Commercial Level Chicken Welfare Evaluation with the Welfare Quality® Project Protocol
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22458/urj.v13i2.3682Keywords:
Animal welfare, broiler, behavior, health, housing, feedingAbstract
Introduction: Measuring bird welfare under intensive commercial conditions is something complex. The type of housing, nature of the stimulus, exposure type and time, age, sex, assessment duration, and individual differences affect the results. Objective: Evaluating animal welfare under intensive conditions, in naturally ventilated and environmentally controlled sheds with the Welfare Quality® Project (2009) protocol. Methods: We evaluated 22 different commercial farms, 11 environmentally controlled sheds, and 11 naturally ventilated sheds during 2018 and 2019. The Welfare Quality® Project was implemented, modifying the principle of good health through the transect method. For each criterion, we applied different tests, which we transformed into scores using formulas provided by the spline function Welfare Quality® instrument. Results: 54% of the farms were rated as excellent and 46% of them were rated as good. We obtained the lowest scores in the bedding quality control tests, the lameness percentage, the pododermatitis percentage, and the Qualitative Behavior Assessment (QBA). We found statistically significant differences p≤0,05 between naturally ventilated open sheds and environmentally controlled sheds in bedding quality, lameness percentage, density, and absence of prolonged hunger. Conclusion: We recommend more research on fisheries management, conservation and environmental education; and greater integration of local and international research.
References
Associação Brasileira de Proteína Animal. (ABPA). (2016). Protocolo Para El Bienestar de Pollos de Engorde at Technical Files and Protocols. https://abpa-br.org/en/technician/page/2/
Abudabos, A. M., Samara, E. M., Hussein, E. O. S., Al-Ghadi, M. Q., & Al-Atiyat, R. M. (2013). Impacts of Stocking Density on the Performance and Welfare of Broiler Chickens. Italian Journal of Animal Science 12, e11, 66-71. https://doi.org/10.4081/ijas.2013.e11
American Humane. (2019). Animal Welfare Standards in Broiler Chickens at American Humane CertifiedTM. http://www.humaneheartland.org/our-farm-programs/american-humane-certified
Asher, L., Collins, L. M., Ortiz-Pelaez, A., Drewe, J. A., Nicol, C. J., & Pfeiffer, D. U. (2009). Recent advances in the analysis of behavioral organization and interpretation as indicators of animal welfare. Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 6(41), 1103–1119. https://doi.org/10.1098/RSIF.2009.0221
Aviagen. (2017). Environmental management in the broiler house at Tech Center Ross Broiler. Aviagen. https://eu.aviagen.com/assets/Uploads/Environmental-Management-Broiler.pdf
Direccion web lleva a un PDF con nombre y fecha distintos: Environmental management in the broiler house del 2009, y si busco el nombre del documento (http://es.aviagen.com/assets/Tech_Center/Ross_Broiler/Ross_Environmental_Management_in_the_Broiler_House.pdf) tiene fecha del 2010
Barnett, J. L., & Hemsworth, P. H. (1990). The validity of physiological and behavioral measures of animal welfare. Applied Animal Behavior Science, 25(1–2), 177–187. https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-1591(90)90079-S
Bensassi, N., Averós, X., & Estevez, I. (2019). Broiler Chickens On-Farm Welfare Assessment: Estimating the Robustness of the Transect Sampling Method. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 6, 236. https://doi.org/10.3389/FVETS.2019.00236
Berg, C. (2009). Pododermatitis and hock burn in broiler chickens. In C.A Weeks, A. Butterworth (Eds.). Measuring and Auditing Broiler Welfare (1 ed., pp.37-49). CABI
Bessei, W. (2006). Welfare of broilers: a review. World’s Poultry Science Journal, 62(3), 455-466. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0043933906001085
Bilgili, S. (2009). Factors contributing to foot-pad dermatitis in broiler. https://www.wattagnet.com/articles/289-factors-contributing-to-foot-pad-dermatitis-in-broilers
