Environmental enrichment in birds: Physical integrity, keel problems and locomotor responses

Aerica Cirqueira Nazareno; Robson Mateus Freitas Silveira; Sérgio Luís de Castro Júnior; Iran José Oliveira da Silva

doi:10.31893/jabb.2024018

Keywords:

Abstract

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of environmental enrichment on physical integrity, keel damage and locomotor problems in broiler chickens reared in a controlled environment at different ages. Ninety-six Cobb broiler chicks were used, reared in a controlled environment, with 48 birds for each treatment (T1 = presence and T2 = absence of environmental enrichment) at different ages (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 weeks old) during the two production cycles. The use of environmental enrichment influenced the decrease in the percentage of birds with a score of 1, contrary to treatment with no environmental enrichment. Hock burns in broilers showed no difference (P = 0.069) between the presence and absence of environmental enrichment for score 1, so the treatments did not influence the appearance of hock burn score 1 in birds. Dermatitis on the feet of broiler chickens showed no difference (P = 0.0800) between scores 0 and 1 for the presence and absence of environmental enrichment. Dermatitis on the feet of the birds differed (P < 0.0001) between weeks 5 and 6 for scores of 0 and 1; however, in the other weeks, the treatments did not influence this variable. The highest percentage of birds with a score of 1 was observed at week 6, with 38.24% having dermatitis on the feet. The use of environmental enrichment favored a reduction in the score of 1 for plumage cleanliness and lameness in broilers. Hock burn, foot dermatitis and keel damage were not affected by the use of environmental enrichment. Week 6 had the highest percentage of birds, with a score of 1 for all physical integrity variables.
References
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2. Baxter MCL, Bailie NE, O’Connell (2018) Evaluation of a dustbathing substrate and straw bales as environmental enrichments in commercial broiler housing. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 200: 78–85. doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2017.11.010
3. Bizeray D, Estevez I, Leterrier C, Faure JM (2002a) Effects of increasing environmental complexity on the physical activity of broiler chickens. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 79: 27-41.
4. Bizeray D, Estevez I, Leterrier C, Faure JM (2002b) Influence of increased environmental complexity on leg condition, performance, and level of fearfulness in broilers. Poultry Science 81: 767-773.
5. Clark WD, Cox WR, Silversides FG (2008) Bone fracture incidence in end-of-lay high-producing, noncommercial laying hens identified using radiographs. Poultry Science 87:1964–1970.
6. Donaldson CJ, MEE, Ball NE (2012) Aerial perches and free-range laying hens: The effect of access to aerial perches and of individual bird parameters on keel bone injuries in commercial free-range laying hens. Poultry Science 91: 304–315. doi: 10.3382/ps.2011-01774
7. Edwards HM Jr., Veltmann JRJr (1983) The role of calcium and phosphorus in the etiology of tibial dyschondroplasia in young chicks. Journal of Nutrition 113: 1568-1575.
8. Frutosa J, Andrés SE, Trevisi J, Benavidesa N, Santos A, Santos FJ (2018) Moderated milk replacer restriction of ewe lambs alters gut immunity parameters during the pre-weaning period and impairs liver function and animal performance during the replacement phase. Animal Feed Science and Technology 243: 80–89.
9. Gebhardt-Henrich SG, Toscano HW (2018) Use of aerial perches and perches on aviary tiers by broiler breeders. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 203: 24–33. doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2018.02.013
10. Kaukonen EM, Norring A (2017) Perches and elevated platforms in commercial broiler farms: use and effect on walking ability, incidence of tibial dyschondroplasia and bone mineral content. Animal 11(5): 864–871. doi:10.1017/S1751731116002160
11. Karaarslan S, Nazlıgül A (2018) Effects of lighting, stocking density, and access to perches on leg health variables as welfare indicators in broiler chickens. Livestock Science 218: 31–36. doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2018.10.008
12. Kiani A, Borstel UKV (2019) Impact of different group sizes on plumage cleanliness and leg disorders in broilers. Livestock Science 221: 52–56.
13. Shipov A, Sharir A, Zelzer E, Milgram J, Monsonego-Orna E, Shahar R (2010) The influence of severe prolonged exercise restriction on the mechanical and structural properties of bone in an avian model. Veterinary Journal 183:153–160.
14. Tahamtani FM, Pedersen C., Toinon AB (2018) Effects of environmental complexity on fearfulness and learning ability in fast growing broiler chickens. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 207: 49–56. doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2018.04.005
15. Tarlton JF, Wilkins MJ, Toscano NC, Avery L (2013) Reduced bone breakage and increased bone strength in free range layinghensfedomega-3 polyun saturated fatty acid supplemented diets. Bone 52: 578–586.
16. Ventura BA, Siewerdt I (2010) Effects of barrier perches and density on broiler leg health, fear, and performance. Poultry Science 89: 1574-1583. doi: 10.3382/ps.2009-00576
17. Zhao JP, Jiao YB, Jiang ZG, Song XJ, Wang H (2013) Cool perches improve the growth performance and welfare status of broiler chickens reared at different stocking densities and high temperatures. Poultry Science 92: 1962–1971. doi 10.3382/ps.2012-02933

