The effect of stocking density on certain broiler welfare parameters

Abstract

In broiler production, stocking density, i.e. floor surface per chicken, is very important welfare factor which directly and indirectly influences and determines the level of growth of chicken body weight, but it is also related to other welfare indicators. Objective of the paper was to define the broiler welfare in different stocking densities by evaluation of their walking ability (gait score), feathering, incidence and degree of hock burns, foot pad lesions, and by determination of the biochemical blood parameters (glucose concentration, total cholesterol concentration), as indicators of condition of stress. One day old chickens of Hubbard genotype were housed in boxes in floor rearing system, in 3 stocking densities and 5 repetitions of each treatment. Treatment A scored stocking density of 10 birds/m2; treatment B, 13 birds/m2 and treatment C, 16 birds/m2. Results of the trial indicate absence of significance of differences between trial groups of broilers in regard to their walking ability, condition of skin and legs, and stress indicators. In general, broiler welfare in all trial groups was satisfactory. However, determined tendencies of worsening of the condition of litter, increase of the frequency of lower scores for walking ability (gait score), hock burns and foot pad lesions which occur with increase of stocking density, indicate the importance of this rearing factor and need to define limiting stocking densities from the aspect of broiler welfare but also economical efficiency of production. .U brojlerskoj proizvodnji gustina naseljenosti, odnosno povrsina poda po piletu, je veoma vazan faktor dobrobiti koji svojim direktnim i indirektnim uticajima odredjuje nivo porasta telesne mase pilica ali se dovodi u vezu i sa drugim indikatorima dobrobiti. Cilj rada je bio definisanje dobrobiti brojlera u razlicitim gustinama naseljenosti ocenom sposobnosti kretanja (gait score), operjalosti, pojave i stepena zapaljenja koze zgloba, lezije na jastucicu stopala i utvrdjivanjem biohemijskih parametara krvi (koncentracija glukoze, koncentracija ukupnog holesterola) kao pokazatelja stanja stresa. Jednodnevni pilici genotipa Hubbard su razmesteni u bokseve podnog sistema gajenja u 3 gustine naseljenosti i 5 ponavljanja svakog tretmana. Tretman A je oznacavao gustinu naseljenosti 10 grla/m2; tretman B, 13 grla/m2 i tretman C, 16 grla/m2. Rezultati ogleda ukazuju na nesignifikantnost razlika oglednih grupa brojlera u pogledu sposobnosti kretanja, stanja koze i nogu, indikatora stresa. Generalno, dobrobit brojlera u svim oglednim grupama je bila zadovoljavajuca. Medjutim, utvrdjene tendencije pogorsanja kvaliteta prostirke, povecanja frekvencije losijih ocena sposobnosti kretanja (gait score), zapaljenja koze zgloba i lezije na jastucicu stopala sa povecanjem gustine naseljenosti, ukazuju na znacaj ovog faktora gajenja i potrebu definisanja limitirajucih gustina naseljenosti sa aspekta dobrobiti brojlera ali i ekonomicnosti proizvodnje. .