Botreau, R., Bracke, M. B. M., Perny, P., Butterworth, A., Capdeville, J., Reenen, C. G. van, & Veissier, I. (2007). Aggregation of measures to produce an overall assessment of animal welfare. Part 2: analysis of constraints. Animal, 1(8), 1188–1197. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731107000547
Broom, D. M. (1986). Indicators of poor welfare. British Veterinary Journal, 142(6), 524–526. https://doi.org/10.1016/0007-1935(86)90109-0
Bruce, D. W., McIlroy, S. G., & Goodall, E. A. (2007). Epidemiology of a contact dermatitis of broilers. Avian Pathology 19(3), 523–537. https://doi.org/10.1080/03079459008418705
Buijs, S., Ampe, B., & Tuyttens, F. A. M. (2017). Sensitivity of the Welfare Quality® broiler chicken protocol to differences between intensively reared indoor flocks: which factors explain overall classification? Animal, 11(2), 244–253. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731116001476
Buijs, S., Keeling, L., Retternbacher, S., van Poucke, E., & Tuyttens, F. A. M. (2009). Stocking density effects on broiler welfare: Identifying sensitive ranges for different indicators. Poultry Science; 88(8), 1536–1543. https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.2009-00007
Butterworth, A. (2015). A lameness control strategy for broiler chicken (Gallus domesticus). Albéitar, 186, 22–23. https://www.ivis.org/library/alb%C3%A9itar
Butterworth, A., & Weeks, C. (2010). The Impact of Disease on Welfare. The Welfare of Domestic Fowl and Other Captive Birds, 9, 189-218. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3650-6_8
da Costa, M. J., Grimes, J. L., Oviedo-Rondón, E. O., Barasch, I., Evans, C., Dalmagro, M., & Nixon, J. (2014). Footpad dermatitis severity on turkey flocks and correlations with locomotion, litter conditions, and body weight at market age. Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 23(2), 268–279. https://doi.org/10.3382/JAPR.2013-00848
Dawkins, M. S., Donnelly, C. A., & Jones, T. A. (2004). Chicken welfare is influenced more by housing conditions than by stocking density. Nature, 427, 342–344. https://doi.org/10.1038/NATURE02226
de Jong, I. C., Hindle, V. A., Butterworth, A., Engel, B., Ferrari, P., Gunnink, H., Perez Moya, T., Tuyttens, F. A. M., & van Reenen, C. G. (2016). Simplifying the Welfare Quality® assessment protocol for broiler chicken welfare. Animal, 10(1), 117–127. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731115001706
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). (2012). Scientific Opinion on the use of animal‐based measures to assess welfare of broilers. EFSA Journal, 10(7), 2774. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2012.2774
Estevez, I. (2007). Density allowances for broilers: Where to set the limits? Poultry Science, 86(6), 1265–1272. https://doi.org/10.1093/PS/86.6.1265
Farm Animal Care Training and Auditing (FACTA). (2018). Humane certified animal welfare broiler audit program at Audit Standards 2018 Version. https://factallc.com/#
Federici, J., Vanderhasselt, R., Sans, E., Tuyttens, F., Souza, A., & Molento, C. (2016). Assessment of Broiler Chicken Welfare in Southern Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science, 18(1), 133–140. https://doi.org/10.1590/18069061-2015-0022
Food Alliance. (2018). Poultry Evaluation Tool at Livestock Producers. http://foodalliance.org/livestock-producers/
Fraser, D. (1995). Science, Values and Animal Welfare: Exploring the ‘Inextricable Connection.’ Animal Welfare Collection, 4(2), 103-117. https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/acwp_awap/39
Global Animal Partnership (GAP). (2018). Chicken Standards & Application at Animal Welfare Standards for Chickens. https://globalanimalpartnership.org/standards/chicken/
Gates, R. S., Overhults, D. G., & Zhang, S. H. (1996). Minimum Ventilation for Modern Broiler Facilities. Transactions of the ASAE, 39(3), 1135–1144. https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.27605
Global Animal Welfare Assurance (GAWA). (2020). Higher welfare framework for meat chickens. https://bit.ly/3kNhvnC
