Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey.
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey.
Vet Med Sci. 2024 Nov;10(6):e70112. doi: 10.1002/vms3.70112.
This study was designed to investigate the effects of different housing systems on production performance, egg quality and welfare in laying hens.
One hundred and twenty 42-week-old "Atak S" laying hens, purchased from a manufacturing company, were randomly assigned to 4 housing systems: conventional cages, furnished cages, deep-litter system and free-range. Each system housed 30 hens, which were kept in these systems for 6 weeks. Parameters regarding production performance, egg quality, plumage condition scores and tonic immobility were assessed at the end of the housing period.
Egg production and egg mass were lower in cage-free rearing systems than in caged systems. Mean egg weight in free-range hens, and albumen height and Haugh unit in deep-litter hens, were lower than in other housing systems. Eggshell weight in hens housed in furnished cages was greater than in free-range hens, while eggshell strength was better compared to that of hens in conventional cages. The housing system did not impact fearfulness; however, the deep-litter housing increased the sensitivity to touch or capture. Whole body and regional plumage condition scores of free-range hens elicited more favourable results than those kept in conventional cages. Because the plumage condition indicates welfare, the results proved the superiority of free-range over conventional rearing regarding welfare.
Concerning the parameters, such as egg production, animal welfare and fear level, overall data revealed the pros and cons of all housing systems investigated. We consider that this study's findings might contribute to the researchers and breeders seeking alternative housing for laying hens.
本研究旨在探讨不同饲养系统对产蛋性能、蛋品质和蛋鸡福利的影响。
将 120 只 42 周龄的“Atak S”产蛋鸡从生产厂家购买，随机分为 4 个饲养系统：传统笼养、有笼饲养、厚垫料饲养和自由放养。每个系统饲养 30 只鸡，饲养 6 周。在饲养期末评估生产性能、蛋品质、羽毛状况评分和镇静指数等参数。
自由放养系统的产蛋率和蛋重低于笼养系统。自由放养母鸡的平均蛋重、深垫料母鸡的蛋白高度和哈夫单位均低于其他饲养系统。有笼饲养母鸡的蛋壳重量大于自由放养母鸡，而蛋壳强度优于传统笼养母鸡。饲养系统不影响母鸡的恐惧程度；然而，深垫料饲养增加了母鸡对触摸或捕捉的敏感性。自由放养母鸡的全身和局部羽毛状况评分比传统笼养母鸡更有利。由于羽毛状况表明了福利状况，结果证明了自由放养系统在福利方面优于传统笼养系统。
就产蛋量、动物福利和恐惧水平等参数而言，总体数据显示了所有研究饲养系统的优缺点。我们认为，本研究的结果可能有助于研究人员和饲养者为产蛋鸡寻找替代饲养方式。
