Institute for Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare and Farm Animal Behavior, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Foundation), 30173 Hannover, Germany.
Institute for Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare and Farm Animal Behavior, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Foundation), 30173 Hannover, Germany.
Poult Sci. 2024 Jan;103(1):103243. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.103243. Epub 2023 Oct 26.
Like other members of the species Gallus gallus, fast-growing broilers are motivated to perch. However, broilers in the European Union are kept in unstructured barns, with no opportunity to sit elevated and rest undisturbed. A possible solution to this problem is elevated platforms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of an elevated platform with perforated surface and manure belt by fast-growing broilers. On 2 commercial farms, an elevated platform was installed in 1 barn per farm. Approximately 35,000 Ross 308 broilers were housed in each barn for 3 fattening periods. On 1 d per wk, the number of broilers per m² on the platform and the ramp was determined every 30 min from video recordings. Besides, focal animals were observed to analyze their behavior on the platform at different ages and during light and dark periods. Broilers used the elevated platform and the ramp from the first week until the end of the fattening period (platform: 9.92 broilers per m², ramp: 6.47 broilers per m²), with a peak in the fourth week of life (platform: 13.00 broilers per m²). In wk 2, 4, and 5, platform use was higher during the light period than during the dark period. Broilers stayed longer on the platform in the dark period (dark: 01:54:23 [hh:mm:ss], light: 00:19:54 [hh:mm:ss]). In every phase of the fattening period, broilers on the platform were inactive to a high proportion (on average 80.60%). This indicates that broilers used the platform also for resting behavior. Thus, the elevated platform with perforated surface and manure belt is a suitable option to structure broiler barns. It allows the broilers to sit elevated and provides additional space. Factors such as a shallow ramp incline of 20°, wide ramps, and appropriate material used for the surface and ramps may have contributed to its high use by broilers of all ages. Further research is needed to evaluate the design of platforms that allow broilers to rest undisturbed.
与其他 Gallus gallus 物种成员一样，快速生长的肉鸡有栖息的动机。然而，欧盟的肉鸡被饲养在无结构的畜舍中，没有机会坐在高处休息而不受干扰。解决这个问题的一种可能方法是使用高架平台。本研究的目的是评估在快速生长的肉鸡中使用带穿孔表面和粪便带的高架平台。在 2 个商业农场中，每个农场的 1 个畜舍都安装了高架平台。每个畜舍大约饲养 35000 只 Ross 308 肉鸡，饲养 3 个育肥期。每周 1 天，从视频记录中每隔 30 分钟确定平台和斜坡上每平方米的肉鸡数量。此外，还观察了焦点动物，以分析它们在不同年龄和光照与黑暗期间在平台上的行为。肉鸡从第一周开始使用高架平台和斜坡，直到育肥期结束（平台：每平方米 9.92 只肉鸡，斜坡：每平方米 6.47 只肉鸡），在生命的第四周达到高峰（平台：每平方米 13.00 只肉鸡）。在第 2、4 和 5 周，光照期间平台的使用高于黑暗期间。在黑暗期间，肉鸡在平台上停留的时间更长（黑暗：01:54:23[hh:mm:ss]，光照：00:19:54[hh:mm:ss]）。在育肥期的每个阶段，平台上的肉鸡活动比例都很高（平均 80.60%）。这表明肉鸡也使用平台进行休息行为。因此，带穿孔表面和粪便带的高架平台是结构肉鸡畜舍的合适选择。它允许肉鸡栖息，并提供额外的空间。坡度为 20°的浅斜坡、宽斜坡以及表面和斜坡使用的适当材料等因素可能有助于所有年龄段的肉鸡对其的高度使用。需要进一步研究来评估允许肉鸡不受干扰地休息的平台设计。
