• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.305-313
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• 2011

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of housing systems on the productivity and physiological response as stress indicators in White Leghorn chickens. The chickens subjected to the conventional cages had a significantly lower viability, hen-housed egg production, egg weight and body weight compared with those to the floor pens. However, the hens housed in the conventional cages had a shorter day of the first egg and a greater egg quality compared with those housed in the floor pens. In addition, this study was also investigated to identify biological markers for assessing the physiological response of chickens under stress conditions. As biological markers, the amount of telomeric DNA was analyzed by quantitative fluorescent in situ hybridization on the nuclei of cells. The DNA damage rate of lymphocytes was also quantified by the comet assay. The amount of telomeric DNA of the lymphocytes, kidney and spleen was significantly higher in the chickens under floor pens than those under conventional cages. The DNA damage also increased in chickens raised under conventional cages, as compared to the chickens under floor pens. As results, we conclude that the chickens housed in conventional cages have a greater stressful status than those housed in floor pens.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.475-482
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• 2002

The experiment was conducted to evaluate a ventilation system, which was devised to encourage farmers to use the enclosed poultry housing system. The study was observed in the National Livestock Research Institute from May 9 to May 30 in 2002. The main results of the experiment are as follows: 1. Although the outside temperature of the enclosed poultry house was 9.6 ${\sim}$ 21.2$^{\circ}C$ with 11.6$^{\circ}C$ variation, the house with an excellent heat insulation was maintained at 32${\sim}$33$^{\circ}C$ in a variation of 2$^{\circ}C$ which is within the range of the optimal temperature for broiler, being aided with two small electric heaters. 2. The average of air flow rates of the upper, middle and low parts of the room in the broiler house were detected at 0.57, 0.22 and 0.04 m/sec, respectively. The air flow in the whole room was distibuted uniformly by a perforated duct. In conclusion, heat and humidity could be controlled without any problem in this enclosed housing system. Especially, air flow in all parts of the room was detected in uniform rates, resulting in the better ventilation performance with air inhalation through the duct and air exhaust through the side walls of the house.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.35-44
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• 2005

The objectives of this study were to develop an image processing algorithm for finding the sick or the dead layers(SDL) rearing in the multi-tier layer battery, which is a core technology of remote monitoring systems for layers, and to test the performance of algorithm developed in the experimental poultry housing. Based on the literature study and experiment, the standing up of layer was set as a criterion for judging layers whether sick or dead. Then, by the criterion set, an algorithm was developed. The image processing algorithm developed was tested how well it could and SDL at the experimental poultry housing. Test results showed that its monitoring correctness of layers standing up in the cages having all healthy layers was $92\%$, and $96\%$ in the cages having SDL. Therefore, it would be concluded that the image processing algorithm developed in this study was well suited to the purpose of development.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.931-940
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• 2021

Objective: Light is a significant component of housing environment in commercial poultry industry. This study was conducted to investigate whether Pekin ducks perform better under monochromatic lights than under white light with respect to their growth performance, carcass quality, eyeball development, oxidation resistance, and cecal bacterial communities. Methods: A total of 320 one-day-old male Pekin ducklings were randomly distributed into five rooms with different light treatments, white, red, yellow, green, and blue light. Each room consisted of 4 replicated pens with 16 ducklings per pen. Results: Blue light significantly decreased fat deposition by decreasing abdominal fat. Long wavelength light, such as red, green, and yellow light, considerably increased the back-to-front eyeball diameter and the red light potentially enlarged the side-to-side eyeball diameter. Besides, the blue light had adverse effects on the oxidation resistance status in terms of increasing the product malonaldehyde of lipid oxidation and decreasing the plasma concentration of total superoxide dismutase. The phyla of Firmicutes had the greatest abundance in the green and blue treatments, while Bacteroidetes in blue treatment was the least. The genus of Faecalibacterium was significantly lower under the red light. Conclusion: The high risk of cecal health status and decreased anti-oxidation activity were observed under blue light. Red, yellow, and green light might increase the risk of oversized eyeball and cecal illness. Therefore, monochromatic lights compared to white light did not show advantages on the performance of housing ducks, it turns out that the white light is the best light condition for grow-out ducks.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.55-63
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• 2019

