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http://dx.doi.org/10.5187/jast.2020.62.2.276

Adaptational changes of behaviors in hens introduced to a multi-tier system  

Cheon, Si Nae (Department of Animal Science, and Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gyeongsang National University)
Choi, Yang-Ho (Department of Animal Science, and Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gyeongsang National University)
Park, Kyu-Hyun (College of Animal Sciences, Kangwon National University)
Lee, Jun Yeob (National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration)
Jeon, Jung Hwan (National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration)
Publication Information
Journal of Animal Science and Technology / v.62, no.2, 2020 , pp. 276-291 More about this Journal
Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate behavioral changes in laying hens (Hy-Line Brown) after transfer to a multi-tier system from the floor system and to examine their production performance. The hens were randomly divided into two groups and were allocated to the multi-tier system and the floor system at a commercial farm. Behavior of the laying hens was recorded by CCD (charge-coupled device) cameras and a digital video recorder. The data were scanned every 2 min to obtain an instantaneous behavioral sample or were immediately counted whenever the hens exhibited a designated behavior. Behavior changed dramatically during the first seven days. Egg production was higher in the multi-tier system, while cracked and dirty eggs were more frequent in the floor system (p < 0.05). No differences in mortality rate or egg quality were observed between the groups. In conclusion, the hens needed at least seven days to adapt to the multi-tier system. The multi-tier system was more efficient than the floor system in terms of production performance.
Keywords
Animal welfare; Behavior; Floor system; Laying hens; Multi-tier system; Production performance;
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