GLOBALG.A.P. (2013). Animal welfare add-on module for poultry/broiler chicken checklist english version 1.0 valid from: 15 February 2013 at Animal welfare add-on module for broiler chicken. https://bit.ly/3nsaTN4
Heath, C. A. E., Browne, W. J., Mullan, S., & Main, D. C. J. (2014). Navigating the iceberg: reducing the number of parameters within the Welfare Quality ® assessment protocol for dairy cows. Animal, 8 (12), 1978-86. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731114002018
Jones, T. A., Donnelly, C. A., & Dawkins, M. S. (2005). Environmental and management factors affecting the welfare of chickens on commercial farms in the United Kingdom and Denmark stocked at five densities. Poultry Science, 84(8), 1155–1165. https://doi.org/10.1093/PS/84.8.1155
Julian, R. J. (1998). Rapid growth problems: ascites and skeletal deformities in broilers. Poultry Science, 77(12), 1773–1780. https://doi.org/10.1093/PS/77.12.1773
Knowles, T. G., Kestin, S. C., Haslam, S. M., Brown, S. N., Green, L. E., Butterworth, A., Pope, S. J., Pfeiffer, D., & Nicol, C. J. (2008). Leg Disorders in Broiler Chickens: Prevalence, Risk Factors and Prevention. PLOS ONE, 3(2), e1545. https://doi.org/10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0001545
Marchewka, J., Watanabe, T. T. N., Ferrante, V., & Estevez, I. (2013). Welfare assessment in broiler farms: Transect walks versus individual scoring. Poultry Science, 92(10), 2588–2599. https://doi.org/10.3382/PS.2013-03229
Martland, M. F. (2008). Ulcerative dermatitis in broiler chickens: The effects of wet litter. Avian Pathology 14(3), 353–364. https://doi.org/10.1080/03079458508436237
Mason, G., & Mendl, M. (1993). Why is there no simple way of measuring animal welfare? Animal Welfare, 2(4),301–319. https://www.ufaw.org.uk/the-ufaw-journal/animal-welfare
Meluzzi, A., & Sirri, F. (2016). Welfare of broiler chickens. Italian Journal of Animal Science 8, supl 1, 161–173. https://doi.org/10.4081/IJAS.2009.S1.161
Miles, D. (2011). Poultry Litter Moisture Management to Reduce Ammonia. Livestock GRACEnet. https://www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/np212/LivestockGRACEnet/LitterMoisture.pdf
Nääs, I. A., Paz, I. C. L. A., Baracho, M. S., Menezes, A. G., Bueno, L. G. F., Almeida, I. C. L., & Moura, D. J. (2009). Impact of lameness on broiler well-being. Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 18(3), 432–439. https://doi.org/10.3382/JAPR.2008-00061
National Chicken Council (NCC). (2020). Animal Welfare for Broiler Chickens. National Chicken Council. https://www.nationalchickencouncil.org/policy/animal-welfare/#
Nicol, C.J., Caplen, G.J., Edgar, J.L., & Browne, W.J. (2009). Association between welfare indicators and environmental choice in laying hens. Animal Behaviour, 78 (2), 413-424. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2009.05.016
Organización Mundial de Salud Animal (OIE). (2011). Introducción a las recomendaciones para el bienestar de los animales. capítulo 7.1. Código Sanitario para los animales Terrestre. https://bit.ly/3oLgeOQ
Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization (PAACO). (2016). Certified Audits: PAACO. https://animalauditor.org/Audits
Part, C. E., Edwards, P., Hajat, S., Collins, L. M., Part, C. E., Edwards, P., Hajat, S., & Collins, L. M. (2016). Prevalence rates of health and welfare conditions in broiler chickens change with weather in a temperate climate. Royal Society Open Science, 3(9), 160197. https://doi.org/10.1098/RSOS.160197
Red Tractor. (2021). Poultry Standards at Enhanced Welfare. Red Tractor. https://redtractor.org.uk/our-standards/poultry/
Sans, E. C. O., Federici, J. F., Dahlke, F., & Molento, C. F. M. (2014). Evaluation of free-range broilers using the welfare quality® protocol. Revista Brasileira de Ciencia Avícola, 16(3), 297–306. https://doi.org/10.1590/1516-635X1603297-306
Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal (SENASA). (2021). Boletín Epidemiológico. Centro de información. https://bit.ly/3FAsybL
Shepherd, E. M., & Fairchild, B. D. (2010). Footpad dermatitis in poultry. Poultry Science, 89, 2043–2051. https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.2010-00770
