The Effect of the Type of Non-Caged Housing System, Genotype and Age on the Behaviour of Laying Hens
This study investigated the welfare of laying hens in different non-caged housing systems, namely a deep-litter barn system (BS), a free-range system (FRS) and an organic system (OS). The study was conducted on 270 hens of a native breed Green-legged Partridge (Z-11) and 270 Hy-Line Brown hybrids. V...
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MDPI AG
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/12/2450 |
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| author | Zofia Sokołowicz Magdalena Dykiel Jadwiga Topczewska Józefa Krawczyk Anna Augustyńska-Prejsnar |
| author_facet | Zofia Sokołowicz Magdalena Dykiel Jadwiga Topczewska Józefa Krawczyk Anna Augustyńska-Prejsnar |
| author_sort | Zofia Sokołowicz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study investigated the welfare of laying hens in different non-caged housing systems, namely a deep-litter barn system (BS), a free-range system (FRS) and an organic system (OS). The study was conducted on 270 hens of a native breed Green-legged Partridge (Z-11) and 270 Hy-Line Brown hybrids. Visual scans were performed to record behaviour of hens. Hens were housed in groups of 30 and observed over the course of one day at 20, 36 and 56 weeks of age. Dustbathing, scratching, wing stretching, wing flapping and preening were recorded as comfort behaviours. Pecking, fighting, threatening and chasing were recorded as agonistic behaviours. The percentage of run use was higher in native hens than in commercial hens (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The proportion of hens exhibiting comfort behaviours housed in the FRS and OS was similar but over twice as high as in the BS (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In the FRS and OS, the percentage of hens displaying comfort behaviours increased with age (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In all the production systems, the percentage of birds displaying comfort behaviours was higher in native breed hens than in commercial breeds (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In the BS, the higher proportion of hens displaying an agonistic behaviour was seen more in commercial breed than in the native breed hens (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The percentage of birds displaying an agonistic behaviour declined with hen age, both in commercial and native breed hens. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:52:54Z |
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| id | doaj.art-10d47816c9894333b4888620bf7519f9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:52:54Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-10d47816c9894333b4888620bf7519f92023-11-21T01:55:11ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152020-12-011012245010.3390/ani10122450The Effect of the Type of Non-Caged Housing System, Genotype and Age on the Behaviour of Laying HensZofia Sokołowicz0Magdalena Dykiel1Jadwiga Topczewska2Józefa Krawczyk3Anna Augustyńska-Prejsnar4Department of Animal Production and Poultry Products Evaluation, University of Rzeszów, Zelwerowicza Street 4, 35-601 Rzeszów, PolandDepartment of Food Production and Safety, Carpathion State College in Krosno, Rynek 1, 38-400 Krosno, PolandDepartment of Animal Production and Poultry Products Evaluation, University of Rzeszów, Zelwerowicza Street 4, 35-601 Rzeszów, PolandDepartment of Poultry Breeding, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Krakowska Street 1, 32-083 Balice n. Kraków, PolandDepartment of Animal Production and Poultry Products Evaluation, University of Rzeszów, Zelwerowicza Street 4, 35-601 Rzeszów, PolandThis study investigated the welfare of laying hens in different non-caged housing systems, namely a deep-litter barn system (BS), a free-range system (FRS) and an organic system (OS). The study was conducted on 270 hens of a native breed Green-legged Partridge (Z-11) and 270 Hy-Line Brown hybrids. Visual scans were performed to record behaviour of hens. Hens were housed in groups of 30 and observed over the course of one day at 20, 36 and 56 weeks of age. Dustbathing, scratching, wing stretching, wing flapping and preening were recorded as comfort behaviours. Pecking, fighting, threatening and chasing were recorded as agonistic behaviours. The percentage of run use was higher in native hens than in commercial hens (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The proportion of hens exhibiting comfort behaviours housed in the FRS and OS was similar but over twice as high as in the BS (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In the FRS and OS, the percentage of hens displaying comfort behaviours increased with age (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In all the production systems, the percentage of birds displaying comfort behaviours was higher in native breed hens than in commercial breeds (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In the BS, the higher proportion of hens displaying an agonistic behaviour was seen more in commercial breed than in the native breed hens (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The percentage of birds displaying an agonistic behaviour declined with hen age, both in commercial and native breed hens.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/12/2450alternative housing systembehaviour of laying hensnative breedcommercial hybridcomfort behaviouragonistic behaviour |
| spellingShingle | Zofia Sokołowicz Magdalena Dykiel Jadwiga Topczewska Józefa Krawczyk Anna Augustyńska-Prejsnar The Effect of the Type of Non-Caged Housing System, Genotype and Age on the Behaviour of Laying Hens Animals alternative housing system behaviour of laying hens native breed commercial hybrid comfort behaviour agonistic behaviour |
| title | The Effect of the Type of Non-Caged Housing System, Genotype and Age on the Behaviour of Laying Hens |
| title_full | The Effect of the Type of Non-Caged Housing System, Genotype and Age on the Behaviour of Laying Hens |
| title_fullStr | The Effect of the Type of Non-Caged Housing System, Genotype and Age on the Behaviour of Laying Hens |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effect of the Type of Non-Caged Housing System, Genotype and Age on the Behaviour of Laying Hens |
| title_short | The Effect of the Type of Non-Caged Housing System, Genotype and Age on the Behaviour of Laying Hens |
| title_sort | effect of the type of non caged housing system genotype and age on the behaviour of laying hens |
| topic | alternative housing system behaviour of laying hens native breed commercial hybrid comfort behaviour agonistic behaviour |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/12/2450 |
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