Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-42gr6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-19T23:26:50.030Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Poultry welfare in intensive and extensive production systems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 September 2015

H.A. ELSON
H.A. ELSON*
Affiliation:
ADAS Gleadthorpe, Meden Vale, Mansfield, Nottingham NG20 9PF, UK
*
Corresponding author: arnold.elson@adas.co.uk
Get access

Abstract

The design and management of different housing systems affect poultry welfare. In order to compare wellbeing in different systems, two main indicators of poor welfare have been used in this paper: contact dermatitis for meat birds and mortality for laying hens. The former is important since broilers may suffer from it for much of the later part of their short lives; the latter because it is generally preceded by suffering due to morbidity. Other welfare indicators are also important, of course, and some of them have been considered alongside these two. Indoor systems, especially laying cages, provide the safest welfare protection but extensive systems, e.g. free-range, provide more freedom and allow the widest behavioural repertoire. However, free-range systems are generally the most difficult to manage and pose the greatest welfare risks, which can sometimes be serious - even causing death. A possible superior safer approach is suggested.

Keywords

poultrylaying hensbroilerswelfareproductionhousing system
Type
Reviews
Information
World's Poultry Science Journal , Volume 71 , Issue 3 , September 2015 , pp. 449 - 460
Copyright
Copyright © World's Poultry Science Association 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

