Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-13T06:03:44.990Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effects of handling and transport on laying hens

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2009

D.M. Broom
D.M. Broom
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
Get access

Abstract

The incidence of bone breakage and other traumas in end-of-lay birds at the time of slaughter have important welfare and commercial implications. The problem is greatest among birds from the cage system where injury and stress appear to be particularly associated with the process of removing the birds from their cages and subsequent handling. The bone strength of cage-housed birds, together with some physiological and behavioural aspects, are briefly considered. Suggestions are made for reducing the incidence of injuries during bird removal.

Keywords

Animal welfarebone strengthcagesegg productionhandlingphysiologytransport
Type
Reviews
Information
World's Poultry Science Journal , Volume 46 , Issue 1 , March 1990 , pp. 48 - 50
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

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

Beuving, G. and Vonder, G.M.A. (1978) Effect of stressing factors on corticosterone levels in the plasma of laying hens. General and Comparative Endocrinology 35: 153–159CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Broom, D.M. (1986) Indicators of poor welfare. British Veterinary Journal 142: 524–526CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Broom, D.M. (1988) The scientific assessment of animal welfare. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 20: 5–19CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Broom, D.M., Knight, P.G. and Stansfield, S.C. (1986) Hen behaviour and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal responses to handling and transport. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 16: 98CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Freeman, B.M. (1984) Transportation of poultry. World's Poultry Science Journal 40: 19–30CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gregory, N.G. and Wilkins, L.J.Broken bones in chickens. 1. Handling and processing damage in end-of-lay battery hens. British Poultry Science, in pressGoogle Scholar
Jones, R.B., Beuving, G. and Blokhuis, H.J. (1987) Tonic immobility and heterophil/lymphocyte responses of the domestic fowl to corticosterone infusion. Physiology and Behaviour 42: 249–253CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lanyon, L., Rubin, C.T. and Baust, G. (1986) Modulation of bone loss during calcium insufficiency by controlled dynamic loading. Calcified Tissue International 38: 209–216CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rowland, L.O. and Harmes, R.H. (1970) The effect of wire pens, floor pens and cages on bone characteristics of laying hens. Poultry Science 40: 27–35Google Scholar
Simonsen, H.B. (1983) Ingestive behaviour and wing-flapping in assessing welfare of laying hens. Indicators relevant to farm animal welfare. In: Indicators Relevant to Farm Animal Welfare Current Topics in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, 23 (Ed. Smidt, D.), Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, pp. 69–95Google Scholar
Swarbrick, O. (1986) The welfare during transport of broilers, old hens and replacement pullets. In. The Welfare of Animals in Transit (Ed. Gibson, T.E.), British Veterinary Association Animal Welfare Foundation, London, pp. 82–97Google Scholar