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Chen J, Weng K, Liu J, Gu W, Luo S, Zheng M, Cao Z, Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Chen G, Xu Q. Effect of different free-range systems on the growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of Yangzhou geese. Anim Biotechnol 2023; 34:4301-4307. [PMID: 36409685 DOI: 10.1080/10495398.2022.2147842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different free-range systems on the growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of geese. Grass pasture zones in the study area were selected, and 28 d-old male Yangzhou geese with similar body weights (1.57 ± 0.12 kg) were randomly allocated to one of three conditions: (A) free-range conditions in the apron area during 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (10-20 m from shed with grass pasture); (B) free-range conditions in the outer range from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (beyond 50 m from shed with grass pasture); and (C) barn system. Free range-reared geese had higher weight gain after 42 days of age than barn-reared geese, regardless of the range area. A lower feed conversion ratio was found in outer range-reared and apron area-reared geese from 28 to 63 days of age. In addition, the highest percentages of leg and breast muscle weights were observed in outer range-reared and apron area-reared geese, respectively. Finally, outer-range rearing resulted in a lower pH and lower moisture content. Therefore, these data suggest that the outer range system benefits growth performance and feed conversion ratio of geese and results in a higher percentage of leg muscle weight, lower pH, and lower moisture content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianzhou Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Kaiqi Weng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Jinlu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Wang Gu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Shuwen Luo
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Ming Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Zhengfeng Cao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Guohong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, The Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Qi Xu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
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Farm Environmental Enrichments Improve the Welfare of Layer Chicks and Pullets: A Comprehensive Review. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12192610. [PMID: 36230351 PMCID: PMC9559498 DOI: 10.3390/ani12192610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, cage housing is regarded as a global mainstream production system for laying hens. However, limited living space and confinement of birds in cages cause welfare and health problems, such as feather pecking, osteoporosis, obesity, and premature aging. Many studies have been conducted to alleviate layer welfare problems by providing farm environmental enrichments such as litter, sand, alfalfa bales, chick papers, pecking stones, pecking strings, perches, slopes, elevated platforms, aviaries and outdoor access with a trend towards complex enrichments. The provision of appropriate enrichments continuously attracts layers towards pecking, foraging, dust bathing, and locomotion, thereby giving lifelong benefits to laying hens. Hence, raising chicks and pullets under such conditions may reduce feather and skin damage, as well as accumulation of abdominal fat, and improve several biological features such as health, productivity, quality products, and docility of laying hens. Therefore, providing enrichment during the first few days of the layer’s life without any interruption is crucial. In addition, due to different farm conditions, environmental enrichment should be managed by well-trained farm staff. For example, in preventing feather pecking among the birds, litter materials for foraging are superior to dust bath materials or new items. However, a limited supply of litter creates competition and challenges among birds. Therefore, providing farm environmental enrichment for layers requires proper handling, especially in commercial layer farms. Hence, improving the welfare of chicks and pullets through optimizing on-farm environmental enrichments is essential for production systems practicing cage housing.
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The Impact of Probiotic Bacillus subtilis on Injurious Behavior in Laying Hens. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12070870. [PMID: 35405859 PMCID: PMC8997090 DOI: 10.3390/ani12070870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Injurious behavior prevention is a critical issue in the poultry industry due to increasing social stress, leading to negative effects on bird production and survivability, consequently enhancing gut microbiota dysbiosis and neuroinflammation via the microbiota–gut–brain axis. Probiotics have been used as potential therapeutic psychobiotics to treat or improve neuropsychiatric disorders or symptoms by boosting cognitive and behavioral processes and reducing stress reactions in humans and various experimental animals. The current data will first report that probiotic Bacillus subtilis reduces stress-induced injurious behavior in laying hens via regulating microbiota–gut–brain function with the potential to be an alternative to beak trimming during poultry egg production. Abstract Intestinal microbiota functions such as an endocrine organ to regulate host physiological homeostasis and behavioral exhibition in stress responses via regulating the gut–brain axis in humans and other mammals. In humans, stress-induced dysbiosis of the gut microbiota leads to intestinal permeability, subsequently affecting the clinical course of neuropsychiatric disorders, increasing the frequency of aggression and related violent behaviors. Probiotics, as direct-fed microorganism, have been used as dietary supplements or functional foods to target gut microbiota (microbiome) for the prevention or therapeutic treatment of mental diseases including social stress-induced psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, impulsivity, and schizophrenia. Similar function of the probiotics may present in laying hens due to the intestinal microbiota having a similar function between avian and mammals. In laying hens, some management practices such as hens reared in conventional cages or at a high stocking density may cause stress, leading to injurious behaviors such as aggressive pecking, severe feather pecking, and cannibalism, which is a critical issue facing the poultry industry due to negative effects on hen health and welfare with devastating economic consequences. We discuss the current development of using probiotic Bacillus subtilis to prevent or reduce injurious behavior in laying hens.
