Mazocco Caroline Citta, de Castro Júnior Sérgio Luís, Silveira Robson Mateus Freitas, Poletto Rosangela, da Silva Iran José Oliveira
Núcleo de Pesquisa em Ambiência (NUPEA), Escola Superior de Agricultura ''Luiz de Queiroz'' (ESALQ), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Piracicaba 13418-900, SP, Brazil.
Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Rio Grande do Sul (IFRS)-Campus Sertão, Sertão 99170-000, RS, Brazil.
Animals (Basel). 2024 May 21;14(11):1518. doi: 10.3390/ani14111518.
The proliferation of rearing systems providing opportunities for birds to engage in natural behaviors can trigger behavioral repertoires that when not manageable compromise animal welfare and the economic viability of the flock. Smothering in laying hens has long been perceived as "natural" or the result of hysteria among birds in the flock. However, the current literature has recognized smothering as an abnormal outcome with the potential to result in significant losses in cage-free poultry systems. Recent studies have specifically aimed to categorize the organization of smothering behavior and highlight its potential causes and consequences. In this study, literature review and bibliographic mapping, drawing on published articles and engagement with poultry farmers through extension and rural technical assistance, were employed. The findings indicate that smothering is a behavior triggered by factors related to the environment in which the laying hens are kept. This study concludes that there is a critical need for more rigorous and detailed research to elucidate the nuances of avian behavioral physiology and assess the impact of production systems on animal welfare and the economic impacts on the flock. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of bird behavior in high-production environments and provides practical insights for the poultry industry.
为禽类提供参与自然行为机会的饲养系统的激增，可能引发一系列行为模式。如果这些行为模式无法得到有效管理，就会损害动物福利以及鸡群的经济生存能力。长期以来，产蛋母鸡的窒息现象一直被认为是“自然的”，或是鸡群中禽类歇斯底里的结果。然而，当前的文献已将窒息视为一种异常现象，在散养家禽系统中可能导致重大损失。近期的研究专门致力于对窒息行为的组织进行分类，并突出其潜在原因和后果。在本研究中，采用了文献综述和文献计量绘图方法，参考已发表的文章，并通过推广服务和农村技术援助与家禽养殖户进行交流。研究结果表明，窒息是由与产蛋母鸡饲养环境相关的因素引发的行为。本研究得出结论，迫切需要进行更严谨、详细的研究，以阐明鸟类行为生理学的细微差别，并评估生产系统对动物福利的影响以及对鸡群的经济影响。这项研究有助于更深入地理解高产环境下的鸟类行为，并为家禽业提供实用的见解。
