Development of furnished cages re‐using conventional cages for laying hens: Behaviour,physical condition and productivity

Furnished cages for laying hens have advantages in allowing normal behaviors and maintaining productivity. As the cost of introduction is a barrier for farms, we developed furnished cages that re‐use conventional cages. To determine the minimum and functional cage design, we compared six designs, combinations of two floor designs (artificial turf or wire cage floor) and three screening designs in the integrated area (no screening, one entrance side or four sides). In total, 144 hens were used, and we measured behavior, physical condition and productivity. Comparing the floors, the percentages of hens performing dust‐bathing and laying eggs in the integrated area were higher in cages with turf than wire floor (P < 0.05 for both). Comparing the screening, dust‐bathing, litter‐exploring and active behavior tended to be more frequent in cages with the integrated area screened on one side than four sides. Feather damage was lower in cages with the integrated area screened on one side than with no screening (P < 0.05). These results suggest that the cage design with an integrated area with artificial turf floor, screened on one side, was effective for furnished cages that re‐use conventional cages.     

Behavior, performance and physical condition of laying hens in conventional and small furnished cages

The aim of the present study was to compare the welfare level and performance of laying hens between conventional and small furnished cages. At the age of 54 weeks, 120 White Leghorn layers were divided into four groups: four (C4) or six hens/cage in conventional cages and four or six (F6) hens/cage in furnished cages. Their behavior, number of steps taken, performance and physical condition were measured. Sham dust‐bathing was greater in conventional cages than in furnished cages (P = 0.05) and dust‐bathing, litter scratching and litter pecking were also observed in furnished cages. Other comfort behavior, moving and number of steps taken were more frequent in the four‐hen cages than in the six‐hen cages (P < 0.01, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively). Though egg production and egg mass in C4 and F6 were lower than in the other groups, no significant differences were found in the other production measurements. Bodyweight gain was larger in the four‐hen cages than the six‐hen cages (P < 0.01). In conclusion, behavior was not restricted in the furnished cages, but activity and bodyweight gain were affected by group size (density) rather than cage design. Hereafter, the studies on suitable density in each cage design, using young layers, are required.     

Behavioral changes in laying hens after introduction to battery cages, furnished cages and an aviary

A variety of investigations into alternative systems and furnished cages for laying hens have been conducted, mainly in the European Union. However, comparative studies about the behavior of laying hens just after introduction to these housing systems are few. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the changes of location and behavior of laying hens just after introduction to three housing systems. In total, 181 White Leghorns were used. Thirty‐six birds were allocated to 12 battery cages with three birds per cage (613 cm²/bird); 36 birds were allocated to nine furnished cages with four birds per cage (1170 cm²/bird); and 109 birds were allocated to an aviary (1130 cm²/bird). Direct observations using scanning techniques were conducted over 2 weeks for 4 h/day from the day following the introduction. Scan samples of location and behavior were taken at 10 min intervals. The proportion of birds that stayed at each location in the furnished cages was stable during the observation period. In the aviary, 78% of birds were observed on the floor on the first day, and thereafter the proportion linearly decreased (P < 0.01). The proportions of birds eating in both the battery and furnished cages were stable, indicating that the caged birds would adjust to these environments within a short period. Display of aggression was lower in both the cages (both 0.3 ± 0.1%) than in the aviary (3.5 ± 1.0%, P < 0.001), which indicates the early establishment of social order in both cage systems. In the aviary, the birds were observed eating less frequently than in both the cages on the first day, and the proportion thereafter linearly increased (P < 0.01), and the use of tiered wire floors with feeders accompanied this (P < 0.01). Comfort behaviors, including dust bathing, were noted less in the aviary than in the furnished cages throughout the observation period (both P < 0.05). These results suggest that adjustment of aviary birds to their new environment had been delayed compared with caged birds because of the prerearing conditions and the environmental complexity of the aviary.     

Behavior, physiology, performance and physical condition of layers in conventional and large furnished cages in a hot environment

The aim of the present study was to compare old layers' level of welfare and performance between conventional and large furnished cages under hot environmental conditions. At the age of 80 weeks, 104 Boris Brown layers were divided into two groups: 12 conventional cages (two hens/cage) and four large furnished cages (20 hens/cage, 240 cm wide × 62 cm deep). The room temperature was set to fluctuate between 25 and 33°C in a day. The hens' behavior, immune response, performance and physical condition were measured. Aggression and moving were more frequent in furnished than in conventional cages (P < 0.05 for both items). Egg production (P < 0.05), egg mass (P < 0.05) and feed conversion ratio (P < 0.01) were better in conventional cages than in furnished cages. No significant differences were found in the birds' immune responses or physical condition between the cage designs. In conclusion, under a hot environment, the performance of old layers in large furnished cages was lower compared with that in small conventional cages, which might be due to their greater aggressive interactions. However, it was not evident that welfare level was lower in large furnished cages compared with conventional cages. Hereafter, additional studies about large furnished cages using young layers over a long term should be performed.     