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Li J, Zhang C, Ma R, Qi R, Wan Y, Liu W, Zhao T, Li Y, Zhan K. Effects of poor plumage conditions on egg production, antioxidant status and gene expression in laying hens. Trop Anim Health Prod 2021; 53:105. [PMID: 33417011 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-020-02543-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of poor plumage conditions on production performance, antioxidant status and gene expression in laying hens. Two hundred ten 54-week-old laying hens with similar body weights were assigned into two groups based on plumage conditions (the poor plumage conditions (PPC) group and the control group). All the birds had free access to water and crumbled feed, and received the same management in step cages. Compared with hens in the control group, the hens in the PPC group consumed more feed and produced lighter eggs (P < 0.05). Hens in the PPC group showed lower serum concentrations of glutathione peroxidase and total antioxidant capacity and higher malondialdehyde content than those in the control group. The eggshell breaking strength was lower in the PPC group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The eggshell shape index and yolk colour in the PPC group were significantly higher than those in the control group. The mRNA expression level of HTR2C in the neck skin and that of IL-2 in the liver and breast muscle were higher in the PPC group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The results indicated that PPC may increase feed consumption and influence egg quality, antioxidant status and gene expression in laying hens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junying Li
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Product Safety Engineering, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hefei, China
| | - Chengjie Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Ruiyu Ma
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Product Safety Engineering, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hefei, China
| | - Renrong Qi
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Product Safety Engineering, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hefei, China
| | - Yi Wan
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Product Safety Engineering, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hefei, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Product Safety Engineering, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hefei, China
| | - Tao Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Yan Li
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Product Safety Engineering, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hefei, China
| | - Kai Zhan
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Product Safety Engineering, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hefei, China.
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Usman M, Mahmud A, Hussain J, Javid A. Morphology, Blood Chemistry and Behavioral Response of Crossbred Chickens Reared Under Alternative Production Systems. BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF POULTRY SCIENCE 2020. [DOI: 10.1590/1806-9061-2020-1265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M Usman
- University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pakistan
| | - A Mahmud
- University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pakistan
| | - J Hussain
- University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pakistan
| | - A Javid
- University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pakistan
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Sanchez-Casanova R, Sarmiento-Franco L, Segura-Correa J, Phillips CJC. Effects of Outdoor Access and Indoor Stocking Density on Behaviour and Stress in Broilers in the Subhumid Tropics. Animals (Basel) 2019; 9:E1016. [PMID: 31766675 PMCID: PMC6940855 DOI: 10.3390/ani9121016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2019] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies investigating the welfare of commercial-line broiler chickens raised in houses with outdoor access in the tropics are scarce, and none have investigated whether responses vary according to indoor conditions. Hence, we assessed the effects of providing outdoor access at two indoor stocking densities on broiler chickens' growth, behaviour, stress responses and immunity in a tropical region of Mexico. One hundred and sixty chickens were assigned to one of four treatments in a factorial design: with or without outdoor access and low or high stocking density indoors. Ad libitum sampling was used to build a purpose-designed ethogram. Scan sampling was used to record the number of birds engaged in each activity of this ethogram, both indoors and outdoors. Heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio and serum corticosterone levels were tested in weeks four and six of age. When the birds were 42 days old, they were slaughtered, and the bursa and spleen harvested and weighed. In an interaction between stocking density and outdoor access, birds at the high stocking density with no outdoor pens spent the least time walking and preening and more time lying (p < 0.05). Birds given outdoor access foraged more, but only at indoor low stocking densities (p < 0.05). Outdoor access reduced heterophil/lymphocyte ratio, indicating reduced stressor response. Birds with low stocking density indoors and outdoor access appeared more responsive to stressors, with elevated corticosterone and reduced spleen and bursa weights (p < 0.05). There were welfare benefits of outdoor access, principally in terms of increased activity, which were reflected in slower growth in the birds with outdoor access.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubi Sanchez-Casanova
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Km 15.5 Carretera Mérida-Xmatkuil, Apdo. 4-116, Itzimna, Mérida, Yucatán 97100, Mexico; (R.S.-C.); (J.S.-C.)
| | - Luis Sarmiento-Franco
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Km 15.5 Carretera Mérida-Xmatkuil, Apdo. 4-116, Itzimna, Mérida, Yucatán 97100, Mexico; (R.S.-C.); (J.S.-C.)
| | - Jose Segura-Correa
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Km 15.5 Carretera Mérida-Xmatkuil, Apdo. 4-116, Itzimna, Mérida, Yucatán 97100, Mexico; (R.S.-C.); (J.S.-C.)
| | - Clive J. C. Phillips
- Centre for Animal Welfare and Ethics, University of Queensland, White House Building (8134), Gatton Campus, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia;
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