Adaptation Physiology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Animal Production Systems Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, P.O. Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Sci Rep. 2020 Oct 15;10(1):17428. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-74514-x.
Commercially housed broilers frequently experience limited environmental stimulation and various health issues, compromising their welfare. Providing environmental enrichment can alleviate these problems by facilitating natural behaviour and activity. We investigated the effect of providing live black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) to broilers housed at commercial densities (33 kg/m) on behaviour, fearfulness, health and performance. One-day-old broilers were distributed over five treatments with eight pens/treatment: a control treatment without BSFL; two treatments where 5% of the daily nutrient intake was replaced with live BSFL, provided four or seven times a day; and two treatments where 10% of the daily dietary intake was replaced with live BSFL provided four times a day or in transparent, movable tubes with holes. In all BSFL treatments foraging behaviour, and thereby broiler activity, was increased. Prolonged access to live BSFL, either by providing larvae seven times a day or in tubes, caused the largest increase in activity while also decreasing the time spend in tonic immobility, indicating reduced fearfulness. Broiler final weight and health were not affected. Overall, long-term access to live BSFL seems most effective in improving broiler welfare by facilitating natural behaviour and reducing fearfulness, without hindering broiler performance and health.
商品笼养肉鸡经常面临环境刺激有限和各种健康问题，这会影响它们的福利。通过提供环境丰容，可以通过促进自然行为和活动来缓解这些问题。我们研究了在商业密度（33 千克/米）下向笼养肉鸡提供活体黑水虻幼虫（BSFL）对行为、恐惧、健康和性能的影响。1 日龄肉鸡被分配到五个处理组，每组 8 个围栏：一个没有 BSFL 的对照处理组；两个用活体 BSFL 替代 5%日摄食量的处理组，每天提供 4 或 7 次；两个用活体 BSFL 替代 10%日摄食量的处理组，每天提供 4 次或提供在带孔的透明可移动管中。在所有 BSFL 处理组中，肉鸡的觅食行为和活动均有所增加。长时间（每天 7 次）或通过管饲提供活体 BSFL 会导致肉鸡活动量增加最大，同时减少静息时间，表明恐惧程度降低。肉鸡的最终体重和健康状况不受影响。总体而言，长期获得活体 BSFL 似乎通过促进自然行为和减少恐惧来改善肉鸡福利，而不会影响肉鸡的性能和健康。
