Document type: scientific Document type: published in British Poultry Science
Authors: . F. Sevinç B. Yılmaz Dikmen
Abstract in French (translation): Enrichment with perches and growth, welfare, and behavior of broiler chickens
This study examined the impact of enrichment withperches on the growth performance, welfare, and behavioral parameters of broilerchickens. A total of 180 male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one day were used in this study. The experiment was conducted in six pens of a commercial broiler house, each equipped with three deep litter systems and three systems enriched with perches. Both rearing systems had similar effects on final weight, final weight gain, cumulative feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and mortality rate (p ≥ 0.05). Broilers raised in the deep litter system had worse tarsal burns (p = 0.000) and locomotion scores (p = 0.052) than those raised in the enriched system. Feather cleanliness, body injuries, pad and foot lesions, and tonic immobility reaction showed similar effects in both systems (p ≥ 0.05). The behaviors studied were similar in both systems (p ≥ 0.05). In conclusion, perch-based enrichment had no significant effects on broiler growth performance, behavior, or most welfare indicators. However, perch-based enrichment reduced tarsal burns and tended to improve locomotion.
Abstract in English (original): This study examined the impact of perch-based enrichment on the growth performance, welfare, and behavioral parameters of broilers. A total of 180 one-day-old male Ross 308 broilers were used in this study. The experiment was conducted using six pens in a commercial broiler house, each with three deep litter systems and three perch-based enriched systems. Both rearing systems had similar effects on final body weight, final body weight gain, cumulative feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, and mortality rate (p ≥ 0.05). The broilers in the deep litter system had worse hock burn (p = 0.000) and gait score (p = 0.052) than the enriched system. Plumage cleanliness, body wounds, toe damage, foot pad and bumble foot lesions, and tonic immobility reaction had similar effects on both systems (p ≥ 0 .05). The investigated behaviors were similar in both systems (p ≥ 0.05). In conclusion, perch-based enrichment had no significant effects on broiler growth performance, behavior, or most welfare indicators. However, perch-based enrichment improved hock burn and tended to improve gait.
