scholarly journals Husbandry Conditions and Welfare Outcomes in Organic Egg Production in Eight European Countries

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2102
Author(s):  
Lisa Jung ◽  
Christine Brenninkmeyer ◽  
Knut Niebuhr ◽  
Monique Bestman ◽  
Frank A. M. Tuyttens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Preventive Measure ◽  
European Countries ◽  
European Research ◽  
Light Conditions ◽  
Welfare Indicators ◽  
Free Range ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Worm Infestation ◽  
Bone Damage

In the European research project HealthyHens, welfare indicators as well as husbandry and management conditions were recorded in 107 organic laying hen farms in eight countries. Farms were visited at peak and end of lay. Egg production was on average comparable to breeder specifications. A mean mortality of 5.7% and mean prevalences of footpad lesions of 30.5%, keel bone damage of 44.5%, 57.3% of flocks with on average >200 Ascarid eggs per gram faeces and 28.2% of flocks with >100 mites/trap were recorded. A large variation between flocks indicated options for improvement. Based on the results, the following measures can be recommended: (i) decreasing mite and worm infestation and (ii) providing an attractive covered veranda, because of their association with decreased mortality; (iii) maximising access to the free range, because of its relation to decreased A. galli infection and less injurious pecking; (iv) feeding sufficient protein levels and (v) providing adequate litter as preventive measure against feather pecking and cannibalism; (vi) ensuring that the birds have sufficient weight and (vii) preventing accidents by adequate hen house facilities and light conditions to reduce keel bone damage. These primarily management-based measures have the potential to improve bird welfare both in terms of behavioural and health aspects.

scholarly journals Comparison of Behavioral Time Budget and Welfare Indicators in Two Local Laying Hen Genotypes (Atak-S and Atabey) in a Free-Range System

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Arda Sözcü ◽  
Aydın İpek ◽  
Züleyha Oğuz ◽  
Stefan Gunnarsson ◽  
Anja B. Riber
Keyword(s):  
Tonic Immobility ◽  
Time Budget ◽  
Drinking Behavior ◽  
Laying Hen ◽  
Feather Pecking ◽  
Welfare Indicators ◽  
Free Range ◽  
System A ◽  
Bone Damage ◽  
Foot Lesions

Free-range systems are considered to improve bird health and welfare, thereby satisfying consumer demands. Behavioral time budget, fear level and clinical welfare indicators were compared for two Turkish laying hen genotypes, Atak-S (brown) and Atabey (white), reared in a free-range system. A total of 420 laying hens (210 Atak-S, 210 Atabey) were studied between 19 and 72 weeks of age. Higher percentages of eating and drinking behavior, feather pecking, and explorative pecking were observed for Atak-S hens, whereas Atabey hens were preening, walking–standing, and resting more. The duration of tonic immobility was longer, and the number of inductions was lower in Atabey compared with Atak-S hens. Atabey hens had less keel bone damages and better plumage conditions on the breast, wing, and tail at 56 and 72 weeks of age than Atak-S hens. Footpad dermatitis was more common in Atabey hens at 40 weeks, whereas Atak-S hens had a higher prevalence of footpad dermatitis with moderate lesions at 72 weeks of age. These findings indicate that free-range Atak-S hens may be more prone to keel bone damage and development of feather pecking, but they showed less foot lesions and were less fearful.

scholarly journals Effects of Bacillus subtilis on Production Performance, Bone Physiological Property, and Hematology Indexes in Laying Hens

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 2041
Author(s):  
Xinyu Zou ◽  
Sha Jiang ◽  
Mi Zhang ◽  
Haiqiang Hu ◽  
Xiaoling Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Maximum Load ◽  
Physiological Property ◽  
Production Performance ◽  
Feed Additive ◽  
Basic Diet ◽  
Bone Damage ◽  
Diet Control

This study was to investigate the effects of Bacillus subtilis on production performance and bone pathophysiological characteristics of layers. Twenty-four 48-week-old Lohmann Pink-shell laying hens were randomly divided into two groups: a basic diet (control) and the basic diet mixed with Bacillus subtilis (0.5 g/kg) for a 60-day trial. Statistically, independent-sample t-test was used to assess the treatment differences. The results showed that Bacillus subtilis supplementation improved the percent of marketable eggs (p < 0.05) with reduced numbers of broken and soft-shelled eggs but had no effects on egg weight, height of albumen, yolk color, and Haugh unit (p > 0.05). Bacillus subtilis supplement also elevated maximum load (p = 0.06), maximum stress (p = 0.01), stiffness (p < 0.01), and Young’s modulus (p < 0.01) but suppressed maximum strain (p = 0.06) in the femur. In addition, compared with control birds, phosphorous concentration (p < 0.01) was reduced in serum at day 61 but increased in the femur (p < 0.05) in Bacillus subtilis fed birds. Bacillus subtilis fed birds also had lower magnesium concentrations in both femur (p = 0.04) and feces (p = 0.09). Furthermore, Bacillus subtilis increased plasma estrogen concentration (p = 0.01) and femur TNF receptor superfamily member 11b (OPG) expression (p < 0.05) but reduced plasma IL-1 (p < 0.01) and TNF-α (p < 0.01) concentrations. These results indicate that Bacillus subtilis could be used as a health promotor to reduce overproduction-induced inflammation and associated bone damage and to increase marketable egg production. The data provide evidence for developing a management strategy to use Bacillus subtilis as a feed additive to improve marketable egg production and health and welfare status of laying hens.

