Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T18:58:30.316Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Animal welfare and intensive production of turkey broilers1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2007

A. Martrenchar
A. Martrenchar
Affiliation:
AFSSA BP 53, 22440 Ploufragan, France
Get access

Abstract

Points that raise animal welfare concerns in the turkey broiler production chain are reviewed. Genetic selection of fast growing strains has increased locomotory problems and made natural mating impossible. A range of different photoperiods are used in practice (constant daylength, increased daylength with age, intermittent lighting) and have many consequences for welfare. High stocking densities have several drawbacks such as poor air quality, cannibalism and impairment of the gait of the birds. Methods of control against cannibalism, which include keeping birds at low light intensities or beak trimming, also raise welfare questions. Studies on the determination of optimal group size and on the possibility of enriching the pen environment are required. Depopulation procedures, transport and slaughter are further causes of poor animal welfare and would also benefit from further research.

Keywords

Turkey broilerswelfarelighting regimenstocking densitydepopulationtransportslaughterin
Type
Research Article
Information
World's Poultry Science Journal , Volume 55 , Issue 2 , June 1999 , pp. 143 - 152
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1999

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Blokhuis, H.J. and Van Der Haar, J.W. (1990) The effect of stocking density on the behaviour of broilers. Archiv für Geflügelkunde 54: 74–77Google Scholar
Blokhuis, H.J. and Van Der Haar, J.W. (1992) Effects of pecking incentives during rearing on feather pecking in laying hens. British Poultry Science 33: 17–24CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Buyse, J. (1996) Effect of intermittent lighting, light intensity and source on the performance and welfare of broilers. World's Poultry Science Journal 52: 121–130CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carlile, F.S. (1984) Ammonia in poultry houses: a literature review. World's Poultry Science Journal 40: 99–113CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clarke, J.P., Ferket, P.R., Elkin, R.G., McDaniel, C.D., McMurtry, J.P., Freed, M., Krueger, K.K., Watkins, B.A. and Hester, P.Y. (1993) Early dietary protein restriction and intermittent lighting. 1. Effects on lameness and performance of male turkeys. Poultry Science 72: 2131–2143CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Classen, H.L. and Riddell, C. (1989) Photoperiodic effects on performance and leg abnormalities in broiler chickens. Poultry Science 68: 873–879CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Classen, H.L., Riddell, C., Robinson, F.E., Shand, P.J. and McCurdy, A.R. (1994) Effect of lighting treatment on the productivity, health, behaviour and sexual maturity of heavy male turkeys. British Poultry Science 35: 215–225CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Denbow, D.M., Leighton, A.T. and Hulet, R.M. (1990) Effect of light sources and light intensity on growth performance and behaviour of female turkeys. British Poultry Science 31: 439–443CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
European Council (1998) Recommendation Project on Turkey Broilers (7th draft). Permanent Committee of the European Convention on Farm Animal Welfare, Strasbourg, France, 16 pp.Google Scholar
Frank, R.K., Newman, J.A., Noll, S.L. and Ruth, G.R. (1990) The incidence of perirenal hemorrhage syndrome in six flocks of market turkey toms. Avian Diseases 34: 824–832CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gentle, M.J., Thorp, B.H. and Hughes, B.O. (1995) Anatomical consequences of partial beak amputation (beak trimming) in turkeys. Research in Veterinary Science 58: 158–162CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gordon, S.H. (1994) Effects of daylength and increasing daylength programmes on broiler welfare and performance. World's Poultry Science Journal 50: 269–282Google Scholar
Gregory, N.G. and Austin, S.D. (1992) Causes of trauma in broilers arriving dead at poultry processing plants. Veterinary Record 131: 501–503CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gregory, N.G. and Wilkins, L.J. (1989) Effect of stunning current on downgrading in turkeys. British Poultry Science 30: 761–764CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Grigor, P.N., Hughes, B.O. and Gentle, M.J. (1995) An experimental investigation of the costs and benefits of beak trimming in turkeys. Veterinary Record 136: 257–265CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hester, P.Y. (1994) The role of environment and management on leg abnormalities in meat-type fowl. Poultry Science 73: 904–915CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hester, P.Y. and Kohl, H. (1989) Effect of intermittent lighting and time of hatch on large broadbreasted white turkeys. Poultry Science 68: 528–538CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hester, P.Y., Peng, I.C., Adams, R.L., Furumoto, E.J., Larsen, J.E., Klingensmith, P.M., Pike, O.A. and Stadelman, W.J. (1986) Comparison of two lighting regimens and drinker cleaning programmes on the performance and incidence of leg abnormalities in turkey males. British Poultry Science 27: 63–73CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hester, P.Y., Sutton, A.L. and Elkin, R.G. (1987) Effect of light intensity, litter source, and litter management on the incidence of leg abnormalities and performance of male turkeys. Poultry Science 66: 666–675CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Huber-Eicher, B. and