WELFARE ASSESSMENT OF COMMERCIAL LAYERS IN SLOVENIA

Authors

  • Olga Zorman Rojs Veterinary faculty, University of ljubljana
  • Alenka Dovč
  • Hristo Hristov
  • Matjaž Červek
  • Brigita Slavec
  • Uroš Krapež
  • Zoran Žlabravec
  • Jožko Račnik
  • Manja Zupan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26873/SVR-971-2020

Abstract

Here we present the first welfare assessment of commercial layers conducted in Slovenia. Hens were assessed in four systems at the beginning of the laying period at 22 to 24 weeks and at 50 to 55 weeks of age. These systems were an enriched battery cage system, an aviary, and a litter system with or without outdoor access. Clinical inspections of flocks were performed, and animal-based welfare indicators were scored (e.g., keel bone damage, feather condition, foot pad lesions, beak deformities, and comb and skin wounds). Hens’ fear level was scored using the novel object test and avoidance distance test. Among resource-based measures, selected micro-climate parameters were measured.
The results showed no obvious clinical signs related to infectious diseases and suggest that the selected climate conditions were satisfying in all systems. Among animal-based welfare indicators, keel bone damage was shown to be the most serious problem connected with hens’ age and housing systems (p < 0.05). Enriched cages and aviary system were associated with significantly more keel deformities compared to the litter systems (p < 0.05). In addition, the least prevalence of foot pad dermatitis together with better feather condition was observed in the litter systems. In the family-owned aviary facility, hens were found to be the most motivated to approach a novel object or a human, and as such were recognized as the least fearful birds, with better human–animal interaction compared to other intensive housing systems.

Key words: laying hens; welfare; health; housing system


OCENA DOBROBITI V INTENZIVNIH REJAH KOKOŠI NESNIC V SLOVENIJI

Povzetek: Opravili smo prvo celovito oceno dobrobiti kokoši nesnic v Sloveniji. V raziskavo smo vključili nesnice iz štirih različnih sistemov reje in raven dobrobiti ocenili v dveh starostnih obdobjih; na začetku nesnosti, v starosti od 22 do 24 tednov in pri 50 do 55 tednih. Nesnice so bile rejene v obogatenih kletkah, v voljerah, v talni reji brez možnosti izpusta in v talni reji z možnostjo izpusta. Ob vsakem ocenjevanju smo jate klinično pregledali in s pregledom posameznih živali ocenili specifične indikatorje dobrega počutja (poškodbe prsnice, operjenost, poškodbe podplatnih blazinic, deformacije kljuna in poškodbe grebena ter kože). Plašnost kot indikator socialnega obnašanja smo ocenili s testom novega predmeta in s testom odmika od človeka. Spremljali smo tudi mikro-klimatske pogoje reje.
Ves čas spremljanja nismo ugotovili vidnih kliničnih znakov kužnih obolenj. Rezultati meritev mikro-klimatskih parametrov nakazujejo, da so bili pogoji v rejah dobri. Poškodba prsnice se je izmed specifičnih kazalnikov izkazala za najresnejši problem, na katerega vplivata tako starost kot sistem reje (p < 0,05). Poškodbe prsnice so bile značilno bolj izražene pri kokoših iz obogatenih kletk in voljer (p < 0,05) v primerjavi z nesnicami iz talnih rej. Kokoši iz talnih sistemov so bile tudi boljše operjene in so imele nižjo prevalenco poškodb na podplatnih blazinicah. Nesnice, ki so bile rejene v voljerah na družinski kmetiji, so kazale največ zanimanja za nove predmete in človeka. Te kokoši so bile ocenjene kot najmanj plašne in so izražale boljšo interakcijo človek–žival kot kokoši iz drugih primerjanih sistemov.

Ključne besede: kokoši nesnice; dobrobit; zdravje; sistem reje

References

(1.) Council Directive 1999/74/EC of 19 July 1999. Laying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens. Off J Eur Commun 1999; L203: 53–7.

(2.) European Commission. EU market situation for eggs. Committee for the common organisation of the agricultural markets: 18 June 2020: video meeting [online]. https://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/eggs/presentations_en

(3.) KonÄni podatki o Å¡tevilu živine v letu 2018 [online]. Ljubljana : StatistiÄni urad RS. https://www.stat.si/StatWeb/News/Index/8019

(4.) ZaÅ¡Äita rejnih živali [online]. Ljubljana : Urad za varno hrano veterinarstvo in varstvo rastlin RS. https://www.gov.si/teme/dosezki-in-iniciative-na-podrocju-dobrobiti-rejnih-zivali/

(5.) Welfare Quality. The Welfare Quality® assessment protocol for poultry (broilers, laying hens). Lelystad: The Welfare Quality® Consortium, 2009: 112 p.

(6.) Blokhuis HJ, Veissier I, Miele M, Jones B. The Welfare Quality® project and beyond: safeguarding farm animal well-being. Acta Agric Scand A 2010; 60(3): 129–40.

(7.) Rodenburg TB, Tuyttens FAM, de Reu K, Herman L, Zoons J, Sonck B. Welfare assessment of laying hens in furnished cages and non-cage systems: an on-farm comparison. Anim Welf 2008; 17(4): 363–73.

(8.) Sherwin CM, Richards GJ, Nicol CJ. Comparison of the welfare of layer hens in 4 housing systems in the UK. Br Poult Sci 2010; 51(4): 488–99.

