scholarly journals Environmental Enrichments in Laying Hen Production Systems with Emphasis on Welfare and Egg Quality

Author(s):  
Brian Tainika ◽  
Ahmet Şekeroğlu

This paper reviews the effects of environmental enrichments in different laying hen production systems on hen welfare and egg quality. To improve hen welfare, several studies have investigated various environmental enrichments that suit different laying hen production systems. The positive results of these studies can enable such environmental enrichments to be utilized in commercial laying hen production. In this review, the most studied environmental enrichments in the free-range production system include forage, shelterbelt, and artificial shade in the outdoor area and novel objects and H-shaped perching structures in the indoor. These are associated with increased range use that positively affects hen welfare. In the aviary system, perches, and litter materials (e.g., straw, sand) as environmental enrichments are linked to improved behavioral expression, reduced stress, and enhanced immune system. Under the litter system, environmental enrichment with substrates (e.g., pecking stones, alfalfa blocks, silage, straw, barley) has been found to increase the foraging behavior of laying hens. This reduces severe feather pecking thus improving the plumage condition of hens. Although the effects of environmental enrichments on hen welfare have been assessed and scientifically proven in the reviewed studies, enough progress of their impact on egg quality traits has not been reported. The studies have shown that environmental enrichments have no significant effect on egg quality traits. On the other hand, appropriate pasture plants as environmental enrichments in the free-range production system in relation to hen welfare and egg quality have not been identified. Therefore, it is important to continue studies on environmental enrichments while emphasizing their influence on egg quality since it is a major performance trait in the egg industry. In addition, there is a need for studies to determine the ideal pasture species in the free-range production system that positively affects hen welfare and egg quality.

Author(s):  
Musa Sarıca ◽  
Kadir Erensoy ◽  
Ayşe İpek Özsoy

In this study, the eggs produced in uncontrolled village conditions were compared to free-range, organic and cage-system in two seasons, in autumn and spring, in terms of external and internal quality traits. In the autumn and spring period, 110 eggs were collected from the village eggs and 50 eggs from other production systems. In order to determine the fertility in the village eggs, 60 eggs were placed in a laboratory type incubator in both seasons and fertility control was made at the 18th day. All data of egg quality traits were performed by taking the average of the two seasons. Egg shape index, shell ratio, shell thickness, shell cleanness, shell defects, albumen and yolk traits differed significantly among production systems (P < 0.05). The lowest shape index, shell thickness and shell cleanness were found in village eggs. Higher shell rates were determined from eggs in cage and organic production compared to others (P < 0.05). The yolk height and yolk index were the lowest and the yolk colors were the darkest in the white cage eggs (P < 0.05). Brown cage eggs showed the better results in the majority of their quality traits. However, they had a higher meat and blood-spot level than other systems. In addition, the presence of cockerels in the village flocks caused the fertile eggs and approximately 85% fertility was obtained. Our results showed that it has become obvious that the village hen and free range hen eggs which can be marketed in high prices compared to the commercial eggs, have no superiority in terms of the traits they are considered. Besides, as they are significantly fertile, especially in hot summer months, according to storage duration and conditions, the probability of embryo development for these eggs has turned to be of high importance for consumption.


2016 ◽  
Vol 65 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 27-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lidija Perić ◽  
Mirjana Đukić Stojčić ◽  
Siniša Bjedov

SummaryProduction system is one of the most important factors which have an effect on egg quality. In recent years consumers have paid more attention to the housing system in which eggs are produced with a significant increase of their interest in organic and functional food. Some consumers perceive omega-3 enriched eggs and free range eggs as beneficial for their health. Therefore, the aim of this work was to determine the chemical composition and the internal and external quality of eggs produced in conventional cages, free range systems and of omega-3 enriched eggs. Samples of 30 eggs from three different production systems were taken from the market. For eggs from each system the internal and external egg quality traits were examined as well as the protein and fat content. The results showed lower fat content in eggs from cages (P<0.05). Free range and omega-3 eggs had higher content of protein in egg white compared to the conventional ones (P<0.05). Production system significantly influenced the shell breaking strength, Haugh units and yolk color. The shell breaking force was significantly higher in free range eggs (P<0.05). The highest value of Haugh units was found in free range eggs and the lowest in omega-3 enriched eggs. The results of this work confirmed that there are differences in quality and the chemical composition of eggs from different production systems.


