Journal of Animal Science and Technology

Korean Society of Animal Sciences and Technology (한국축산학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Validation of a simple binary scoring system for assessment of welfare measures of 10-day-old commercial broilers and their correlation with environmental parameters

  • Kumari, Priyanka (Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Research Institute for Agricultural and Life Science, Seoul National University) ;
  • Choi, Hong-Lim (Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Research Institute for Agricultural and Life Science, Seoul National University) ;
  • Metali, Shamira Hazi (Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Brunei) ;
  • Yussof, Siti Anisah Hazi (Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Brunei) ;
  • Han, Jiwoon (Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Research Institute for Agricultural and Life Science, Seoul National University)
  • Received : 2014.11.13
  • Accepted : 2015.01.08
  • Published : 2015.03.31
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Background: A simple binary scoring system (SBSS) was developed and used to assess the welfare measures of commercial broiler chickens in South Korea. We also correlated welfare measures with environmental parameters of broiler house. Our measures of welfare included lameness, hock burn (HB) and foot pad dermatitis (FPD), whilst environmental parameters included air temperature, relative humidity, air speed, light intensity, air quality (in particular carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) and ammonia ($NH_3$) concentrations) and airborne microbes. Results: The effect of environmental parameters on welfare measures was apparent even on 10-day-old broilers. A non-parametric correlation analysis revealed significant correlations between environmental parameters and welfare measures. The key environmental parameters were relative humidity and light intensity. The results indicate that there is a need for proper control of environmental conditions on poultry farms, which could reduce health problems and subsequently reduce disease and mortality. Conclusions: In conclusion, the simplicity of SBSS makes it preferable over more complex scoring systems and allows a farmer to more easily assess the welfare measures on their own farm.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

Supported by : Korea Institute of Planning and Evaluation for Technology in Food, Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (IPET), Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP)

References

  1. Emmans G, Kyriazakis I. Consequences of genetic change in farm animals on food intake and feeding behaviour. Proc Nutr Soc. 2001;60:115-25. https://doi.org/10.1079/PNS200059
  2. Otte J, Roland-Holst D, Pfeiffer D, Soares-Magalhaes R, Rushton J, Graham J, et al. Industrial livestock production and global health risks. In: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Pro-Poor Livestock Policy Initiative Research Report. 2007.
  3. Quality W. Welfare $Quality^{(R)}$ assessment protocol for poultry (broilers, laying hens). Lelystad, the Netherlands: Welfare $Quality^{(R)}$ Consortium; 2009.
  4. Jones T, Donnelly C, Dawkins MS. Environmental and management factors affecting the welfare of chickens on commercial farms in the United Kingdom and Denmark stocked at five densities. Poult Sci. 2005;84:1155-65. https://doi.org/10.1093/ps/84.8.1155
  5. Dawkins MS, Donnelly CA, Jones TA. Chicken welfare is influenced more by housing conditions than by stocking density. Nature. 2004;427:342-4. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature02226
  6. Meluzzi A, Fabbri C, Folegatti E, Sirri F. Survey of chicken rearing conditions in Italy: effects of litter quality and stocking density on productivity, foot dermatitis and carcase injuries. Br Poult Sci. 2008;49:257-64. https://doi.org/10.1080/00071660802094156
  7. May J, Lott B. The effect of environmental temperature on growth and feed conversion of broilers to 21 days of age. Poult Sci. 2000;79:669-71. https://doi.org/10.1093/ps/79.5.669
  8. Yahav S. Relative humidity at moderate ambient temperatures: its effect on male broiler chickens and turkeys. Br Poult Sci. 2000;41:94-100. https://doi.org/10.1080/00071660086475
  9. Osorio JA, Ferreira Tinoco I, Ciro HJ. Ammonia: A review of concentration and emmision model in levestock structures. Dyna. 2009;76:89-99.
  10. Cambra-Lopez M, Aarnink AJ, Zhao Y, Calvet S, Torres AG. Airborne particulate matter from livestock production systems: A review of an air pollution problem. Environ Pollut. 2010;158:1-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2009.07.011
  11. Tegethoff V, Hartung J. A field study on stocking density and air quality in broiler production and recommendations to avoid heat stress in summer. Dtsch Tierarztl Wochenschr. 1996;103:87-91.
  12. Avigen. ROSS Broiler Management Manual. Newbridge, Scottland: Aviagen Ltd; 2002.
  13. Deep A, Schwean-Lardner K, Crowe T, Fancher B, Classen H. Effect of light intensity on broiler production, processing characteristics, and welfare. Poult Sci. 2010;89:2326-33. https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.2010-00964
  14. Groot Koerkamp P, Metz J, Uenk G, Phillips V, Holden M, Sneath R, et al. Concentrations and emissions of ammonia in livestock buildings in Northern Europe. J Agr Eng Res. 1998;70:79-95. https://doi.org/10.1006/jaer.1998.0275
  15. Liang Y, Xin H, Li H, Wheeler EF, Zajaczkowski JL, Topper PA, et al. Ammonia emissions from US laying hen houses in Iowa and Pennsylvania. T ASAE. 2005;48:1927. https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.20002
  16. Portejoie S, Martinez J, Landmann G. L'ammoniac d'origine agricole: impacts sur la sante humaine et animale et sur le milieu naturel. INRA Prod Anim. 2002;15:151-60.
  17. Douwes J, Thorne P, Pearce N, Heederik D. Bioaerosol health effects and exposure assessment: progress and prospects. Ann Occup Hyg. 2003;47:187-200. https://doi.org/10.1093/annhyg/meg032
  18. Schenker MB, Christiani D, Cormier Y, Dimich-Ward H, Doekes G, Dosman J, et al. American Thoracic Society: respiratory health hazards in agriculture. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1998;158:S1-76. https://doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm.158.supplement_1.rccm1585s1
  19. Berg CC. Foot-pad dermatitis in broilers and turkeys. In: Doctoral Thesis. Diss. (sammanfattning/summary) Skara: Sveriges lantbruksuniv, Acta Universitatis agriculturae Sueciae. Veterinaria; 1998. p. 1401-6257. 1998:36.
  20. Blatchford R, Klasing K, Shivaprasad H, Wakenell P, Archer G, Mench J. The effect of light intensity on the behavior, eye and leg health, and immune function of broiler chickens. Poult Sci. 2009;88:20-8. https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.2008-00177

Cited by

  1. ANIMAL BEHAVIOR AND WELL-BEING SYMPOSIUM: Poultry welfare assessments: Current use and limitations1 vol.95, pp.3, 2015, https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2016.0957