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Poultry welfare in intensive and extensive production systems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 September 2015

H.A. ELSON
H.A. ELSON*
Affiliation:
ADAS Gleadthorpe, Meden Vale, Mansfield, Nottingham NG20 9PF, UK
*
Corresponding author: arnold.elson@adas.co.uk
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Abstract

The design and management of different housing systems affect poultry welfare. In order to compare wellbeing in different systems, two main indicators of poor welfare have been used in this paper: contact dermatitis for meat birds and mortality for laying hens. The former is important since broilers may suffer from it for much of the later part of their short lives; the latter because it is generally preceded by suffering due to morbidity. Other welfare indicators are also important, of course, and some of them have been considered alongside these two. Indoor systems, especially laying cages, provide the safest welfare protection but extensive systems, e.g. free-range, provide more freedom and allow the widest behavioural repertoire. However, free-range systems are generally the most difficult to manage and pose the greatest welfare risks, which can sometimes be serious - even causing death. A possible superior safer approach is suggested.

Keywords

poultrylaying hensbroilerswelfareproductionhousing system
Type
Reviews
Information
World's Poultry Science Journal , Volume 71 , Issue 3 , September 2015 , pp. 449 - 460
Copyright
Copyright © World's Poultry Science Association 2015 

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