This study was conducted to evaluate animal welfare approved farms in three housing systems (open, windowless, and free-range). The survey was conducted in 25 animal welfare approved farms, and 10 farms were surveyed for distribution status. The main breed in all animal welfare approved farms of laying hens was Hy-Line Brown variety. In the case of open house, laying hens were bred in traditional and panel houses simultaneously; however, the ratio of panel house was 58.3%, which was higher than that of the traditional house. All the windowless houses were made of panels and more than 15,000 laying hens were housed in a single windowless house. In the case of free-range house, it was maintained on a small scale of less than 12,000 birds. Fifty-six percent of the surveyed farms were breeding at $7{\sim}8birds/m^2$. In terms of male and female ratios, most farms maintained 1 male:15 females, but there was a farmhouse that switched 17 or 20 females to 1 male. The daily dietary allowance was 110~170 g, and 32% of the surveyed farms provided feed of more than 150 g/day, which showed that forage feed was important. The age of at the first egg was 123 days, 122 days, and 120 days, and the peak percent was 91.8%, 94.9%, and 86.5% in open, windowless and free-range houses, respectively. The average egg production rate was 74.0%, 84.6%, and 72.7% in open, windowless, and free-range houses respectively, thus, there was no correlation between feed intake and hen-housed eggs. Distribution of welfare certified eggs was mainly a direct deal with the consumer or through contract production. The ratio of direct transactions between large-scale marts and eco-friendly specialty stores of welfare approved eggs was higher than that of conventional eggs. The rate of contract sales of eggs in both the barn and free-range systems was high, and the percentage of courier sales farms was also high. Excluding courier services, price of eggs in the barn system rose to more than 30 won/egg in the second half of 2017 (after AI). Price of eggs in the free-range system rose to more than 50 won/egg in the second half of 2017 (after AI). In the case of courier sales, the same price of 500 won was maintained before and after AI. In conclusion, the results of this study can be used as basic data for improving the animal welfare certification system for laying hens in Korea.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.452-458
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• 2019

Objective: The study was carried to determine the interaction effects of pen enrichment and sex on behavioral activities, skin lesions and physiology of Windsnyer pigs. Methods: Forty-eight growing Windsnyer pigs of both sex, with an average initial body weight of 21.6 (${\pm}9.01$) kg were used. Four pigs were randomly assigned to either enriched or barren pens at a stocking density of $0.35m^2/pig$. Enriched pens contained 2 L bottles filled with stones and suspended at head level on ropes stretching across the pens. In addition, two plastic balls (90 mm in diameter) and 500 mL bottles (235 mm long) were placed on the floor of each enriched pen. Results: Pigs in barren environments had higher heart rates (p<0.001) than those in enriched pens. There was an interaction of pen environment and sex on rectal temperature (p<0.001). Females in enriched pens had higher rectal temperatures (p<0.05) than females in barren pens. There was no interaction of pen environment and sex on time spent eating and drinking (p>0.05). Time spent bullying was influenced (p<0.05) by pen environment and sex. Female pigs in barren environment spent more time on bullying than females in enriched pens. There was an interaction of pen environment and sex on time spent lying down and walking (p<0.05). Female pigs in enriched pens spent more time lying down than females in barren pens. Males in barren pens spent more time walking than males in enriched pens while no effect of pen environment was observed in females. There was an interaction of pen environment and sex on the number of skin lesions in the head, neck and shoulder region and other parts of the body (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was concluded that pen enrichment reduced the number of skin lesions and anti-social behaviors, especially for female pigs. There is a need, therefore of housing indigenous pigs under confinement.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2009

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of the level of stocking density of housing with or without window on chicken meat quality. The incidence of $1^+$ grade of whole chicken housed with window significantly influenced by stocking density. The incidence of $1^+$ grade chicken at high stocking density ($0.050\;m^2$/head), standard stocking density ($0.066\;m^2$/head), and low stocking density ($0.083\;m^2$/head) was 26, 52, and 66%, respectively. Breast muscle of chicken housed with window and with low stocking density showed higher incidence of $1^+$ grade than high stocking density. Also minor and severe PSE (pale, soft, extractive) incidence of chicken meat were showed 4% each, while the $1^+$ grade chicken was not appeared at low density. In chicken thigh, the incidence rate was not affected by stocking density. In chicken housed without window, the incidence of $1^+$ grade chicken in high, standard, and low stocking density was 18, 8, and 46%, respectively. Also, the incidence of $1^+$ grade chicken breast was 2.6 times higher than the chicken in low stocking density. However, incidence of $1^+$ grade thigh was not affected by the stocking density. These results suggest that high stocking density significantly reduced the incidence of $1^+$ grade chicken meat regardless of housing with or without window.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.1196-1203
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• 2014

