Woody breast, sometimes called wooden breast, has become a familiar and costly problem for today’s broiler industry, according to Cirenio Hisasaga, doctoral student at the University of California– Davis.
In the United States, the majority of laying hens are housed in conventional cages. However, there has been a shift towards cage-free systems. Cage-free systems can benefit laying hen welfare. Birds have opportunities to perform a full range of species-specific behaviors, including foraging, dustbathing, perching, and walking, which are restricted in conventional cages.
Poultry researchers use ‘affective valence’ — a positive or negative emotional response — as a measure of animal welfare. Tom Smulders, PhD, an evolutionary neurobiology researcher from Newcastle University, has studied whether hippocampal neurogenesis can be a marker of affective valence in poultry.
The International Poultry Welfare Alliance brings together expertise from across the value chain to develop Key Welfare Indicator Reference Guides for broilers, turkeys and layers, which align measurements and communications of welfare outcomes.
Research has uncovered much about how welfare impacts broilers’ physical and functional traits, but less is known about their mental state. A doctoral student at Virginia Tech studied fear and anxiety in fast- and slow-growing broilers, as well as the impact of environmental complexities.
Boredom may be a welfare concern for poultry that are raised in barren conditions. However, researchers have conducted few investigations into this emotional state. Approaches to detect boredom in other species may provide practical methods for quantifying boredom in poultry.
Rodney Johnson, hatchery specialist with Boehringer Ingelheim, says managers who prioritize strong communication, well-defined processes and consistent monitoring of key indicators often see improvements not just in hatchability and early livability, but also in team morale and operational efficiency.
Breeding for increased appetites and fast growth has resulted in meatier birds. But these heavier birds experience health complications and decreased reproduction. Feed restrictions are used to maintain the lower bodyweight required for broiler breeders. University of Arkansas graduate student Allison Weaver is researching how feed restrictions affect bird welfare.
A “Viewpoints” article by
Ken Opengart, DVM, PhD, DACPV
3 Birds Consulting
Signal Mountain, Tennessee
A “Viewpoints” article by
Marian Stamp Dawkins, FRS CBE
University of Oxford, UK
Artificial light remains the industry standard in modern broiler production because it is highly controllable and can provide a consistent, uniform light source. While some studies demonstrate the benefits of artificial lighting, other research suggests that the same environment may negatively affect ocular and leg health.
Ventilation shutdown with heat and humidity may be superior to other methods of broiler depopulation under controlled environmental conditions, but this method requires further study under industry-like conditions, according to researchers at North Carolina State University.
