Poultry welfare issues

Question 1

What is the current UK stocking density and what will it be in the better chicken commitment

Answer 1

Current UK = 38kg/m2
Better chicken = 30kh/m2

Question 2

What type of killing is done with the better chicken commitment

Answer 2

Controlled atmosphere killing (avoids pre-stun handling stress)

Question 3

WHat is Kestin’s gait scoring

Answer 3

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

Question 4

What is a better way of measuring lameness than gait scoring

Answer 4

Force plates; to see if more weight put on one leg
Not practical in the field

Question 5

What is the aim to reduce gait scores to and is this feasible

Answer 5

to 0
not feasible due to conformatino of the modern chicke

Question 6

How does feed conversion ratios change with size

Answer 6

Higher with increased size; need more maintenance food if larger

Question 7

How many hours of darkness must a chicken have per night

Answer 7

6 hours

Question 8

Classification of feather pecking

Answer 8

Gentle, severe, vent pecking, cannibalism, aggression

Question 9

When do we see vent pecking

Answer 9

At onset of lay when oviduct can protrude/prolapse

Question 10

WHen do we see cannibalistic pecking

Answer 10

Related to nutritional deficits

Question 11

How do we deal with aggressive pecking in layers

Answer 11

Beak trimming at day old via infra-red trimmers; then drops off around day 10

Question 12

Where do we see more bone demineralisation and where do we see more breakages

Answer 12

weaker bones in intensive systes
But more breakages in free range due to more movement

Question 13

What are three types of contact dermatitis seen in chickens

Answer 13

Foot pad dermatitis
Hock burn; due to ammonia burns from sitting in litter (more likely if lame)
BReast burn

Question 14

How is foot pad dermatitis graded

Answer 14

0-2

0 = no lesions or completely healed scar
1= minor lesions
2 = severe lesions

Question 15

Why do we see more hock burn in lame chickens

Answer 15

Spend more time sat down with hocks in litter

Question 16

What is litter capping

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Which type of drinker is associated with less foot pad dermatitis

Answer 17

Nipple drinkers as less spillage so drier litter

Question 18

How does rearing temperature affect foot pad dermatitis risk

Answer 18

Colder temperature means more litter moisture so more foot pad fermatitis

Question 19

What light level do broilers need

Answer 19

> 20 lux for 80% of the house
At least 6 hours dark period

Question 20

How long should broilers not go without feed

Answer 20

12 hours

Question 21

What do annex 1 and 3 of the broiler welfare directive set out

Answer 21

Standards for growing birds at 33kg/m2
If growing at more than this (33-39) need additional requirements from annex 3

Question 22

Ammonia and CO2 levels as part of annex 3 of broiler welfare
+ relative humidity

Answer 22

Ammonia <20ppm
CO2 <3000ppm
Relative humidity should be <70%

Question 23

Temperature range set out in annex 3

Answer 23

10-30*C

Question 24

What is the highest risk procedure i n getting birds to slaughter

Answer 24

catching