Data di Pubblicazione:
2020
Citazione:
Effect of Feed Restriction on the Behaviour and Welfare of Broiler Chickens / A. Trocino, P. White, F. Bordignon, V. Ferrante, D. Ber totto, M. Birolo, G. Pillan, G. Xiccato. - In: ANIMALS. - ISSN 2076-2615. - 10:5(2020 May), pp. 830.1-830.17. [10.3390/ani10050830]
Abstract:
Under intensive rearing conditions, the welfare of broiler chickens may be at risk
depending on genotype and sex, due to their different growth rates. The practice of quantitative
feed restriction may also impact on welfare. This study aimed to evaluate behaviour and
corticosterone content in plasma and faeces at different ages using 896 one-day-old chicks housed
in 32 pens, allocated to 8 groups, i.e., 2 genotypes (standard vs. high breast yield) × 2 sex × 2 feeding
plans (ad libitum vs. restricted, AL vs. FR). The feeding system affected the percentage of standing
(9.84% vs. 11.7% in AL vs. FR; p ≤ 0.001), feeding (7.51% vs. 8.17%; p ≤ 0.01) and sitting/lying (67.0%
vs. 64.1%; p ≤ 0.001), and the faeces corticosterone content (12.2 vs. 13.6 ng/g in AL vs. FR; p ≤ 0.10).
Sex affected the percentage of pecking other chickens, standing and comfort behaviours. Changes
in behaviour were recorded between high and standard breast yield genotypes with faeces
corticosterone which tended to be higher in the former (p ≤ 0.10). Significant interactions between the main factors and age were observed. Major changes in behaviour were due to feed restriction,
which stimulated activity during restriction.
Tipologia IRIS:
01 - Articolo su periodico
Keywords:
genotype; sex; feed restriction; age; poultry
Elenco autori:
A. Trocino, P. White, F. Bordignon, V. Ferrante, D. Ber totto, M. Birolo, G. Pillan, G. Xiccato
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