Adler Carolin A B, Shynkaruk Tory, McPhee Samantha, Buchynski Kailyn, Herr Adelle, Herwig Eugenia, Schwean-Lardner Karen
Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, S7N 5A8.
Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, S7N 5A8.
Poult Sci. 2024 Dec;103(12):104457. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.104457. Epub 2024 Oct 30.
The rearing environment for pullets should mirror their later production environment as closely as possible. However, existing perch space recommendations are based on data for laying hens rather than pullets. This study explores the impact of perch space allowances on the welfare of Canadian laying strain pullets raised to 18 wk. Two trials were conducted with 1,032 Lohmann Brown-Lite (LB) and LSL-Lite (LW) pullets each. A randomized complete block (trial) design was used with a 4 (perch space) × 2 (strain) factorial arrangement. Birds were raised in 16 floor pens (3 × 3 m each; 897.67 cm per bird). Wooden perches were provided from d 1, allowing 6, 9, 12, or 15 cm perch space per pullet. Data were tested for normality, and log+1 transformed if necessary. Significance was declared at P≤0.05. Data were collected for basic health and functioning (body weight, mortality, pullet width, keel bone damage, and tibia bone parameters), affective states (comb damage, heterophil-to-lymphocyte (H/L) ratios, and behavior), and natural living (perch usage and jumping success). Perch space did not affect mortality, keel bone damage, tibia breaking strength, comb damage, or H/L ratios. At 16 and 18 wk, LB body weight slightly increased while the LW body weight decreased with increasing perch space (P=0.05 and 0.02). At 3 wk, pullets spent a higher percentage of time wing flapping on the perch when provided 15 cm compared to 6 cm (P=0.04). During the scotoperiod at 18 wk, a higher percentage of birds perched with 12 and 15 cm perch space than 6 cm (P<0.01). Pullet width at 18 wk was 12.52 cm (sitting) and 11.66 cm (standing) for the LB and 13.85 cm (sitting) and 12.94 cm (standing) for the LW. Overall, perch space allowance had minor effects on the measured welfare indicators. Based on pullet width, a minimum of 12.5 cm for LW and 13.9 cm for LB pullets should be provided to allow all pullets to sit on the perch simultaneously.
小母鸡的饲养环境应尽可能与它们日后的生产环境相近。然而，现有的栖木空间建议是基于蛋鸡的数据，而非小母鸡的数据。本研究探讨了栖木空间配额对饲养至18周龄的加拿大蛋鸡品种小母鸡福利的影响。使用1032只罗曼褐-亮型（LB）和海兰褐-亮型（LW）小母鸡各进行了两项试验。采用随机完全区组（试验）设计，有4（栖木空间）×2（品种）的析因安排。鸡群饲养在16个地面鸡舍（每个3×3米；每只鸡897.67平方厘米）。从第1天开始提供木制栖木，每只小母鸡的栖木空间为6、9、12或15厘米。对数据进行正态性检验，必要时进行对数+1转换。P≤0.05时判定具有显著性。收集了关于基本健康和机能（体重、死亡率、小母鸡宽度、龙骨损伤和胫骨骨参数）、情感状态（鸡冠损伤、嗜异性粒细胞与淋巴细胞（H/L）比值和行为）以及自然生活（栖木使用情况和跳跃成功率）的数据。栖木空间对死亡率、龙骨损伤、胫骨断裂强度、鸡冠损伤或H/L比值没有影响。在16周龄和18周龄时，随着栖木空间增加，LB小母鸡体重略有增加，而LW小母鸡体重下降（P分别为0.05和0.02）。在3周龄时，与6厘米栖木空间相比，提供15厘米栖木空间时小母鸡在栖木上拍打翅膀的时间百分比更高（P=0.04）。在18周龄的黑暗期，与6厘米栖木空间相比，有12厘米和15厘米栖木空间时栖息的鸡的百分比更高（P<0.01）。18周龄时，LB小母鸡的宽度为坐姿12.52厘米、站姿11.66厘米，LW小母鸡为坐姿13.85厘米、站姿12.94厘米。总体而言，栖木空间配额对所测量的福利指标影响较小。根据小母鸡宽度，LW小母鸡至少应提供12.5厘米，LB小母鸡至少应提供13.9厘米，以便所有小母鸡能同时坐在栖木上。
