AI Article Synopsis
- The study examined behavioral changes and production performance of Hy-Line Brown laying hens after switching from a floor system to a multi-tier system in a commercial farm setting.
- Behavior was monitored using CCD cameras, showing significant changes in the first week; after adaptation, egg production was higher in the multi-tier system compared to the floor system.
- No differences in mortality rates or egg quality were noted between the two systems, but the multi-tier system proved more efficient overall.
Article Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate behavioral changes in laying hens (Hy-Line Brown) after transfer to a multi-tier system from the floor system and to examine their production performance. The hens were randomly divided into two groups and were allocated to the multi-tier system and the floor system at a commercial farm. Behavior of the laying hens was recorded by CCD (charge-coupled device) cameras and a digital video recorder. The data were scanned every 2 min to obtain an instantaneous behavioral sample or were immediately counted whenever the hens exhibited a designated behavior. Behavior changed dramatically during the first seven days. Egg production was higher in the multi-tier system, while cracked and dirty eggs were more frequent in the floor system ( < 0.05). No differences in mortality rate or egg quality were observed between the groups. In conclusion, the hens needed at least seven days to adapt to the multi-tier system. The multi-tier system was more efficient than the floor system in terms of production performance.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7142288 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.5187/jast.2020.62.2.276 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!