying houses hens must move between levels with agility to avoid injury. This study considered whether providing ramps during rear improved the ability of birds to transition between levels. Twelve commercial flocks (2000 birds/flock) on a multi-age site were examined between 1 and 40 weeks of age. All birds had access to elevated perching structures from 4 days of age. Six treatment flocks were also provided with ramps during rear to facilitate access to these structures. Flocks were visited three times during rear and three times at lay to record transitioning behaviour and use of the elevated structures, together with scores for keel bone and feather damage. Ramp reared flocks used the elevated structures to a greater extent at rear (P = 0.001) and at lay, when all flocks had ramps, showed less hesitancy [i.e. pacing (P = 0.002), crouching (P = 0.001) and wing-flapping (P = 0.001)] in accessing levels. Mean levels of keel bone damage were reduced in ramp reared flocks (52%) compared with control flocks (64.8%) at 40 weeks of age (P = 0.028). The early life experience of the ramp reared flocks enabled specific learning that translated and persisted in later life and resulted in overall welfare benefits.Kate I. NormanClaire A. WeeksJohn F. TarltonChristine J. NicolNature PortfolioarticleMedicineRScienceQENScientific Reports, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-14 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Kate I. Norman Claire A. Weeks John F. Tarlton Christine J. Nicol Rearing experience with ramps improves specific learning and behaviour and welfare on a commercial laying farm
description	Abstract To access resources in commercial laying houses hens must move between levels with agility to avoid injury. This study considered whether providing ramps during rear improved the ability of birds to transition between levels. Twelve commercial flocks (2000 birds/flock) on a multi-age site were examined between 1 and 40 weeks of age. All birds had access to elevated perching structures from 4 days of age. Six treatment flocks were also provided with ramps during rear to facilitate access to these structures. Flocks were visited three times during rear and three times at lay to record transitioning behaviour and use of the elevated structures, together with scores for keel bone and feather damage. Ramp reared flocks used the elevated structures to a greater extent at rear (P = 0.001) and at lay, when all flocks had ramps, showed less hesitancy [i.e. pacing (P = 0.002), crouching (P = 0.001) and wing-flapping (P = 0.001)] in accessing levels. Mean levels of keel bone damage were reduced in ramp reared flocks (52%) compared with control flocks (64.8%) at 40 weeks of age (P = 0.028). The early life experience of the ramp reared flocks enabled specific learning that translated and persisted in later life and resulted in overall welfare benefits.
format	article
author	Kate I. Norman Claire A. Weeks John F. Tarlton Christine J. Nicol
author_facet	Kate I. Norman Claire A. Weeks John F. Tarlton Christine J. Nicol
author_sort	Kate I. Norman
title	Rearing experience with ramps improves specific learning and behaviour and welfare on a commercial laying farm
title_short	Rearing experience with ramps improves specific learning and behaviour and welfare on a commercial laying farm
title_full	Rearing experience with ramps improves specific learning and behaviour and welfare on a commercial laying farm
title_fullStr	Rearing experience with ramps improves specific learning and behaviour and welfare on a commercial laying farm
title_full_unstemmed	Rearing experience with ramps improves specific learning and behaviour and welfare on a commercial laying farm
title_sort	rearing experience with ramps improves specific learning and behaviour and welfare on a commercial laying farm
publisher	Nature Portfolio
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/cc73be5fb23c4038b41856ec50241264
work_keys_str_mv	AT kateinorman rearingexperiencewithrampsimprovesspecificlearningandbehaviourandwelfareonacommerciallayingfarm AT claireaweeks rearingexperiencewithrampsimprovesspecificlearningandbehaviourandwelfareonacommerciallayingfarm AT johnftarlton rearingexperiencewithrampsimprovesspecificlearningandbehaviourandwelfareonacommerciallayingfarm AT christinejnicol rearingexperiencewithrampsimprovesspecificlearningandbehaviourandwelfareonacommerciallayingfarm
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Rearing experience with ramps improves specific learning and behaviour and welfare on a commercial laying farm

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