Simitzis, P.E., Kalogeraki, E., Goliomytis, M., Charismiadou, M. A., Triantaphyllopoulos, A., Ayoutanti, A., Niforou, K., Hager-Theodorides, A. L., & Deligeorgis, S.G. (2012). Impact of stocking density on broiler growth performance, meat characteristics, behavioral components, and indicators of physiological and oxidative stress. British Poultry Science 53(6), 721-730. https://doi: 10.1080/00071668.2012.745930
Sprenger, M., Vangestel, C., & Tuyttens, F. (2009). Measuring thirst in broiler chickens. Animal Welfare, 18(4), 553–560. http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-1073173
Tuyttens, F. A. M., Federici, J. F., Vanderhasselt, R. F., Goethals, K., Duchateau, L., Sans, E. C. O., & Molento, C. F. M. (2015). Assessment of welfare of Brazilian and Belgian broiler flocks using the Welfare Quality protocol. Poultry Science, 94(8), 1758–1766. https://doi.org/10.3382/ps/pev167
Tuyttens, F. A. M., Maes, D., Geverink, N., Koene, P., & Rodenburg, T. (2009). Assessing animal welfare at farm and group level: Introduction and overview. Animal Welfare, 18(4), 323-324. https://bit.ly/3wZKsS9
Tuyttens, F. A. M., Vanhonacker, F., van Poucke, E., & Verbeke, W. (2010). Quantitative verification of the correspondence between the Welfare Quality® operational definition of farm animal welfare and the opinion of Flemish farmers, citizens, and vegetarians. Livestock Science, 131(1), 108–114. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.LIVSCI.2010.03.008
United Egg Producers (UEP). (2017). Guidelines for Egg Production at Animal Welfare. https://uepcertified.com/uep-certified-animal-welfare/
Ulmer-Franco, A. M., Fasenko, G. M., & Christopher, E. E. O. D. (2010). Hatching egg characteristics, chick quality, and broiler performance at 2 breeder flock ages and from 3 egg weights. Poultry Science, 89(12), 2735–2742. https://doi.org/10.3382/PS.2009-00403
Vanderhasselt, R. (2013). Improvement the assessment of thirst and foot pad dermatitis in broiler chicken welfare monitoring schemes. [Doctoral dissertation, University of Ghent]. https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/3262941/file/4336422.pdf
Vanhonacker, F., van Poucke, E., Tuyttens, F., & Verbeke, W. (2010). Citizens’ Views on Farm Animal Welfare and Related Information Provision: Exploratory Insights from Flanders, Belgium. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 23(6), 551–569. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10806-010-9235-9
Vieira, S. L. (2012). Broiler Carcass Quality. An approach from the production sites. Zinpro Corporation Publisher.
Welfare Quality Project. (2009). Welfare Quality® Assessment protocol for poultry. http://www.welfarequality.net/media/1293/poultry-protocol-watermark-6-2-2020.pdf
Wilkins, L. J., Brown, S. N., Phillips, A. J., & Warriss, P. D. (2003). Cleanliness of broilers when they arrive at poultry processing plants. Veterinary Record, 153(23), 701–703. https://doi.org/10.1136/VR.153.23.701
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Note: This abstract contains an incorrect copyright due to technical issues. Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms: Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal
All journal contents are freely available through a CC BY 4.0 license.
CC BY 4.0 is a Creative Commons: you can copy, modify, distribute, and perform, even for commercial reasons, without asking permission, if you give appropriate credit.
Contents can be reproduced if the source and copyright are acknowledged according to the Open Access license CC BY 4.0. Self-storage in preprint servers and repositories is allowed for all versions. We encourage authors to publish raw data and data logs in public repositories and to include the links with all drafts so that reviewers and readers can consult them at any time.
The journal is financed by public funds via Universidad Estatal a Distancia and editorial independence and ethical compliance are guaranteed by the Board of Editors, UNED. We do not publish paid ads or receive funds from companies.