Effects of Perch on Productivity, Welfare, and Physiological Indicators of Broiler Chickens Reared in Animal Welfare-Certificated Farms.

This study explored the impact of perches on the productivity and welfare of broilers raised on two animal welfare-certified farms (designated as Farm A and B) in South Korea. Broiler houses in each farm were provided with or without wooden square-shaped perches (2 × 2 cm) at a rate of 2 m per 1000 birds. The study aimed to assess whether perches could influence productivity measures, such as weight and uniformity, and animal welfare indicators, including corticosterone levels and physical health markers.

Effects of dietary mangosteen peel powder and extract on the growth performance, meat quality and indicators for immunity, gut health and antioxidant activity in broiler chicks.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary mangosteen peel preparations, either powdered (MspP) or ethanolic extract (MspE), on the growth performance, meat quality, immune response, gut health, serum biochemical profiles, and antioxidant activity of broiler chicks. A total of 480 day-old straight-run broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly placed into four treatments, with eight replicates of 12 chicks each, and subjected to one of the four experimental diets for 21 days. The corn and soybean meal-based diet was supplemented with 2% MspP (20 g per kg of diet) or 0.

Nutritional and physiological responses to dietary phosphorus levels and phytase in pullets and laying hens.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of dietary available phosphorus (P) levels and dietary phytase added into the very low-P diet on the performance, mineral balance, odor emission, and stress responses in growing pullets and laying hens during 13 to 32 wk of age. One hundred sixty-eight pullets (Hy-Line Brown) were randomly assigned into 1 of 4 dietary treatments with 7 replicates of 6 birds each. Experimental diets were formulated to contain 3 graded P levels at 0.

Assessment of Welfare Problems in Broilers: Focus on Musculoskeletal Problems Associated with Their Rapid Growth.

The growth of the broiler industry has been accompanied with concerns over the environmental and social impacts on intensive production systems, as well as the welfare of the animals themselves. As a result, since the 2000s, there has been growing interest in alternative production systems that improve animal welfare and sustainability. In this context, it is important to prioritize the welfare of broilers in commercial production systems and to use reliable welfare indicators to provide consumers with information about the welfare of the animals they consume.

Research Note: Welfare and stress responses of broiler chickens raised in conventional and animal welfare-certified broiler farms.

The present study was conducted to assess the animal welfare status of broiler chickens raised in conventional and welfare-certified farms. One conventional farm (30,000 birds/house, 1,488 m/house, 2 houses) and one animal welfare-certified farm (32,000 birds/house, 1,920 m/house, 2 houses) were selected to measure productivity, stress responses, and animal welfare indicators in 3 broiler flocks (2 farms/season, n = 6 flocks/farm type) during summer, autumn, and spring. Upon farm visits, body weight, uniformity, and animal welfare indicators (i.

Effects of grain-based pecking blocks on productivity and welfare indicators in commercial broiler chickens.

Objective: This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of grain-based pecking blocks on productivity and welfare status at two commercial broiler welfare-certified farms.

Methods: Production and welfare indicators were assessed at two farms (designated Farm A and B). Both farms had two windowless houses with forced tunnel-type ventilation and housed broilers at stocking densities of approximately 16.

The Effect of Low Temperature on Laying Performance and Physiological Stress Responses in Laying Hens.

The present study investigated the effect of low temperature on laying performance, egg quality, body temperature, yolk malondialdehyde, yolk corticosterone, and serum biochemistry in laying hens. A total of 40 laying hens (Hy-Line Brown) aged 36 weeks were housed in one of two environmental chambers kept at 12 ± 4.5 °C (low temperature) or 24 ± 3 °C (normal temperature) for 4 weeks.

Effects of dietary protein levels on performance, nitrogen excretion, and odor emission of growing pullets and laying hens.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of dietary crude protein (CP) levels on production performance, nitrogen balance, and odor emission of excreta in growing pullets and laying hens from 13 to 32 wk of age. Two hundred and forty pullets (Hy-Line Brown) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 dietary groups with 10 replicates per group, and 6 birds per replicate. Experimental diets were formulated to contain 4 graded CP levels in the diets of pullets ranging from 180, 160, 140, and 120 g/kg of diet during 13 to 18 wk (phase 1) and in the diets of laying hens from 190, 170, 150, and 130 g/kg of diet during 19 to 32 wk (phase 2).

Effect of Dietary or on Laying Performance and Intestinal Immune Cell Parameters.

A feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of (CV) or (TO) on laying performance, egg quality, and gut health indicators of laying hens. A total of 144 Hy-Line Brown laying hens aged 21 weeks were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments with eight replicates of six hens. Dietary treatments were as follows: CON, basal diet; CV, basal diet + 5 g /kg of diet; TO, basal diet + 5 g /kg of diet.