Physicochemical determinants of pH in pectoralis major of three strains of laying hens housed in conventional and furnished cages

1. Post-mortem decline in muscle pH has traditionally been attributed to glycogenolysis-induced lactate accumulation. However, muscle pH ([H⁺]) is controlled by complex physicochemical relationships encapsulated in the Stewart model of acid–base chemistry and is determined by three system-independent variables – strong ion difference ([SID]), total concentration of weak acids ([A_tot]) and partial pressure of CO₂ (PCO₂).

2. This study investigated these system-independent variables in post-mortem pectoralis major muscles of Shaver White, Lohmann Lite and Lohmann Brown laying hens housed in conventional cages (CC) or furnished cages (FC) and evaluated the model by comparing calculated [H⁺] with previously measured [H⁺] values.

3. The model accounted for 99.7% of the variation in muscle [H⁺]. Differences in [SID] accounted for most or all of the variations in [H⁺] between strains. Greater PCO₂ in FC was counteracted by greater sequestration of strong base cations. The results demonstrate the accuracy and utility of the Stewart model for investigating determinants of meat [H⁺].

4. The housing differences identified in this study suggested that hens housed in FC have improved muscle function and overall health due to the increased opportunity for movement. These findings support past studies showing improved animal welfare for hens housed in FC compared to CC. Therefore, the Stewart model has been identified as an accurate method to assess changes in the muscle at a cellular level that affect meat quality that also detect differences in the welfare status of the research subjects.     

Comparison of behavior, physical condition and performance of laying hens in four molting methods

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the welfare level of hens in four molting methods by comparing their behavior, physical condition and performance. In total, 96 White Leghorn layers (72 weeks of age) were used. The four molting methods consisted of 10 days of feeding and the first 3 days of water withdrawal WFW); 10 day feed withdrawal (WF) followed by ad libitum access to a layer diet from day 11, 28 days of restricted feeding (RF) and 28 days without withdrawing their feed (NW). The RF and NW hens were fed a low energy diet. The WFW and WF hens showed two clear phases of behavior during the 10‐day fasting period. Explorative and stereotyped behavior increased for WFW and WF hens just after their fast. Standing‐resting then increased for WFW and WF hens while lying‐resting decreased. In contrast, RF and NW hens did not show clear behavioral changes during the 28‐day molt period. The weight loss of the NW hens was more gradual compared with the other three methods. No significant differences were seen in any productive trait among the four methods during the postmolt period. In conclusion, the welfare level of RF and NW, especially NW, was higher compared with WFW and WF.     

Effects of an 'enrichment feeder' on behavior and feather conditions of caged laying hens

The objective of this study was to compare the behaviors and feather conditions of caged laying hens fed by two different types of feeders. Seven tennis balls were placed on the feed trough to hide the feed for each of 6 experimental cages (treatment B). The same feed troughs without balls were used for 6 control cages (treatment NB). Forty-eight commercial white leghorn type hens were housed as 4 birds per cage (474 cm² per bird). The experimental period was from 22 to 32 weeks of age. At 28 weeks of age, the hens spent more time feeding in treatment NB (35%) than in B (27%). On the other hand, prefeeding behavior (extension of the neck over the trough or pecking at the balls) occupied more time in B (14%) than in NB (6%). The birds in B spent more time thrusting (thrusting other birds aside and trying to eat) than did the birds in NB (2 vs 0%). At 32 weeks of age, the mean proportion of hens feeding and prefeeding behavior in both treatments was similar to those at 28 weeks of age; however, differences of the behavior between the B and NB were relatively small. Feather damage on a scale of 0 (no damage) to 15 (denuded) increased with age, and the scores in B were less than those in NB at 27 weeks (0.75 vs 1.37), although not at 32 weeks. Egg production in the two treatments was the same, and the type of feeder used did not affect body weight. This device might provide hens with a more attractive environment than the conventional feeders; however, the enrichment feeder might need more improvement for the welfare of caged laying hens.     

