Air Quality in Alternative Housing Systems May Have an Impact on Laying Hen Welfare. Part I—Dust

AbstractSocietal concern with the welfare of egg laying hens housed in conventional cages is fostering a transition towards cage-free systems in many countries. However, although cage-free facilities enable hens to move freely and express natural behaviours, concerns have also been raised over the possibility that cage-free flocks experience higher mortality, potentially compromising some aspects of their welfare. To investigate this possibility, we conducted a large meta-analysis of laying hen mortality in conventional cages, furnished cages and cage-free aviaries using data from 6040 commercial flocks and 176 million hens from 16 countries. We show that except for conventional cages, mortality gradually drops as experience with each system builds up: since 2000, each year of experience with cage-free aviaries was associated with a 0.35–0.65% average drop in cumulative mortality, with no differences in mortality between caged and cage-free systems in more recent years. As management knowledge evolves and genetics are optimized, new producers transitioning to cage-free housing may experience even faster rates of decline. Our results speak against the notion that mortality is inherently higher in cage-free production and illustrate the importance of considering the degree of maturity of production systems in any investigations of farm animal health, behaviour and welfare.

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Parasites in Laying Hen Housing Systems

Egg Innovations and Strategies for Improvements ◽

10.1016/b978-0-12-800879-9.00055-x ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 597-606 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Bradley A. Mullens ◽

Amy C. Murillo

Keyword(s):

Laying Hen ◽

Housing Systems

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Thermal environment characterization of laying hen-housing systems

Journal of Animal Behaviour and Biometeorology ◽

10.31893/jabb.22008 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Nágela Maria Henrique Mascarenhas ◽

Dermeval Araújo Furtado ◽

Bonifácio Benício de Souza ◽

Airton Gonçalves de Oliveira ◽

Antonio Nelson Lima da Costa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Thermal Environment ◽

Laying Hen ◽

Housing Systems

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The Effect of the Type of Alternative Housing System, Genotype and Age of Laying Hens on Egg Quality

Annals of Animal Science ◽

10.2478/aoas-2018-0004 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 541-556 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Zofia Sokołowicz ◽

Józefa Krawczyk ◽

Magdalena Dykiel

Keyword(s):

Laying Hens ◽

Egg Quality ◽

Housing System ◽

Color Intensity ◽

Egg Weight ◽

Blood Spots ◽

Alternative Housing ◽

Housing Systems ◽

System Type ◽

Eggshell Color

Abstract The present study investigated the effect of the type of alternative housing system, and genotype and age of laying hens on physical traits of egg shell and contents. It was demonstrated that alternative housing system type influenced egg weight and shape, and eggshell color and yolk color intensity. Eggs from free-range system were heavier and were characterized by more intense yolk color. No effect of alternative housing system type on albumen height, value of Haugh units (HU value) and presence of meat and blood spots was noted. Hen genotype had a significant effect on egg weight and eggshell color intensity in each of the alternative housing systems tested in this study. Hy-line Brown hens laid heavier eggs than hens of native breeds. Genotype was also observed to affect egg content traits (albumen height, HU values and presence of meat and blood spots). Independently of the type of alternative housing system, most blood and meat spots were noted in eggs of hens laying brown-shelled eggs, i.e. R-11 and Hy-line Brown layers. Laying hen age significantly impacted on egg weight, yolk percentage, eggshell traits (color intensity, weight, thickness and strength) and egg content traits (HU value, yolk weight and color intensity, presence of meat and blood spots). Older hens laid heavier eggs with a greater yolk percentage but with thinner eggshell.

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The effects of laying hen housing systems on egg safety and quality

Achieving sustainable production of eggs Volume 1 - Burleigh Dodds Series in Agricultural Science ◽

10.19103/as.2016.0012.09 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 195-213

Author(s):

Deana R. Jones ◽

Keyword(s):

Laying Hen ◽

Housing Systems

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Physiological Responses of Laying Hens to the Alternative Housing Systems

International Journal of Poultry Science ◽

10.3923/ijps.2003.357.360 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 2 (5) ◽

pp. 357-360 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Shaniko Shini .

Keyword(s):

Laying Hens ◽

Physiological Responses ◽

Alternative Housing ◽

Housing Systems

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Eggshell characteristics and cuticle deposition in three laying hen genotypes housed in enriched cages and on litter

Czech Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.17221/75/2017-cjas ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 63 (No. 1) ◽

pp. 11-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

M. Ketta ◽

E. Tumova

Keyword(s):

Laying Hens ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Laying Hen ◽

Housing System ◽

Eggshell Thickness ◽

System Effect ◽

Egg Weight ◽

Housing Systems ◽

Eggshell Quality ◽

System P

The objective of the present study was to compare the eggshell characteristics and cuticle deposition of Lohmann Brown, Hy-Line Silver Brown, and Isa Brown layers kept in two different housing systems. The three laying hen genotypes were housed in enriched cages (100 hens, 750 cm<sup>2</sup>/hen, 10 hens/cage) and in littered pens (100 hens, 9 hens/m<sup>2</sup>, 10 hens/pen). The experiment was carried out in weeks 40–56 of hens age. Non-significant interactions of genotype and housing system for eggshell quality parameters and cuticle deposition were detected in this study. Egg weight was significantly affected by genotype (P ≤ 0.001) and housing system (P ≤ 0.043). The heaviest eggs were laid by Lohmann Brown, while the lightest eggs were produced by Hy-Line Silver Brown. Eggshell strength was not affected by genotype and housing system, however, genotype had a significant effect on eggshell thickness (P ≤ 0.033). Isa Brown eggs had thicker eggshells compared to Lohmann Brown and Hy-Line Silver Brown. However, a non-significant effect of housing system on eggshell thickness was observed. Eggshell percentage was significantly affected by both genotype and housing system. Genotype of laying hens had a significant effect on cuticle deposition; significantly higher cuticle deposition was observed in Lohmann Brown eggs (P ≤ 0.001). It could be concluded that genotype had a significant effect on eggshell quality parameters and cuticle deposition. However, the housing system effect was less important in these characteristics.

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