Sexual education in selected European countries - characteristics

2021 ◽  
Vol 598 (3) ◽  
pp. 3-17
Author(s):  
Urszula Kempińska ◽  
Anna Nowak
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Unplanned Pregnancy ◽  
Preventive Measure ◽  
Risky Behaviors ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Sexual Education ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Scientific Truth ◽  
The Right

This article aims to present the characteristics of sex education in selected European countries. Particular attention should be paid to the need for compulsory and diligently conducted sexual education of young people as a preventive measure and a factor providing objective scientific truth. Normative systems and set of beliefs often create social taboos about sexuality. Based on the analysis of scientific sources published in Polish, French and English, this article also shows the essence of sex education in schools, as a way for young people to make the right choices, reduce the occurrence of risky behaviors and protect against and prevent sexually transmitted diseases, unplanned pregnancy and sexual violence. Acquiring true and consistent with the current state of knowledge information on the human sexual sphere should be carried out throughout life. Conducting professional sex education classes at school would be an opportunity for all students to have equal access to information on this subject. Both for those who talk to their parents and those for whom it is a taboo. The presented effects of the lack of sexual education in schools show that its reliable and professional implementation is a means of providing help to young people and their families. However, in order to change the approach of parents and students to attending classes in this subject, it is necessary to improve the quality of teaching in this subject and to make some changes to the curriculum.

scholarly journals Ranging behavior relates to welfare indicators pre- and post-range access in commercial free-range broilers

2018 ◽  
Vol 97 (6) ◽  
pp. 1861-1871 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peta S. Taylor ◽  
Paul H. Hemsworth ◽  
Peter J. Groves ◽  
Sabine G. Gebhardt-Henrich ◽  
Jean-Loup Rault
Keyword(s):  
Ranging Behavior ◽  
Welfare Indicators ◽  
Free Range

Responses of IsaBrown laying hens to a pre-layer diet containing additional calcium and to dietary protein and lysine concentrations during lay

2000 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 779 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Balnave ◽  
R. J. Gill ◽  
X. Li ◽  
W. L. Bryden
Keyword(s):  
Feed Intake ◽  
Dietary Protein ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Egg Mass ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
High Rise ◽  
Lysine Concentration ◽  
Egg Shell ◽  
Grower Diet

IsaBrown pullets were obtained from a commercial breeder at 15 (Expt 1) and 16 (Expt 2) weeks of age and housed in either single-bird or multiple 5-bird cages in a high rise, windowless layer house in which temperatures were maintained below 30˚C by computerised control of fans and evaporative cooling pads. In Expt 1, they were fed either a grower diet or a pre-layer diet consisting of the grower diet containing additional calcium to 18 weeks of age and then maintained during lay to 56 weeks of age on diets containing either 160 or 180 g crude protein (CP)/kg. In Expt 2, they were fed the grower diet to 19 weeks of age and then 1 of 5 diets similar in all ingredients except that the lysine concentration varied between 7.35 and 8.95 g/kg in increments of 0.4 g/kg. The L-lysine HCl supplements were added in lieu of solka floc, an inert cellulose supplement. In Expt 1, mortality was low (2.25%), peak egg production was high (95–98%), and the mean rate of lay at 56 weeks of age was above 88%. The diet fed prior to lay had no significant effect on production during lay. Feed intake and egg production were similar for hens fed both dietary protein levels during lay, and egg weight and egg mass output were greater for hens fed the diet containing 180 g CP/kg. Hens in multiple-bird cages ate significantlyless feed for a significantly smaller daily egg mass output. In Expt 2, increasing the dietary lysine concentration significantly reduced feed intake and significantly increased lysine intake, egg shell breaking strength, and albumen height. Multiple-caged hens had a significantly lower hen-housed egg production as a result of a 7-fold increase in mortality compared with hens in single cages, due mainly to cannibalism. The daily lysine requirement formaximum egg production approximated 940 mg for hens in single cages and 975 mg for hens in multiple-bird cages.

