Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50010.
Poult Sci. 2019 Nov 1;98(11):5247-5256. doi: 10.3382/ps/pez417.
Modern commercial broilers have been genetically selected for fast growth and heavy breast muscling, contributing to a top-heavy phenotype and increased leg lameness. A quick-growing phenotype coupled with poor leg health fosters inactivity. The objective of this study was to stimulate broiler movement using novel environmental enrichment and determine the impact of movement on production, leg health, and environmental parameters. A total of 1,200 Ross 308 broilers were housed in 40 pens with 30 birds/pen for 6 wk in 2 separate rooms (laser enrichment or control). Each enrichment device was mounted above 2 adjoining pens, projected 2 independent, randomly moving laser beams at the floor to stimulate innate predatory behavior, and was active 4 times daily in 4-min periods. Performance outcomes were calculated by pen and averaged per bird for each performance period and overall days 0 to 42. A total of 70 randomly selected focal birds were examined for breast blisters and footpad dermatitis each week and euthanized on day 42 for tibia quality measures. Air quality and litter moisture were sampled by week. Laser-enriched pens had greater average bird feed intake in starter (P < 0.001), grower (P = 0.004), finisher periods (P = 0.004), and overall days 0 to 42 (0.19 kg/bird; P = 0.0003). Average bird weight gain was also increased in enriched pens in each performance period: starter (P = 0.043), grower (P = 0.001), finisher (P < 0.001), and overall days 0 to 42 (0.24 kg/bird; P < 0.001). Enriched pens had improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) vs. control with a decrease of 3 FCR points in the grower (P = 0.031), 18 points in the finisher (P < 0.001), and 7 points overall (P < 0.001). Enriched pens had higher ADG during starter (P = 0.048), finisher (P < 0.001), and overall (5.7 g/bird/d; P < 0.001). No differences were found in breast blister, footpad dermatitis, tibia, air, or litter quality measures (P > 0.05). In summary, a novel enrichment device based on bird visual feeding and predatory instincts positively affected performance through decreased FCR and increased ADG without sacrificing external animal-based measures, tibia quality, or air or litter quality.
现代商业肉鸡经过基因选择，以实现快速生长和沉重的胸肌，导致上重下轻的表型和增加腿部跛行。快速生长的表型加上腿部健康状况不佳，导致活动减少。本研究的目的是使用新型环境丰容来刺激肉鸡运动，并确定运动对生产、腿部健康和环境参数的影响。共有 1200 只罗斯 308 肉鸡在 2 个单独的房间内的 40 个围栏中饲养，每个围栏 30 只鸡/栏，持续 6 周。每个丰容设备安装在 2 个相邻围栏上方，在地面上投射 2 个独立的、随机移动的激光束，以刺激先天的捕食行为，每天 4 次，每次 4 分钟。通过围栏计算性能结果，并为每个性能期和整个 0 至 42 天的每个鸡平均。每周随机选择 70 只重点鸡检查胸部水疱和脚垫皮炎，并在第 42 天处死进行胫骨质量测量。每周采样空气质量和垫料湿度。激光丰容围栏在育雏期（P < 0.001）、生长期（P = 0.004）、育肥期（P = 0.004）和整个 0 至 42 天（0.19 公斤/鸡；P = 0.0003）的平均鸡采食量更大。在每个性能期，丰容围栏中的平均鸡增重也有所增加：育雏期（P = 0.043）、生长期（P = 0.001）、育肥期（P < 0.001）和整个 0 至 42 天（0.24 公斤/鸡；P < 0.001）。与对照组相比，丰容围栏的饲料转化率（FCR）得到改善，生长阶段降低 3 个 FCR 点（P = 0.031），育肥阶段降低 18 个点（P < 0.001），整个阶段降低 7 个点（P < 0.001）。丰容围栏在育雏期（P = 0.048）、育肥期（P < 0.001）和整个阶段（5.7 克/鸡/天；P < 0.001）的平均日增重更高。在胸部水疱、脚垫皮炎、胫骨、空气或垫料质量测量方面未发现差异（P > 0.05）。总之，一种基于鸟类视觉喂养和捕食本能的新型丰容设备通过降低 FCR 和增加 ADG 来提高性能，而不会牺牲外部基于动物的测量、胫骨质量或空气或垫料质量。