This study intended to compare the productive performance of three different layer raising systems; conventional cage (CC), barn (BR) and aviary (AV). The AV is welfare bestowed housing that allows free locomotion for birds within the BR. The BR allows bird's free locomotion inside BR but without multilevel structures. Both pullets and cockerels were housed together in both AV and BR, but only pullets in CC. Seventeen weeks old Lohmann Brown Lite (n = 800) pullets were housed in AV during this study. The same age layer pullets were simultaneously assigned to either at CC or BR to compare egg production performance with AV. The duration of experiment was 40 weeks (from 21st to 60th week). There were no remarkable differences in egg production, hen day egg production (HDEP) and average egg weight among three rearing systems. First 20 weeks (phase-1) average HDEP (%) of AV, CC, and BR were 85.9, 88.8, 87.1 and average egg weights (g) were 57.5, 59.9, and 56.9 respectively. Those of the remaining 20 weeks (phase-2) were 87.1, 87.9, 85.5 and 64.2, 63.0 62.1, respectively. Daily feed intakes (122 g, 110 g, 125 g); feed conversion ratio (2.4, 2.1, 2.5) and daily egg mass (53.9 g, 54.4 g, 52.8 g) data from AV, CC, and BR were not influenced significantly by the respective raising systems. Daily feed intake of layers in both AV (124 g) and BR (127 g) tended to be higher than that in CC (113 g) during phase-2. Overall, exterior egg quality (dirty and cracked eggs) in both phases was superior in BR compared with AV and CC, whereas CC generated intermediate results. This study indicated that the HDEP per se in AV and BR were not significantly different from that in CC. The study implied that the facility depreciation cost for AV and cost for increased feed intake in AV compared to CC are believed to be critical to evaluate the cost effectiveness of egg production in AV.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.73-82
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• 2024

The gut microbiome of broilers is a critical factor in overall health and productivity. However, high summer temperatures and high stocking density (conventional farm condition) may cause stress to broilers, resulting in an imbalance in the gut microbiome. This study was conducted to compare the gut microbiome of broilers between spring and summer in welfare (Bosung, Jeollanam-do, South Korea) and conventional farms (Jangsu, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea). A total of 31 broilers were assigned to the following groups: conventional farm in spring (n = 8); conventional farm in summer (n = 8); welfare farm in spring (n = 7); welfare farm in summer (n = 8). Cecal digesta were collected from eight broilers from each farm, and microbiome analysis was performed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Beta diversity analysis indicated clear differences in cecal microbiome composition between spring and summerin both welfare and conventional farm. At the phylum level, analysis of conventional farm revealed a higher proportion of Bacteroidetes in spring than in summer. At the genus level, broilers exhibited a higher abundance of Bacteroides and Alistipesin spring compared to summer. In contrast, the difference in microbial flora composition observed in welfare farm was relatively small compared to conventional farm. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that heat stress can negatively affect the caecum microbiome of broilers. However, improvements in the housing environment can mitigate the effects of heat stress.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.54-76
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• 1980

A survey was conducted to determine the status of health and productivity of poultry farms in Korea. Area included Was Kyunggido where exist nearly 50% of national poultry population. From this area, 41 layer and 34 broiler farms covering 21 Countries were selected randomly for the survey. When farms were divided in the operation size, 95.1% of layer and 82.3% of broiler farms were classified as business or industrial level while the rest were managed in a small scale as part time job. Generally layer farms had been established much earlier than broiler farms. Geographically 10.7% of layer farms were sited near the housing area such as field foreast and rice field. No farms were located near the seashore. The distance from one farm from the other was very close, being 80% of the farms within the distance of 1km and as many as 28% of the farms within loom. This concentrated poultry farming in a certain area created serious problems for the sanitation and preventive measures, especially in case of outbreak of infectious diseases. Average farm size was 5,016${\times}$3.3㎡ for layers and 1,037${\times}$3.3㎡ for broilers. 89.5% of layer ana 70.6% of broiler farms owned the land for farming while the rest were on lease. In 60% of layer farms welters were employed for farming while in the rest their own labour was used. Majority of farms were equipped poorly for taking necessary practice of hygiene and sanitation. The amount of disinfectant used by farms was considerably low. As many as 97.6% of lave. farms were practised with Newcastle(ND) and fowl pox(F$.$pox) vaccine, whereas only 43.6% and 5.1% of broiler farms were practised with ND and F$.$pox vaccine, respectively. In 17-32.7% of farms ND vaccine was used less than twice until 60 days of age and in only 14.6% of farms adult birds were vaccinated every 4months. Monthly expense for preventive measures was over 200,000W in 32% of farms. Only 4.9-2.7% of vaccine users were soaking advice from veterinarians before practising vaccination, 85% of the users trusted the efficacy of the vaccines. Selection of medicine was generally determined by the farm owner rather than by veterinarans on whom 33.3% of farms were dependant. When diseases outbroke, 49.3% of farms called for veterinary hospital and the rest were handled by their own veterinarians, salesmen or professionals. Approximately 70% of farms were satisfied with the diagnosis made by the veterinarians. Frequency of disease outbreaks varied according to the age and type of birds. The livabilities of layers during the period of brooding, rearing ana adultwere 90.5, 98.9 and 75.2%, respectively while the livalibility of broilers until marketing was 92.2%. In layers, average culling age, was 533.3 day and hen housed eggs were 232.7. Average feed conversion rates of layers and broilers were 3.30 and 2.48, respectively. Those figures were considerably higher than anticipated but still far lower than those in developed countries.