Comparison of selected indices of internal environment and condition of laying hens kept in furnished cages and in aviaries

Biochemical and hematological examination of blood and individual assessment of the birds were performed in Lohman Brown laying hens at 45 weeks of age housed in different systems. The biochemical examination revealed higher (p < .01) corticosterone levels, creatine kinase, and aspartate aminotransferase activity and lower (p < .01) levels of lactate, triglycerides, albumin, calcium, and phosphorus in aviary hens compared to hens housed in furnished cages. Hematological examination of hens housed in aviaries revealed higher (p < .05) hematocrit, leukocytes, heterophils, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, and H/L ratio. Furthermore, hens housed in aviaries had lower (p < .01) body weight than hens in furnished cages, they were worse feathered (p < .001), had more damaged combs (p < .05), and poorer physical condition (p < .01). In contrast, caged hens showed worse (p < .01) feather condition of the wings due to abrasion and claws due to overgrowth. The results have shown that the housing system has a significant impact on the internal environment and condition of birds and that housing in aviaries without taking into account the specifics of such housing may lead to significant stress and disturbance to the welfare of laying hens.     

Relation between social order and use of resources in small and large furnished cages for laying hens

1. The objective was to determine the relation between social rank and use of resources in a small furnished cage with sufficient resources per hen (SF) and a commercial large one with less adequate allowance of facilities per hen (LF). 2. Ninety-two cross layers were used. At the age of 16 weeks, the hens were divided at random into two groups. There were 4 furnished cages with 5 birds per cage and 4 large furnished cages with 18 birds per cage. The dominance hierarchy was determined, in which highest, medium and lowest ranking hens in each cage were identified. Behaviour, use of facilities and physical conditions of these hens were measured (one in each rank category in SF, two in each in LF). 3. Dustbathing and litter scratching were more frequent in the high ranking hens than the medium and low ranked hens in LF, while no significant difference was found between them in SF. 4. No significant difference between SF and LF was found in use of nest boxes. However, pre-laying sitting tended to be less frequent in low ranking than medium and high ranking hens in LF (Social order x Cage design). In the nest box most of time was spent in pre-laying sitting by SF hens, LF high and medium ranked hens (average 94.9%). However, LF low ranking hens spent their time escaping (33.1%), pre-laying sitting (27.7%) standing (25.7%) and moving (13.5%) in the nest. 5. In the large furnished cages with less facilities per hen, high ranking hens may be expected to have priority using the dust bath. In contrast, low ranking hens rarely performed nesting behaviour fully, and spend more time using the nest box as a refuge than for laying.     

Effects of dietary protein on egg production of laying hens housed in furnished or conventional cages

Abstract

In the present experiment the effects of dietary protein content on egg production of hens kept either in conventional cages (CCs) or furnished cages (FCs) were studied. A total of 1088 LSL (Lohmann LSL-Classic Layer) hens were housed in either FCs or CCs and offered high or low protein diets with a protein/energy ratio of 17 or 13, respectively, during three consecutive feeding phases of 20, 16 and 16 weeks, respectively. There was no interaction between the effects of cage design and of dietary treatment on laying performance. Hens kept in FCs consumed less feed than hens in CCs (p<0.05). After the first feeding phase, hens housed in FCs produced fewer eggs (p<0.01) than hens in CCs. No differences in the feed conversion ratio were found between the housing systems. Hens on the low protein diet laid smaller eggs than hens on the high protein diet (p<0.001). No effect of dietary protein on laying rate was found. It can be concluded that dietary protein affects egg production irrespective of the cage type.     

Factors influencing bacterial eggshell contamination in conventional cages,furnished cages and free-range systems for laying hens under commercial conditions

1.?The aim was to assess eggshell contamination in various laying hen-housing systems and to identify factors influencing this contamination.

2.?Fifty-eight laying hen farms in France were studied, including 21 flocks housed in conventional cages, 7 in furnished cages and 30 kept on-floor.

3.?Sixty eggs per flock were analysed to obtain counts of the total mesophilic flora. Data on equipment and hen management were collected.

4.?Mean bacterial count on eggshells tended to be higher in on-floor systems (4·82 ± 0·51 log CFU/eggshell) than in cage systems (4·57 ± 0·58 log CFU/eggshell, P = 0·09).

5.?Contamination increased with age of the hens, airborne dust concentration, manual packing of the eggs, and packing in plastic rather than in recycled-pulp egg-flats.

6.?The effect of the housing system on eggshell contamination, previously described in experimental assays, was confirmed under production conditions.     