APPLEBY, M.C., HUGHES, B.O. and ELSON, H.A. (1992) Poultry Production Systems: Behaviour, Management and Welfare. CAB International, Wallingford.Google Scholar
APPLEBY, M.C., WALKER, A.W., NICOL, C.J., LINDBERG, A.C., FREIRE, R., HUGHES, B.O and ELSON, H.A. (2002) Development of furnished cages for laying hens. British Poultry Science 43: 489-500.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
BASSLER, A.W., ARNOULD, C., BUTTERWORTH, A., COLIN, L., DE JONG, I.C., FERRANTE, V., FERRARI, R., HASLAM, S., WEMELSFELDER, F. and BLOKHUIS, H.J. (2013) Potential risk factors associated with contact dermatitis, lameness, negative emotional state, and fear of humans in broiler chicken flocks. Poultry Science 92: 2811-2826.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
BERG, C. (1998) Foot-pad dermatitis in broilers and turkeys: prevalence, risk factors and prevention. Doctoral thesis. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. Uppsala.Google Scholar
BERG, C. (2001) Health and welfare in organic poultry production. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 95 (Suppl.): 37-45.Google Scholar
BERG, C. (2004) Pododermatitis and hock burn in broiler chickens, in: WEEKS, C.A. & BUTTERWORTH, A. (Eds) Measuring and auditing broiler welfare, pp. 37-49 (CABI Publishing, Wallingford, UK).Google Scholar
BESTMAN, M.W.P. and MAURER, V. (2006) Health and welfare in organic poultry in Europe: state of the art and future challenges. Proceedings Joint Organic Congress. Odense. Denmark.Google Scholar
BLOKHUIS, H.J., FIKS-VAN NIEKERK, T., BESSEI, W., ELSON, A., GUEMENE, D., KJAER, J.B., MARIA LEVRINO, G.A., NICOL, C.J., TAUSON, R., WEEKS, C.A. and VAN DE WEERD, H.A. (2007) The LayWel project: welfare implications of changes in production systems for laying hens. World's Poultry Science Journal 63: 101-114.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
BRAY, T.S. and LYNN, N.J. (1986) Effects of nutrition and drinker design on litter condition and broiler performance. British Poultry Science 27: 151-156.Google Scholar
BRIGHT, A. and JOHNSON, E.A. (2011) Smothering in commercial free-range laying hens: a preliminary investigation. Veterinary Record 168: 512.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
CASSIDY, T. (2013) Official controls of poultry welfare (findings from audits by the Food and Veterinary Office of the European Commission). 9 thEuropean Symposium on Poultry Welfare, pp. 18-26.Google Scholar
DAWKINS, M.S., DONNELLY, C.A. and JONES, T.A. (2004) Chicken welfare is influenced more by housing conditions than by stocking density. Nature 427: 342-344.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
DEFRA (2009) AW1134. The influence of rearing environment on propensity for injurious pecking in laying hens. http://randd.defra.gov.uk/ (accessed 22/10/2014).Google Scholar
DE JONG, I.C., GUNNINK, H. and VAN HARN, J. (2014) Wet litter not only induces footpad dermatitis but also reduces overall welfare, technical performance, and carcass yield in broiler chickens. Journal of Applied Poultry Research 23: 51-58.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
DE JONG, I.C., VAN HARN, J., GUNNICK, H., HINDLE, A. and LOURENS, A. (2012) Footpad dermatitis in Dutch broiler flocks: prevalence and factors of influence. Poultry Science 91: 1569-1574.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
DRAKE, K.A., DONNELLY, C.A. and DAWKINS, M.S. (2010) Influence of rearing and lay risk factors on propensity for feather damage in laying hens. British Poultry Science 51: 725-733.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
ELSON, A. (1993) Housing systems for broilers. Proceedings 4th European Symposium on Poultry Welfare Edinburgh, pp. 177-184.Google Scholar
ELSON, A. (2004) The laying hen: systems of egg production. Proceedings WPSA 27th Poultry Science Symposium on the Welfare of the Laying hen Bristol, pp. 67-80. CAB International.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
ELSON, A. (2008) Do extensive poultry systems really offer superior welfare? Poultry International 47 (3): 10-14.Google Scholar
ELSON, A. (2012) Beyond 2012: the future of egg production systems. World Poultry 28 (2): 8-10.Google Scholar
ELSON, H.A. (1988) Poultry management systems - Looking to the future. World's Poultry Science Journal 44: 103-111.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
ELSON, H.A. (2010) Poultry housing and husbandry. British Poultry Science 51: 23-34.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
ELSON, H.A. and Croxall, R.A. (2006) European study on the comparative welfare of laying hens in cage and non-cage systems. European Poultry Science 70: 194-198.Google Scholar
ELSON, H.A. and TAUSON, R. (2012) Furnished Cages for Laying Hens, in: SANDILANDS, V. & HOCKING, P.M. (Eds) Alternative Systems for Poultry - Health, Welfare and Productivity, Proceedings Poultry Science Symposium Series 30, pp. 190-209, Glasgow (CAB International).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
EU COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 1999/74/EC (1999) laying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens. Official Journal of the European Communities L 203: 53-57.Google Scholar
EU COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2007/43/EC (2007) laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production. Official Journal of the European Union L 182: 19-28.Google Scholar
EUROPEAN FOOD SAFETY AUTHORITY (2005) Welfare aspects of various systems for keeping laying hens. Scientific report EFSA-Q-2003-92. EFSA Journal 2005 1: 23.Google Scholar
FIKS-VAN NIEKERK, Th.G.C.M. and ELSON, H.A (2005) Categories of housing systems for laying hens. Polish Animal Science Papers and Reports 23 (Supp. 1): 283-284.Google Scholar
HANE, M., HUBER-EICHER, B. and FROHLICH, E. (2000) Survey of laying hen husbandry in Switzerland. World's Poultry Science Journal 56: 21-31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