The performance of laying hens fed various dietary protein levels in the growing period and first laying year

1971 ◽  
Vol 11 (49) ◽  
pp. 161 ◽  
Author(s):  
JK Connor ◽  
HW Burton
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Protein ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Bodyweight Gain ◽  
Protein Restriction ◽  
Protein Layer ◽  
Egg Weight ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Growing Period ◽  
Laying Performance

Two experiments examined the effects of protein restriction in the growing period on the production of egg type pullets. The protein levels of diets fed in the growing period were 15, 13, and 11 per cent. The treatments were incorporated in factorial designs with nutritional treatments in the laying period involving diet protein levels of 17, 15, and 13 per cent and, for one of the experiments, with housing densities of either 4 sq. ft. or 2 sq. ft. per bird. Restriction of protein during the growing period retarded growth and delayed sexual maturity, but neither of the levels of restriction examined increased subsequent laying performance. Eggs lost due to delays in the onset of production were not compensated for by increases in subsequent production and egg weight was generally depressed by protein restriction. The pattern of egg production was altered by restriction. A 13 per cent protein layer diet introduced at point of lay also reduced bodyweight gain and delayed age at sexual maturity. Interactions between nutritional and housing treatments in the growing and laying periods were apparent in egg production and egg weight.

Social Media and Emergency Services?

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 36-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Reuter ◽  
Thomas Ludwig ◽  
Therese Friberg ◽  
Sylvia Pratzler-Wanczura ◽  
Alexis Gizikis
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Emergency Service ◽  
Emergency Services ◽  
European Countries ◽  
European Research ◽  
Service Staff ◽  
Use Of Social Media ◽  
Participation In Research ◽  
Potential Use ◽  
Future Plans

Social media is much just used for private as well as business purposes, obviously, also during emergencies. Emergency services are often confronted with the amount of information from social media and might consider using them – or not using them. This article highlights the perception of emergency services on social media during emergencies. Within their European research project EMERGENT, the authors therefore conducted an interview study with emergency service staff (N=11) from seven European countries and eight different cities. Their results highlight the current and potential use of social media, the emergency service's participation in research on social media as well as current challenges, benefits and future plans.

scholarly journals COMBINATION OF USING COW FECES POWDER AND PROBIOTIC IN FEED FOR LAYER NATIVE CHICKEN

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 47
Author(s):  
Suprio Guntoro ◽  
Anak Agung Ngurah Badung Sarmuda Dinata ◽  
I Wayan Sudarma
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Food Prices ◽  
Conversion Ratio ◽  
Feed Conversion Ratio ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Free Range ◽  
Native Chicken ◽  
Physical Composition ◽  
Chicken Farm

The development of free-range chicken farm is constrained by expensive food prices. On the other hand,feses of cattle had potential use as a source of feed. This study was conducted to determine the response ofcow feses and probiotics administration in the diet of laying range chicken. The study was conducted over 6months using 240 free-range chickens aged 8 months. Research was arranged in a completely randomized designwith 8 treatments and 5 replications. The treatment given were ration in accordance with the farmers formulacomprising: concentrate: 25%, corn 40% and rice bran 35% (P0) and ration as P0, with the substitution of ricebran with fermented cow feses each treatment with level 10 % (P1), 15% (P2) and 20% (P3) and ration as atP0, P1, P2 and P3 that received additional probiotic (Bio L) 1 cc / L of drinking water (P4, P5, P6 and P7). Theparameters were observed are: egg production (hen day), egg weight, feed intake, FCR (Feed Conversion Ratio)mortality and physical composition of eggs. The results showed that the diet which containing fermented cowfeses 20% did not decreased egg production and feed efficiency. The combination of fermented cow feses at thelevel of 20% with a probiotic (Bio L) 1 cc / L of drinking water showed that egg production  increased althoughit is not significant and reduce the number of FCR (Feed Conversion Ratio). In conclusion the use of fermentedcow feses up to the level of 20% in the diet both with and without the administration of probiotics, has no effecton physical composition of eggs.

scholarly journals Dynamics of Salmonella Shedding and Welfare of Hens in Free-Range Egg Production Systems

2016 ◽  
Vol 83 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vaibhav C. Gole ◽  
Rebecca Woodhouse ◽  
Charles Caraguel ◽  
Talia Moyle ◽  
Jean-Loup Rault ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Production System ◽  
Salmonella Enterica ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Most Probable Number ◽  
Probable Number ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Free Range ◽  
Phage Types ◽  
Positive Correlations

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.

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