蛋鸡肝细胞分离及制备方法的优化

本试验旨在为蛋鸡肝脏细胞分离和制备方法进行优化。以结扎肠系膜后静脉远心端,不结扎输卵管静脉和胰十二指肠静脉的成年鸡肝细胞培养灌流法为对照组;以本试验建立的同时结扎该3条静脉的灌流方法为处理组,进行蛋鸡肝细胞培养,分别记录肝脏灌流的成功率、肝细胞数量和细胞活率。同时,分别于试验第4、24、48、144、168小时测定肝细胞培养基上清液中乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)活力。结果显示,优化后的方法可使蛋鸡肝脏灌流的成功率提高至100%,肝细胞数量显著增加至(1.09±0.21)×109个(P<0.05),细胞活率也显著提升至(95.3±1.3)%(P<0.05)。两种方法培养的肝细胞培养基上清液LDH活力无显著差异(P>0.05)。本试验建立的肝细胞分离和制备方法比原有方法,更适用于产蛋家禽肝细胞的分离和制备。     

脂肪粉对蛋鸡生产性能及相关理化指标的影响

为探讨饲料中添加脂肪对蛋鸡生产性能的影响,选择300日龄褐壳蛋鸡720只,随机分为3个处理,每个处理分为6个重复;试验组分别添加1％、2％脂肪粉,观测其对蛋鸡生产性能、生理变化及经济效益的影响。结果表明：添加脂肪,可以明显提高（P〈0．05）蛋鸡产蛋率（3．51～5．23％）和蛋重（6．03～8．69％）,降低采食量（3．63～3．67％）,改善饲料报酬（13．08～16．03％）;生理指标检测结果显示,试验组血清T3、T4含量显著提高（P〈0．05）,并且有提高GH、IGF－1含量趋势（P〉0．05）;综合经济效益分析,添加脂肪可以提高蛋鸡养殖效益（16．67～26．98％）。因此,杂粕型蛋鸡饲料中添加脂肪有实际意义。     

Energy content of select dietary supplemental lipids for broilers,turkeys, and laying hens

Energy is an expensive component of poultry diets with lipids providing a concentrated energy source to meet these needs. Three separate experiments with broilers (15 d of age), turkeys (15 d of age) and laying hens (60 wk of age) were conducted to determine the AME_n content of 10 lipids with varying fatty acid and free fatty acid concentrations and to compare these values to predicted values based on previously published equations. A corn-soybean meal (broilers and turkeys) or corn-soybean meal-distillers dried grains with solubles (layers) control diet was formulated with test diets created by mixing the control diet with 0, 3, 6, or 9% (broilers and turkeys) or 0, 2, 4, and 6% (laying hens) lipid. Experimental diets were fed over a 5-d acclimation period followed by a 48 h total excretion collection period with AME_n of the diets calculated based upon the GE, nitrogen, and titanium dioxide in the feed and excreta samples. The pen-mean AME_n of each diet was regressed on percentage lipid inclusion level using linear regression with the slope of the line representing the AME_n of each lipid source. As expected, the AME_n values varied widely among lipid sources and species, with broilers having a greater AME compared to turkeys and layers. In general, saturated fatty acids (C14:0, C16:0, and C18:0) were negatively correlated to AME_n while unsaturated fatty acids (namely C18:2) were positively correlated to AME_n. Consequently, the unsaturated: saturated ratio, the polyunsaturated fatty acids: saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids ratio, and iodine value tended to be positively related to AME_n. Compared to broilers and turkeys that were able to efficiently utilize energy from corn oil (purified and crude DDGS corn oil) relative to soybean oil, laying hen AME_n values for corn oils were reduced in comparison to soybean oil. These data indicate that energy values of lipid differ widely due to source and appear to differ relative to a particular species.     

日粮添加甜菜碱对夏季高温蛋鸡生产性能、蛋品质及血液理化特征的影响

本研究旨在评估夏季高温时日粮添加甜菜碱对蛋鸡生产性能、蛋品质及骨骼和血液理化特性的影响.试验将480只产蛋性能一致的罗曼粉壳蛋鸡随机分为2组,每组240只,每组10个重复(24只/重复).对照组饲喂基础试验日粮,处理组蛋鸡饲喂基础试验日粮+150?mg/kg甜菜碱,试验为期8周.结果:日粮添加150?mg/kg甜菜碱对...     

