Description
Book SynopsisThis collection features five peer-reviewed literature reviews on poultry housing systems.The first chapter reviews current poultry housing systems and the recent emergence of enriched cages and cage-free systems. It explores the impact of conventional cages on bird health and welfare, looking primarily at bone health.
The second chapter examines the impact of different housing systems on the safety and quality of eggs. It reviews how hen housing and flock management can affect indicator populations, foodborne pathogens and chemical contamination.
The third chapter considers the relationship between housing conditions and management in the rearing and production of broilers. It reviews the major welfare issues related to the housing of broilers, including feed and water restriction.
The fourth chapter discusses current environmental enrichment strategies implemented in poultry production. The chapter details the benefits of these strategies, as well as their role in contributing to more sustainable production models.
The final chapter reviews current knowledge on perching behaviour of chickens, as well as the associated risks to bird health and welfare that arise with the use of elevated structures, such as keel bone damage.
Table of ContentsChapter 1 - Welfare issues in poultry housing and management: laying hens:
Victoria Sandilands, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), UK;
1 Introduction2 Conventional cages3 Enriched cages4 Cage-free housing5 Conclusion6 Where to look for further information7 References
Chapter 2 - The effects of laying hen housing systems on egg safety and quality:
Deana R. Jones, US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, USA; 1 Introduction2 Indicator organisms in monitoring egg safety3 Salmonella spp.4 Other pathogens and chemical contaminants5 Egg quality6 Summary7 Future trends in research8 References
Chapter 3 - Broiler breeding flocks: management and animal welfare:
Ingrid C. de Jong and Rick A. van Emous, Wageningen Livestock Research, The Netherlands; 1 Introduction2 Housing conditions and management in the rearing period3 Housing conditions and management in the production period4 Welfare issues: restricted feeding and water restriction5 Welfare issues: excisions, mating behaviour and quality of feather cover6 Environmental enrichment7 Vaccinations8 Transgenerational effects9 Concluding remarks10 Where to look for further information11 References
Chapter 4 - The contribution of environmental enrichment to sustainable poultry production:
Inma Estevez, Neiker-Tecnalia and Ikerbasque (The Basque Foundation for Science), Spain ; and Ruth C. Newberry , Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway; 1 Introduction2 Structural complexity: an introduction3 Structural complexity: cover panels4 Structural complexity: perches, barriers and ramps5 Other benefits of structural complexity6 Visual enrichment through lighting7 Foraging enrichments8 Comfort behaviour enrichments9 Enrichment and use of outdoor areas10 Discussion11 Conclusions12 References
Chapter 5 - The role of perches in chicken welfare:
Lars Schrader and Julia Malchow, Institute of Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry – Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Germany; 1 Introduction2 Why do chickens perch?3 Ontogeny of perching4 Anatomic prerequisites for perching5 Properties of perches: the chicken's view6 Elevated structures in pullet and layer housing7 Elevated structures in broiler housing8 Conclusions9 Future trends in research10 References