2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 250-261
Author(s):  
E. Bughio ◽  
J. Hussain ◽  
A. Mahmud ◽  
A. Khalique

To evaluate the effect of a production system and feeding regimen on meat quality attributes of Naked Neck chickens, a total of 150 cockerels at 18 weeks old (1625 ± 70 g) were collected from 10 treatment groups with five replicates of three birds. The factorial arrangement of treatments consisted of two production systems (intensive and free-range) and five nutritional regimens, namely 100% commercial feed; 75% commercial feed plus 25% kitchen waste; 50% commercial feed plus 50% kitchen waste; 25% commercial feed plus 75% kitchen waste; and 100% kitchen waste. Carcass traits, meat quality, and meat organoleptic were found to differ significantly among production systems, feeding regimens, and their interaction. Higher liver weight was observed in birds reared under an intensive system. Higher gizzard weight was noted in birds fed with 100% kitchen waste, whereas lower gizzard weight was observed in birds fed the commercial diet. The meat from cockerels fed with 75% kitchen waste was most yellow, whereas the meat from the birds fed with 100% kitchen waste was least yellow. At two hours after slaughter, pH of the meat was highest in birds fed 50% kitchen waste and lowest in birds fed 100% kitchen waste. The interaction of production system and feeding regimen was significant for overall acceptability score. In conclusion, Naked Neck chickens performed equally well under intensive and free-range systems, irrespective of the level of kitchen waste that they were fed.


Foods ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 725
Author(s):  
Louwrens Christiaan Hoffman ◽  
Bianca Claasen ◽  
Daniël André Van der Merwe ◽  
Schalk Willem Petrus Cloete ◽  
Jasper Johannes Erasmus Cloete

The effect of production systems on the sensory quality characteristics of Dorper lambs was investigated. Sixty lambs (ewes, rams, castrates) were allocated into two production groups (feedlot or free-range) at weaning with equal numbers of each sex represented in each group. The lambs were fed for five (slaughter group 1) or six (slaughter group 2) weeks. Feedlot lambs were fed a commercial pelleted diet while free-range lambs utilized natural shrub pastures. Samples of the Longissimus thoracis muscle were used for sensory evaluation. Feedlot lambs produced meat that was juicier and more tender than meat from free-range lambs. Initial juiciness was also higher in the meat from the feedlot lambs. No aroma or flavour differences were observed. The meat from the free-range ram lambs (slaughter group 1) was the least tender, whereas the lamb flavour was also compromised in the free-range ram lambs. Free-range meat may not necessarily be distinguished from feedlot meat as far as aroma and flavour are concerned.


2016 ◽  
Vol 83 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vaibhav C. Gole ◽  
Rebecca Woodhouse ◽  
Charles Caraguel ◽  
Talia Moyle ◽  
Jean-Loup Rault ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The current study investigated the effect of environmental stressors (i.e., weather changes) on Salmonella shedding in free-range production systems and the correlations with behavioral and physiological measures (i.e., fecal glucocorticoid metabolites). This involved longitudinal and point-in-time surveys of Salmonella shedding and environmental contamination on four commercial free-range layer farms. The shedding of Salmonella was variable across free-range farms and in different seasons. There was no significant effect of season on the Salmonella prevalence during this investigation. In this study, the combined Salmonella most probable number (MPN) counts in environmental (including feces, egg belt, dust, nest box, and ramp) samples were highest in samples collected during the summer season (4th sampling, performed in February). The predominant serovars isolated during this study were Salmonella enterica serovar Mbandaka and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium phage types 135 and 135a. These two phage types were involved in several egg product-related Salmonella outbreaks in humans. Multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA) results indicated that MLVA types detected from human food poisoning cases exhibited MLVA patterns similar to the strains isolated during this study. All Salmonella isolates (n = 209) were tested for 15 different genes involved in adhesion, invasion, and survival of Salmonella spp. We also observed variations for sopA, ironA, and misL. There were no positive correlations between fecal corticosterone metabolite (FCM) and Salmonella prevalence and/or shedding in feces. Also, there were no positive correlations between Salmonella prevalence and Salmonella count (log MPN) and any of the other welfare parameters. IMPORTANCE In this study, the welfare of laying hens and Salmonella shedding were compared over a prolonged period of time in field conditions. This study investigated the long-term shedding of Salmonella serovars in a free-range egg production system. Given that there is increasing demand for free-range eggs, it is essential to understand the risks associated with such a production system.


