Growth rates of broilers contribute to behavior differences, shedding light on welfare impacts

Since poultry companies weigh the cost and efficiency with the high standards of animal care, research that compares traditional broiler strains and slow growth showed that slow -growing chicken has offered close associated behaviors to positive luxury.

Usually the broiler-which is raised specifically to the production of meat-is usually six to eight weeks, while slow-growing broiler needs up to 12 weeks to reach the maturity stage.

Despite the acquisition of popularity in some European markets, slow -growing brightness has not seen the same market expansion in the United States, as it takes longer to reach the market weight of traditional brightness.

“Why do you want to use the broiler who will eat more food, increase slower, and cost more production? “

Whittle, along with Shona Weimer, Assistant Professor of Poultry Sciences and Director of the Welfare of Food Animal Center, began to explore this question who face industry leaders who weighing the choice of traditional escape versus slow growth.

Weimer is conducting research for the Agricultural Experience Station in Arkansas, which is part of the Department of Agriculture at Arkansas University. The Welfare of Food Animal Center is a unit for the division of agriculture.

Their work explores the effects of genetic stress, storage density, and most importantly, comparing the physiological age against the age of the two genetic strains on the behavior of the broiler. Genetic stress, or the specified strain of chicken, determines whether the broiler is traditional or slow growth. The storage density is the number of birds in a specific area.

The researchers reviewed the video records of birds at specific intervals to track behaviors, such as walking, standing and experimental, which are signs of positive animals. Prening is when he uses a beak plane to clean its feathers.

Their study “The effects of genetic stress, storage density, and age on the behavior of the broiler“It was published in Poultry.

The results of the study revealed that a greater percentage of slow -growing broiler was observed, standing, walking, and recovery, while more traditional broiler sat in a side position. The effects of storage density were small, so the number of birds in an area unless it has a significant effect on the behavior of the broiler.

Detail of bird behavior

Weimer noted that “the welfare of animals is very dynamic” and stressed that more investigations should be conducted in the behavior of the broiler. Whittel also emphasized that their research focuses on understanding the effects of the growth rate on the behavior of the brilliance, and not necessarily what is best for companies or consumers.

Whittel also pointed out that the study focused on two types of broiler, but “all genetics companies have a different recipe for chicken.” Therefore, in tracking behavior, it is important to be aware of the possibility that “a genetic dynasty of the broiler is completely different from the other,” she said.

Wittal said that more research is required because “it is always important to expand, so we are not only working on the basis of two specific genetic patterns.”

Among the authors participating in the work are Darren Kars and Marisa Erasmos, both of whom are professors participating in animal science at Bordeaux University. Animal welfare staff in the Poultry Unit at the University of Bordeaux, Olivia Walton, Haydi Reanhart and Nathan Griffiths also contributed to work.