Ciarelli C, Pillan G, Bordignon F, Xiccato G, Birolo M, Trocino A
Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy.
Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science (BCA), University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy.
Poult Sci. 2023 Nov;102(11):102962. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.102962. Epub 2023 Jul 25.
The present study tested the hypothesis that increased availability of perches could favor the adaptation and navigation ability of pullets of different genotypes at housing in a new aviary system for the laying phase. To this purpose, 900 Lohmann White-LSL and 900 Hy-line Brown were randomly allocated at 17 wk of age in 8 pens of an experimental aviary, according to a bifactorial arrangement with 2 genotypes (Brown vs. White) × 2 types of pens (enriched or not enriched with additional perches besides those of the aviary). Data collected between 17 and 20 wk of age showed that the enrichment with additional perches decreased the use of the aviary perches while the rate of successful landings/take-offs was unaffected. As for the effect of genotype, during the night a lower rate of hens on the floor (0.15 vs. 6.63%) and a higher rate of hens on the additional perches (2.47 vs. 0.98%) was found in White compared to Brown hens (P < 0.001); the former hens also used the third tiers for sleeping on the aviary uppermost perches (P < 0.001). During the day, White hens used more the third tier (32.8 vs. 15.6%; P < 0.001) and the additional perches (3.88 vs. 0.91%; P < 0.01) compared to Brown hens, while they stood less on the floor (18.3 vs. 22.6%; P < 0.05). White hens performed a significantly higher number of landings (80.7 vs. 21.9; P < 0.001) and of take-offs (74.3 vs. 10.0; P < 0.001) per pen compared to Brown hens. The risk of unsuccessful landings was higher in Brown compared to White hens (odd ratio: 6.65; 95% confidence interval: 4.36-10.1; P < 0.001). In conclusion, the enrichment with additional perches played a major role in hen distribution and space use than in their navigation ability. At the same time, the significant differences between the 2 genotypes call for a careful evaluation of the aviary design and animal management to optimize welfare at housing and possibly productive results of laying hens.
在产蛋期新的禽舍系统中，增加栖木的可及性有利于不同基因型小母鸡的适应和导航能力。为此，900只罗曼白来航鸡和900只海兰褐鸡在17周龄时，按照2种基因型（褐羽与白羽）×2种禽舍类型（除禽舍本身的栖木外，添加或不添加额外栖木）的双因素安排，随机分配到一个实验禽舍的8个栏中。在17至20周龄期间收集的数据表明，添加额外栖木会减少对禽舍栖木的使用，而成功着陆/起飞的比率不受影响。至于基因型的影响，夜间发现白羽母鸡在地面上的比例较低（0.15%对6.63%），在额外栖木上的比例较高（2.47%对0.98%），高于褐羽母鸡（P<0.001）；前者还使用第三层在禽舍最高处的栖木上睡觉（P<0.001）。白天，与褐羽母鸡相比，白羽母鸡更多地使用第三层（32.8%对15.6%；P<0.001）和额外栖木（3.88%对0.91%；P<0.01），而它们站在地面上的时间较少（18.3%对22.6%；P<0.05）。与褐羽母鸡相比，白羽母鸡每栏的着陆次数（80.7次对21.9次；P<0.001）和起飞次数（74.3次对10.0次；P<0.001）明显更多。褐羽母鸡着陆失败的风险高于白羽母鸡（比值比：6.65；95%置信区间：4.36-10.1；P<0.001）。总之，添加额外栖木在母鸡分布和空间利用方面比在其导航能力方面发挥了更大作用。同时，两种基因型之间的显著差异要求对禽舍设计和动物管理进行仔细评估，以优化母鸡入舍时的福利，并可能提高产蛋母鸡的生产性能。