2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 564-577
Author(s):  
M. Usman ◽  
A. Mahmud ◽  
J. Hussain ◽  
A. Javid

The effects of the production system, breed cross, and their interaction on performance, egg quality, and hatching traits were evaluated. Rhode Island Red and Black Australorp were crossed with Naked Neck chickens (first generation RNN, and BNN, respectively). These crosses were mated among themselves and crossed to produce four crossbreds: RR (RNN x RNN), BB (BNN x BNN), RB (RNN x BNN), and BR (BNN x RNN). Thirty-six pullets and 9 cockerels from each crossbred were maintained in three production systems: the aviary system (AV), conventional cages (CC), and enriched cages (EC). Thus there were 48 pullets and 12 cockerels in each production system. Bodyweight, egg production percentage, and egg weight were highest in EC, followed by CC and AV. Higher egg weight, egg surface area, and egg volume were also observed in EC compared with CC and AV. Fertility and hatchability were higher and early embryonic mortality was lower in AV than in EC and CC. Bodyweight, egg production percentage, egg weight, egg volume, and surface area were higher for RB and BR than for BB and RR. Fertility and hatchability were similar for RB and BR. RR was similar to BR, but lower than RB. BB had the lowest fertility and hatchability. Thus, chickens in EC performed better than in the other systems, except that hatching traits were better in AV. RB and BR performed better than BB and RR.Key words: breed crosses, chicken, egg quality, hatchability


2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (No. 4) ◽  
pp. 370-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Yenice ◽  
O. Kaynar ◽  
M. Ileriturk ◽  
F. Hira ◽  
A. Hayirli

This experiment was carried out to compare morphological egg quality parameters, as well as lipid and protein profiles, of brown eggs laid by chickens reared under different production systems: cage, free-range, and family type. A total of 270 brown eggs were obtained from commercial poultry companies raising Lohmann Brown laying hens in a cage system and free-range unit as well as families possessing hens in their yards. The egg lipid and protein contents, as well as lipid and protein profile, varied among the production systems. However, eggs from the free-range system had similar characteristics to those from the cage system. Quality of eggs from the family type system was quite variable. In conclusion, egg quality can be affected by the production system.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 219-229
Author(s):  
Umut Sami Yamak ◽  
Musa Sarica ◽  
Mehmet Akif Boz ◽  
Ahmet Ucar

AbstractA total of 211 pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) were reared using two different production systems (free range and intensive) to determine the effect of production system and slaughter age on growth performance and carcass traits. Birds were slaughtered at 14, 16, and 18 weeks of age. Production system did not significantly affect body weight until 18 weeks; at this age, pheasants reared in free range exhibited a higher average weight (1149 g vs. 1012 g). Total feed consumption and feed conversion ratios did not differ among production systems. The most in-demand portions of the carcass (breast and leg) were not affected by differences in production system. The leg and breast proportions which were the most edible parts of the carcass were around 26% and 35%, respectively, in both free-range and intensive systems.


2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Ghayas ◽  
J. Hussain ◽  
A. Mahmud ◽  
M.H. Jaspal ◽  
H.M. Ishaq ◽  
...  

The behaviour, welfare, and tibia characteristics of fast- and slow-growing chickens were evaluated in free-range and intensive production systems. A total of 720 birds of three strains were subjected to these systems after 21 days of rearing under the same intensive environment. Each treatment was replicated six times with 20 birds in each replicate. Data were collected for welfare aspects, including feather condition, footpad, hock joint and tonic immobility, behavioural features, especially feeding or foraging, sitting, walking, scratching, pecking and dust-bathing, and tibia characteristics, including weight, length, width, medullary canal diameter and robusticity index (4 - 8 weeks). Production system had significant effects on all welfare and behaviour aspects of the birds. However, tibia characteristics were not influenced by production system, except for medullary canal diameter. The strains differed significantly in welfare, tibia characteristics and behaviour. For example, the slow-growing strains had better feather condition,  footpad and hock joint scores. Significant interactions of strain and production system were noted for all characteristics. It was recommended that Rhode Island Red chickens could be raised under either production system without compromising their welfare or causing adverse effects on leg health.


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