Effect of expanded cottonseed meal on laying performance,egg quality,concentrations of free gossypol in tissue,serum and egg of laying hens

Three hundred and sixty Hy‐Line Brown hens, 40 week of age, were allocated to five treatments, each of which included four replicates of 18 hens. After an expanded process of cottonseed meal (CSM), free gossypol content in CSM was decreased from 1.24 to 0.40 g/kg. The dietary treatments were corn‐soybean meal based diets including 6% CSM and 6%, 8% and 10% expanded cottonseed meal (ECSM). Hens fed 8% ECSM had higher (P < 0.05) laying rate and average egg weight than those fed 6% CSM. The albumen height and Haugh unit in the control group, 6% and 8% ECSM groups were superior (P < 0.05) to other treatments. Hens fed 6% CSM resulted in severe (P < 0.05) egg yolk discoloration. Free gossypol (FG) concentrations in yolk and albumen and tissues of the 6% CSM group were greater (P < 0.05) than those in any ECSM treatments. Hens fed 6% CSM and 10% ECSM had the highest (P < 0.05) FG concentrations in the liver compared with those in the kidney and muscle, and higher (P < 0.05) FG residues in yolk than those in albumen. In conclusion, FG in CSM can be reduced by 68% through an expanded process and ECSM can be available in laying hens at up to 10% of the total diet and an appropriate replacement of soybean meal with ECSM may improve performance in laying hens.     

Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella isolates in Moroccan laying hens farms

Increasing emergence of salmonellosis presents a threat to the effective control of foodborne disease in humans. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of drug susceptibility and molecular characteristics of non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) isolated from laying hens (LH) in 3 Moroccan regions, Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaër (RSZZ), Souss-Massa-Drâa (SMD), and the grand Casablanca (GC). A total of 351 samples were collected from 30 consumer egg laying houses at the end of the egg laying period from April to July 2011. Sixty-four out of these 351 examined samples were contaminated by Salmonella. The Salmonella isolated strains were then serotyped and tested for drug susceptibility and analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of the invasion-associated genes invA and spvC and nalidixic acid resistance-associated qnr gene. The prevalence of NTS infection in LH was estimated to be 73.3%. Seven Salmonella enterica serovars were identified: Enteritidis (37.5%), Kentucky (31.2%), Infantis (10.9%), Typhimurium (6.2%), Thompson (6.2%), Agona (4.6%), and Amsterdam (3.1%). Drug susceptibility testing showed that 65.6% of Salmonella were resistant to at least one antibiotic and 25% were resistant to ciprofloxacin. All isolates were positive for the invasion gene invA and 28% of them were positive for the virulence gene spvC. All nalidixic acid-resistant S. Enteritidis isolates were negative for qnr plasmid genes. Our findings clearly suggest the necessity to establish an NTS monitoring and control program for LH in Morocco.     

人参提取物对蛋鸡产蛋性能、蛋品质、血清生化指标及经济效益的影响

文章旨在评估日粮添加不同水平人参提取物对蛋鸡产蛋性能、蛋品质及血清生化指标的影响.试验选择产蛋性能一致的450只海兰褐壳蛋鸡,随机分为3组,每组5个重复,每个重复30只.对照组饲喂基础日粮,处理组分别在基础日粮中添加0.04％和0.08％人参提取物,试验共进行6周.结果:与对照组相比,0.04％和0.08％人参提取物组...     

有机源锌和锰对蛋鸡生产性能、蛋壳和骨质量的影响

文章旨在研究日粮添加有机源锌和锰替代无机锌和无机锰对蛋鸡生产性能、蛋壳和骨骼质量的影响。试验选择31周龄产蛋性能接近的罗曼粉壳蛋鸡616只,随机分为7组,每组4个重复,每个重复22只。基础日粮锌和锰含量分别为50和30 mg/kg,对照组饲喂基础日粮,分别添加氧化锌和硫酸锰(锌40 mg/kg,锰60 mg/kg)。处理组分别在基础日粮中添加20 mg/kg有机锌,30 mg/kg有机锰、20 mg/kg有机锌+30 mg/kg有机锰、40 mg/kg有机锌、60 mg/kg有机锰、40 mg/kg有机锌+60 mg/kg有机锰,上述含量均以相应元素计。试验共进行7周。结果显示:日粮用有机锌或锰替代50%或100%无机锌、锰对蛋鸡生产性能相关参数均无显著影响(P> 0.05)。对照组相比,有机锌或锰替代无机锌或锰的比例对32、46、60和74周龄蛋鸡蛋壳相对重量、蛋壳密度和蛋壳厚度均无显著影响(P> 0.05)。与对照组相比,30 mg/kg有机锰、20 mg/kg有机锌+30 mg/kg有机锰组的蛋壳强度显著提高(P <0.05)。40 mg/kg有机锌+60 mg/kg有机锰组较无机锌、锰组显著提高了60、74周龄及全期蛋壳强度(P <0.05)。日粮添加有机锌或锰对胫骨物理参数及胫骨和趾骨灰分含量均无显著影响。结论 :日粮添加有机锌、锰替代无机锌锰对蛋鸡产蛋性能和骨质量无影响,但可以降低蛋鸡由于年龄升高对蛋壳强度的负面影响。