(9.) Weeks CA, Lambton SL, Williams AG. Implications for welfare, productivity and sustainability of the variation in reported levels of mortality for laying hen flocks kept in different housing systems: a meta-analysis of ten studies. PLoS One 2016; 11(1): e0146394. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0146394

(10.) Nicol CJ, Bouwsema J, Caplen G, et al. Farmed bird welfare science review. Melbourne: Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, 2017: 321.

(11.) David B, Mejdell C, Michel V, Lund V, Moe RO. Air quality in alternative housing systems may have an impact on laying hen welfare. Part II—ammonia. Animals 2015; 5(3): 886–96. doi: 10.3390/ani5030389

(12.) EC. Commission Directive 2000/39/EC of 8 June 2000 establishing a first list of indicative occupational exposure limit values in implementation of Council Directive 98/24/EC on the protection of the health and safety of workers from the risks related to chemical agents at work. Off J Eur Commun 2000; L142: 47–50. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A32000L0039

(13.) EC. Council Directive 98/24/EC of 7 April 1998 on the protection of the health and safety of workers from the risks related to chemical agents at work (fourteenth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) Off J Eur Commun 1998; L131: 11–23. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A31998L0024

(14.) Riber AB, Casey-Trott TM, Herskin MS. The influence of keel bone damage on welfare of laying hens. Front Vet Sci 2018; 5: e6. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00006

(15.) Fleming RH, McCormack HA, McTeir L, Whitehead CC. Incidence, pathology and prevention of keel bone deformities in the laying hen. Br Poult Sci 2004; 45(3): 320–30.

(16.) Petrik MT, Guerin MT, Widowski TM. On-farm comparison of keel fracture prevalence and other welfare indicators in conventional cage and floor-housed laying hens in Ontario, Canada. Poult Sci 2015; 94(4): 579–85.

(17.) Riber AB, Hinrichsen LK. Keel-bone damage and foot injuries in commercial laying hens in Denmark. Anim Welf 2016; 25(2): 179–84.

(18.) Sandilands V, Moinard C, Sparks NHC. Providing laying hens with perches: fulfilling behavioural needs but causing injury? Br Poult Sci 2009; 50(4): 395–406.

(19.) Lay DC, Fulton RM, Hester PY, et al. Hen welfare in different housing systems. Poult Sci 2011; 90(1): 278–94.

(20.) Blokhuis HJ, Van Niekerk TF, Bessei W, et al. The LayWel project: welfare implications of changes in production systems for laying hens. World Poult Sci J 2007; 63(1): 101–14.

(21.) Rorvang MV, Hinrichsen LK, Riber AB. Welfare of layers housed in small furnished cages on Danish commercial farms: the condition of keel bone, feet, plumage and skin. Br Poult Sci 2019; 60(1): 1–7.

(22.) Pichova K, Bilcik B, Kost'al L. Assessment of the effect of housing on feather damage in laying hens using IR thermography. Animal 2017; 11(4): 661–9. doi: 10.1017/S1751731116001981

(23.) Flochlay AS, Thomas E, Sparagano O. Poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) infestation: a broad impact parasitological disease that still remains a significant challenge for the egg-laying industry in Europe. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10(1): e357. doi: 10.1186/s13071-017-2292-4.

(24.) Tauson R, Abrahamsson P. Foot and skeletal disorders in laying hens: effects of perch design, hybrid, housing system and stocking density. Acta Agric Scand A 1994; 4(2): 110–9.

(25.) Wang G, Ekstrand C, Svedberg J. Wet litter and perches as risk factors for the development of foot pad dermatitis in floor-housed hens. Br Poult Sci 1998; 39(2): 191–7.

(26.) Weitzenburger D, Vits A, Hamann H, Hewicker-Trautwein M, Distl O. Evaluation of foot pad health of laying hens in small group housing systems and furnished cages. Berl Munch Tierarztl Wochenschr 2005; 118(7/8): 270–9.

(27.) Roenchen S, Scholz B, Hamann H, Distl O. Foot pad health, plumage condition, integument and claw length of Lohmann Silver laying hens kept in small aviary housing systems, furnished cages and an aviary housing system. Arch Tierzucht 2007; 50(4): 388–402.

(28.) Stankowich T, Blumstein DT. Fear in animals: a meta-analysis and review of risk assessment. Proc Biol Sci 2005; 272(1581): 2627–34.

(29.) Niekerk T, Gunnink H, Reenen K. Welfare Quality® assessment protocol for laying hens. Report No. 589. Lelystad : Wageningen UR Livestock Research, 2012.

(30.) Graml C, Niebuhr K, Waiblinger S. Reaction of laying hens to humans in the home or a novel environment. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2008; 113(1/3): 98–109.

(31.) Edwards LE, Coleman GJ, Hemsworth PH. Close human presence reduces avoidance behaviour in commercial caged laying hens to an approaching human. Anim Prod Sci 2013; 53(12): 127–82.

Downloads

Published

2020-10-05

How to Cite

Rojs, O. Z., Dovč, A., Hristov, H., Červek, M., Slavec, B., Krapež, U., Žlabravec, Z., Račnik, J., & Zupan, M. (2020). WELFARE ASSESSMENT OF COMMERCIAL LAYERS IN SLOVENIA. Slovenian Veterinary Research, 57(3). https://doi.org/10.26873/SVR-971-2020

Issue

Section

Original Research Article

Most read articles by the same author(s)