HASLAM, S.M., KNOWLES, T.G., BROWN, S.N., WILKINS, L.J., KESTIN, S.C., WARRISS, P.D. and NICOL, C.J. (2007) Factors affecting the prevalence of foot pad dermatitis, hock burn and breast burn in broiler chicken. British Poultry Science 48: 264-275.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
HEGELUND, L., SORENSEN, J.T. and HERMANSEN, J.E. (2006) Welfare and productivity of laying hens in commercial organic egg production systems in Denmark. NJAS Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54: 147-155.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
HOCKING, P.M., MAYNE, R.K., ELSE, R.W., FRENCH, N.A. and GATCLIFFE, J. (2008) Standard European footpad dermatitis scoring system for use in turkey processing plants. World's Poultry Science Journal 64: 323-328.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
HOCKING, P.M. and. , WU and , K. (2013) Traditional and commercial turkeys show similar susceptibility to foot pad dermatitis and behavioural evidence of pain. British Poultry Science 54: 281-288.Google ScholarPubMed
HOLT, P.S. (2011) Outdoor access affects hen welfare, egg safety. Feedstuffs 83 (50): 12-21.Google Scholar
KJAER, J.B., SU, G., NIELSEN, B.L. and SORENSEN, P. (2006) Foot pad dermatitis and hock burn in broiler chickens and degree of inheritance. Poultry Science 85: 1342-1348.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
LYNN, N. and ELSON, A. (1990) Broiler drinkers - an evaluation of commercially available systems. ADAS Poultry Pointers: edition 10.Google Scholar
MANNING, L., CHADD, S.A. and BAINES, R.N. (2007) Key health and welfare indicators for broiler production. World's Poultry Science Journal 63: 46-62.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
MARTRENCHAR, A., BOILLETOT, E., HUONNIC, D. and POL, F. (2002) Risk factors for foot-pad dermatitis in chicken and turkey broilers in France. Preventative Veterinary Medicine 52: 213-226.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
MAYNE, R.K. (2005) A review of the aetiology and possible causative factors of foot pad dermatitis in growing turkeys and broilers. World's Poultry Science Journal 61: 256-267.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
MAYNE, R.K., ELSE, R.W. and HOCKING, P.M. (2007) High litter moisture alone is sufficient to cause foot pad dermatitis in growing turkeys. British Poultry Science 48: 538-545.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
MOBERLY, R.L., WHITE, P.C.L. and HARRIS, S. (2004) Mortality due to fox predation in free-range poultry flocks in Britain. Veterinary Record 155: 48-52.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
NICOL, C.J. (2013) Free-range v cage: Science behind the headlines. Poultry World 168 (12): 32-33.Google Scholar
NICOL, C.J., BROWN, S.N., HASLAM, S.M., HOTHERSALL, B., MELOTTI, L., RICHARDS, G.J. and SHERWIN, C.M. (2009a) The Welfare of Laying Hens in four different housing systems in the UK. Proceedings 8th European Symposium on Poultry Welfare, p.12.Google Scholar
NICOL, C.J., CAPLEN, G., EDGAR, J. and BROWNE, W.J. (2009b) Associations between welfare indicators and environmental choice in laying hens. Animal Behaviour 78: 413-424.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
PAGAZAURTUNDUA, A. and WARRISS, P.D. (2006) Levels of foot pad dermatitis in broiler chickens reared in 5 different systems. British Poultry Science 47: 529-532.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
PLATT, S., BUDA, S. and BUDRAS, K.D. (2001) The influence of Biotin on foot pad lesions in turkey poults. Proceedings 8th Symposium: Vitamine und Zusatzstoffe in der Ernahrung von Mensch und Tier. Germany, pp: 143-148.Google Scholar
SANOTRA, G.S., LUND, J.D., ERSBOLL, A.K., PETERSEN, J.S. and VESTERGAARD, K.S. (2001) Monitoring leg problems in broilers: a survey of commercial broiler production in Denmark. World's Poultry Science Journal 57: 55-69.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
SARICA, M., YAMAK, U.S. and BOZ, M.A. (2014) Effect of production systems on foot pad dermatitis (FPD) levels among slow-, medium- and fast growing broilers. European Poultry Science 78: 52-61.Google Scholar
SCHMIDT, V. and LUDERS, H. (1976) Ulcerations of the sole and toe pads of fattened turkey cocks. Berlin Munchen Tierartzlicher Wochenschrift 89 (3): 47-50.Google Scholar
SHEPHERD, E.M. and FAIRCHILD, B.D. (2010) Footpad dermatitis in poultry. Poultry Science 89: 2043-2051.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
SHERWIN, C.M., RICHARDS, G.J. and NICOL, C.J. (2010) Comparison of the welfare of layer hens in 4 housing systems in the UK. British Poultry Science 51: 488-499.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
STOKHOLM, N.M., PERMIN, A., BISGAARD, M. and CHRISTENSEN, J.P. (2010) Causes of mortality in commercial organic layers in Denmark. Avian Diseases 54: 1241-1250CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
VAN HARN, J., GUNNICK, H. and DE JONG, I.C. (2014) Wet litter not only induces footpad dermatitis but also reduces overall welfare, technical performance and carcass yields in broiler chickens. Proceedings XIVth European Poultry Conference, Stavanger, Norway, p. 416.Google Scholar
VAN NIEKERK, T. and REUVEKAMP, B. (2011) The Rondeel™ - a new housing design for laying hens. Lohmann Information 46 (2): 25-31.Google Scholar
WHAY, H.R., MAIN, D.C.J., GREEN, L.E., HEAVEN, G., MORGAN, M., PEARSON, A. and WEBSTER, A.J.F. (2007) Assessment of behaviour and welfare of laying hens on free-range units. Veterinary Record 161: 119-128.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
WU, K. and HOCKING, P.M. (2011) Turkeys are equally susceptible to foot pad dermatitis from 1 to 10 weeks of age and foot pad scores were minimized when litter moisture was less than 30%. Poultry Science 90: 1170-1178.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed