Author:
Barnett J. L.,Glatz P. C.,Newman E. A.,Cronin G. M.
Abstract
Summary. This experiment evaluated the welfare of layer
hens housed in cages modified with perches. Welfare was assessed on the basis
of physiological measures of stress (corticosterone concentrations ‘at
rest’ and in response to ACTH and heterophil : lymphocyte ratios) and
immunological responsiveness, feather condition and cover, bone strength, claw
length and between-bird pecking behaviour. Factors examined were cage
modification (perches v. standard cage), tier (upper v. lower), birds (1 or 2
birds/cage) and age (commencing at 35 v. 60 weeks of age). The cages
provided a floor area of 1504 cm2 . Floor pens (2.5 by
2.5 m) with 10 birds/pen served as an external control treatment.
Perches improved the strength of the femur (P<0.05)
compared with standard cages but bone strength was still less than in floor
pens (P<0.05). There were no effects of cage
modification on any of the physiological variables or liveweight
(P>0.05). The only improvement in feather condition
and cover within cages due to the presence of a perch was in the condition of
the tail feathers which was better (P<0.05) than in a
standard cage, but not as good as tail feathers in the pen treatment
(P<0.001). Overall, feather condition and cover was
better in the pen treatment (P<0.001) and similar in
the 2 cage treatments (P>0.05). The presence of a
perch resulted in longer claws than in a standard cage and floor pens
(P<0.05), and significant
(P<0.01) perching activity compared with floor pens.
The experiment showed that perches should be considered for use in commercial
laying cages as they resulted in an improvement in bone strength; there was
also an improvement in tail feather condition, which is considered by some to
be an advantage.
Subject
General Agricultural and Biological Sciences
Cited by
34 articles.
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