Poultry welfare issues Flashcards
What is the current UK stocking density and what will it be in the better chicken commitment
Current UK = 38kg/m2
Better chicken = 30kh/m2
What type of killing is done with the better chicken commitment
Controlled atmosphere killing (avoids pre-stun handling stress)
WHat is Kestin’s gait scoring
Used to work out if a bird is lame via looking at gait abnormalities
= problematic since doesn’t take into account modern broiler shape and whether lameness is painful
What is a better way of measuring lameness than gait scoring
Force plates; to see if more weight put on one leg
Not practical in the field
What is the aim to reduce gait scores to and is this feasible
to 0
not feasible due to conformatino of the modern chicke
How does feed conversion ratios change with size
Higher with increased size; need more maintenance food if larger
How many hours of darkness must a chicken have per night
6 hours
Classification of feather pecking
Gentle, severe, vent pecking, cannibalism, aggression
When do we see vent pecking
At onset of lay when oviduct can protrude/prolapse
WHen do we see cannibalistic pecking
Related to nutritional deficits
How do we deal with aggressive pecking in layers
Beak trimming at day old via infra-red trimmers; then drops off around day 10
Where do we see more bone demineralisation and where do we see more breakages
weaker bones in intensive systes
But more breakages in free range due to more movement
What are three types of contact dermatitis seen in chickens
Foot pad dermatitis
Hock burn; due to ammonia burns from sitting in litter (more likely if lame)
BReast burn
How is foot pad dermatitis graded
0-2
0 = no lesions or completely healed scar
1= minor lesions
2 = severe lesions
Why do we see more hock burn in lame chickens
Spend more time sat down with hocks in litter
What is litter capping
Where the top of the litter is sealed off, preventing water evaporation and creating anaerobic conditions below
- Relates to too much water from drinkers, low air flow, diet digestibility, litter type
Which type of drinker is associated with less foot pad dermatitis
Nipple drinkers as less spillage so drier litter
How does rearing temperature affect foot pad dermatitis risk
Colder temperature means more litter moisture so more foot pad fermatitis
What light level do broilers need
> 20 lux for 80% of the house
At least 6 hours dark period
How long should broilers not go without feed
12 hours
What do annex 1 and 3 of the broiler welfare directive set out
Standards for growing birds at 33kg/m2
If growing at more than this (33-39) need additional requirements from annex 3
Ammonia and CO2 levels as part of annex 3 of broiler welfare
+ relative humidity
Ammonia <20ppm
CO2 <3000ppm
Relative humidity should be <70%
Temperature range set out in annex 3
10-30*C
What is the highest risk procedure i n getting birds to slaughter
catching
