Collaborative project: Integration of broiler and egg production by using a dual-purpose genotype: ways to improve animal welfare - subproject 3 (Integhof) | FISA - Forschungsinformationssystem Agrar und Ernährung

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Collaborative project: Integration of broiler and egg production by using a dual-purpose genotype: ways to improve animal welfare - subproject 3 (Integhof)

Project

Food and consumer protection

This project contributes to the research aim 'Food and consumer protection'. Which funding institutions are active for this aim? What are the sub-aims? Take a look:
Food and consumer protection

Project code: 28RZ372050, FLI-ITT-08-Ce-0033
Contract period: 12.06.2015 - 31.03.2019
Budget: 143,057 Euro
Purpose of research: Experimental development

The objectives of the collaborative research approach ‘Integhof‘ are to investigate the feasibility of using the genotype of a dual-purpose chicken for meat and egg production on one farm. The following parameters will be evaluated under experimental and field conditions: animal welfare aspects including health and behavior, consumer acceptance and protection with food safety and product quality, environmental as well as economic aspects. Raising both female and male dual-purpose chicken of different age groups on one farm requires a new and to the needs of these animals adapted housing system as well as thorough prophylactic strategies to secure a sustainable and economically acceptable poultry production.

Male chickens of the breeds Lohmann Dual (Dual, medium growing) were investigated with regard to their housing requirements at the FLI in Celle. In parallel, male chickens from two other strains, hybrid layer type “Lohmann Brown” (LB, slow growing) and commercial meat type “Ross 308” (Ross, fast growing) were used. The use of elevated structures, locomotor activity, walking ability, plumage condition and foot health were investigated to determine the behaviour and housing requirements of chickens. Young chickens are already motivated to perch, thus, a special focus was on their use of elevated structures. In order to investigate the suitability and shape of elevated structures, perches and grids were offered in parallel in a first experiment. All three strains showed an increase in the use of elevated structures with increasing age. Furthermore, a high preference for grids was observed in Dual and Ross. Based on these results, in a second experiment, half of the compartments were equipped with grids at three different heights (10 cm, 30 cm, 50 cm), the other compartments were used as control treatment. In this experiment, the same animal-related parameters were measured as in the previous study. Both slower growing strains showed a high preference for the highest level. The fast growing chickens used the lowest and highest level to an equal amount but with a low frequency. The Dual from the compartments with elevated grids showed a better walking ability compared to the chickens from the control group. In addition, the Ross kept with elevated grids showed higher activity, but at a lower activity level compared to Dual and LB chickens. In the third experiment, elevated grids level were offered only at a height of 50 cm and installed in half of the compartments. Especially the Ross chickens showed a higher use of the grids compared to the previous experiments. Furthermore, the area used by the individual birds was measured planimetrically. Dual covers a larger body area at the end of the fattening period compared to Ross chickens. In summary, it could be shown that rearing chickens of differing growth rates are motivated to use elevated structures in the form of grids. The activity of fast growing chickens as well as the walking ability of moderate growing chickens could be improved. In this project, also hens of “Lohmann Dual” (Dual) were compared with conventional layer breeds (“Lohmann Brown” (LB) and “Lohmann Tradition” (LT)) regarding their requirements for housing conditions. Different arrangements of perches and grids in the housing environment were offered in two experiments. Dual hens as well as the conventional breeds used the grids more compared to the usual perches. Whether this result would be achieved also if other perch types are used and the question how grids affect other animal-related parameters should be clarified in subsequent investigations.

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