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How to cite

Nazareno, A. C., Silveira, R. M. F., Castro Júnior, S. L. de, & Silva, I. J. O. da. (2024). Environmental enrichment in birds: Physical integrity, keel problems and locomotor responses. Journal of Animal Behaviour and Biometeorology, 12(2), 2024018. https://doi.org/10.31893/jabb.2024018

[1] Bailie CL, O’Connell (2015) The influence of providing perches and string on activity levels, fearfulness and leg health in commercial broiler chickens. Animal 9: 660–668. doi: 10.1017/S1751731114002821

[2] Baxter MCL, Bailie NE, O’Connell (2018) Evaluation of a dustbathing substrate and straw bales as environmental enrichments in commercial broiler housing. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 200: 78–85. doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2017.11.010

[3] Bizeray D, Estevez I, Leterrier C, Faure JM (2002a) Effects of increasing environmental complexity on the physical activity of broiler chickens. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 79: 27-41.

[4] Bizeray D, Estevez I, Leterrier C, Faure JM (2002b) Influence of increased environmental complexity on leg condition, performance, and level of fearfulness in broilers. Poultry Science 81: 767-773.

[5] Clark WD, Cox WR, Silversides FG (2008) Bone fracture incidence in end-of-lay high-producing, noncommercial laying hens identified using radiographs. Poultry Science 87:1964–1970.

[6] Donaldson CJ, MEE, Ball NE (2012) Aerial perches and free-range laying hens: The effect of access to aerial perches and of individual bird parameters on keel bone injuries in commercial free-range laying hens. Poultry Science 91: 304–315. doi: 10.3382/ps.2011-01774

[7] Edwards HM Jr., Veltmann JRJr (1983) The role of calcium and phosphorus in the etiology of tibial dyschondroplasia in young chicks. Journal of Nutrition 113: 1568-1575.

[8] Frutosa J, Andrés SE, Trevisi J, Benavidesa N, Santos A, Santos FJ (2018) Moderated milk replacer restriction of ewe lambs alters gut immunity parameters during the pre-weaning period and impairs liver function and animal performance during the replacement phase. Animal Feed Science and Technology 243: 80–89.

[9] Gebhardt-Henrich SG, Toscano HW (2018) Use of aerial perches and perches on aviary tiers by broiler breeders. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 203: 24–33. doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2018.02.013

[10] Kaukonen EM, Norring A (2017) Perches and elevated platforms in commercial broiler farms: use and effect on walking ability, incidence of tibial dyschondroplasia and bone mineral content. Animal 11(5): 864–871. doi:10.1017/S1751731116002160

[11] Karaarslan S, Nazlıgül A (2018) Effects of lighting, stocking density, and access to perches on leg health variables as welfare indicators in broiler chickens. Livestock Science 218: 31–36. doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2018.10.008

[12] Kiani A, Borstel UKV (2019) Impact of different group sizes on plumage cleanliness and leg disorders in broilers. Livestock Science 221: 52–56.

[13] Shipov A, Sharir A, Zelzer E, Milgram J, Monsonego-Orna E, Shahar R (2010) The influence of severe prolonged exercise restriction on the mechanical and structural properties of bone in an avian model. Veterinary Journal 183:153–160.

[14] Tahamtani FM, Pedersen C., Toinon AB (2018) Effects of environmental complexity on fearfulness and learning ability in fast growing broiler chickens. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 207: 49–56. doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2018.04.005

[15] Tarlton JF, Wilkins MJ, Toscano NC, Avery L (2013) Reduced bone breakage and increased bone strength in free range layinghensfedomega-3 polyun saturated fatty acid supplemented diets. Bone 52: 578–586.

[16] Ventura BA, Siewerdt I (2010) Effects of barrier perches and density on broiler leg health, fear, and performance. Poultry Science 89: 1574-1583. doi: 10.3382/ps.2009-00576

[17] Zhao JP, Jiao YB, Jiang ZG, Song XJ, Wang H (2013) Cool perches improve the growth performance and welfare status of broiler chickens reared at different stocking densities and high temperatures. Poultry Science 92: 1962–1971. doi 10.3382/ps.2012-02933

Abstract

References

How to cite