Document type: article published in Modern Poultry
Authors: Jenna Boewe, Marisa Erasmus
Preview: Broiler welfare assessment has moved beyond a framework based solely on minimizing harm to one that incorporates opportunities for positive affect. Jenna Boewe, graduate student, and Marisa Erasmus, PhD, Purdue University, explore this new paradigm in animal welfare as it applies to today’s broilers. Having good welfare is not only the absence of disease and injury but also the presence of positive states and the ability to express motivated behaviors (Mellor, 2016; Yeates and Main, 2008; Rault et al., 2025). Behavioral indicators such as activity and locomotion, foraging and environmental engagement, comfort behaviors, and play behavior give an indication of broilers’ physical capabilities and overall welfare. Environmental enrichment can further help to support positive welfare by encouraging natural behaviors and engagement within broilers’ housing environment.