Wechsler, B. (1998) The effect of quality and availability of foraging materials on feather pecking in laying hen chicks. Animal Behaviour 55: 861–873CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hughes, B.O. and Grigor, P.N. (1996) Behavioural time-budgets and beak related behaviour in floor-housed turkeys. Animal Welfare 5: 189–198CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hughes, B.O. and Wood-Gush, D.G.M. (1977) Agonistic behaviour in domestic hens: the influence of housing method and group size. Animal Belzaviour 25: 1056–1062CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hughes, B.O., Carmichael, N.L., Walker, A.W. and Grigor, P.N. (1997) Low incidence of aggression in large flocks of laying hens. Applied Atiirnal Behaviour Science 54: 215–234CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kannan, G. and Mench, J.A. (1996) Influence of different handling methods and crating periods on plasma corticosterone concentrations in broilers. British Poultry Science 37 21–31CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kannan, G., Heath, J.L., Wabeck, C.J. and Mench, J.A. (1997) Shackling of broilers: effects on stress responses and breast meat quality. British Poultry Science 38: 323–332CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lambooij, E., Gerritzen, M.A., Engel, B., Hillebrand, S.J.W., Lankhaar, J. and Pieterse, C. (1999) Behavioural responses during exposure of broiler chickens to different gas mixtures. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 62: 255–265CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lewis, N.J. and Hurnik, F.J. (1990) Locomotion of broiler chickens in floor pens. Poultry Science 69: 1087–1093CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lewis, P.D., Perry, G.C. and Sherwin, C.M. (1998) Effect of intermittent light regimens on the performance of intact male turkeys. Animal Science 67: 627–636CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martrenchar, A., Huonnic, D., Cotte, J.P., Boilletot, E. and Morisse, J.P. (1999) The infiuence of stocking density on different behavioural, health, and productivity traits of turkey broilers kept in large flocks. British Poultry Science 40: 323–331CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martrenchar, A., Morisse, J.P., Huonnic, D. and Cotte, J.P. (1997) The infiuence of stocking density on some behavioural, physiological and productivity traits of broilers. Veterinavy Research 28: 473–480Google Scholar
McEwen, S.A. and Barbut, S. (1992) Survey of turkey downgrading at slaughter. carcass defects and associations with transport, toenail trimming, and type of bird. Poultry Science 71: 1107–7115CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nestor, K.E. (1984) Genetics of growth and reproduction in the turkey. 9. Long-term selection for increased 16-week body weight. Poultry Science 63: 2114–2122CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nestor, K.E., Bacon, W.L., Saif, Y.M. and Renner, P.A. (1985) The influence of genetic increases in shank width on bodyweight, walking ability and reproduction in turkeys. Poultry Science 64: 2248–2255CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Newberry, R.C. (1992) Influence of increasing photoperiod and toe clipping on breast buttons of turkeys. Poultry Science 71: 1471–1479CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Quinn, A.D., Kettlewell, P.J., Mitchell, M.A. and Knowles, T. (1998) Air movement and the thermal microclimates observed in poultry lairage. British Poultry Science 39: 469–476CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rauw, W.M., Kanis, E., Noordhuizen-Stassen, E.N. and Grommers, F.J. (1998) Undesirable effects of selection for high production efficiency in farm animals: a review. Livestock Production Science 56: 15–33CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Riddell, C. (1992) Non-infectious skeletal disorders of poultry: an overview. In: Bone Biology aid Skeletal Disorders in Poultry (Whitehead, C.C., Ed.), Poultry Science Symposium 23, Carfax Co., Abingdon, UK, pp. 119–145Google Scholar
Sherwin, C.M. (1998) Light intensity preferences of domestic male turkeys. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 58: 121–130CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sherwin, C.M. and Kelland, A. (1998) Time-budgets, comfort behaviours and injurious pecking of turkeys housed in pairs. British Poultry Science 39: 325–332CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sherwin, C.M., Lewis, ED. and Perry, G.C. (1999) The effects of environmental enrichment and intermittent lighting on the behaviour and welfare of male domestic turkeys. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 62: 319–333CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Singh, R.A. (1985) Light and production performance in turkeys. World's Poultry Science Journal 41: 146–152CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Siopes, T.D., Timmons, M.B., Baughman, G.R. and Parkhurst, C.R. (1984) The effects of light intensity on turkey poul; performance, eye morphology, and adrenal weight. Poultry Science 63: 904–909CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Takai, H., Pedersen, S., Johnsen, J.O., Metz, J.H.M., Koerkamp, Groot P.W.G., Uenk, G.H., Phillips, V.R., H.Olden, M.R., Sneath, R.W., Short, J.L., White, R.P., Hartung, J., Seedorf, J., SchrÖder, M., Linkert, K.H., and Wathes, C.M. (1998) Concentrations and emissions of airborne dust in livestock buildings in Northern Europe. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research 70 59–78CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wathes, C.M. (1998) Aerial emissions from poultry production. World's Poultry Science Journal 54: 241–251CrossRefGoogle Scholar