{"title":"Effects of Housing Systems on Production Performance, Egg Quality, Tonic Immobility and Feather Score in Laying Hens.","authors":"Mert Erek, Erdal Matur","doi":"10.1002/vms3.70112","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study was designed to investigate the effects of different housing systems on production performance, egg quality and welfare in laying hens.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>One hundred and twenty 42-week-old \"Atak S\" laying hens, purchased from a manufacturing company, were randomly assigned to 4 housing systems: conventional cages, furnished cages, deep-litter system and free-range. Each system housed 30 hens, which were kept in these systems for 6 weeks. Parameters regarding production performance, egg quality, plumage condition scores and tonic immobility were assessed at the end of the housing period.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Egg production and egg mass were lower in cage-free rearing systems than in caged systems. Mean egg weight in free-range hens, and albumen height and Haugh unit in deep-litter hens, were lower than in other housing systems. Eggshell weight in hens housed in furnished cages was greater than in free-range hens, while eggshell strength was better compared to that of hens in conventional cages. The housing system did not impact fearfulness; however, the deep-litter housing increased the sensitivity to touch or capture. Whole body and regional plumage condition scores of free-range hens elicited more favourable results than those kept in conventional cages. Because the plumage condition indicates welfare, the results proved the superiority of free-range over conventional rearing regarding welfare.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Concerning the parameters, such as egg production, animal welfare and fear level, overall data revealed the pros and cons of all housing systems investigated. We consider that this study's findings might contribute to the researchers and breeders seeking alternative housing for laying hens.</p>","PeriodicalId":23543,"journal":{"name":"Veterinary Medicine and Science","volume":"10 6","pages":"e70112"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8000,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11533206/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Veterinary Medicine and Science","FirstCategoryId":"97","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.70112","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"VETERINARY SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
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Abstract
Background: This study was designed to investigate the effects of different housing systems on production performance, egg quality and welfare in laying hens.
Methods: One hundred and twenty 42-week-old "Atak S" laying hens, purchased from a manufacturing company, were randomly assigned to 4 housing systems: conventional cages, furnished cages, deep-litter system and free-range. Each system housed 30 hens, which were kept in these systems for 6 weeks. Parameters regarding production performance, egg quality, plumage condition scores and tonic immobility were assessed at the end of the housing period.
Results: Egg production and egg mass were lower in cage-free rearing systems than in caged systems. Mean egg weight in free-range hens, and albumen height and Haugh unit in deep-litter hens, were lower than in other housing systems. Eggshell weight in hens housed in furnished cages was greater than in free-range hens, while eggshell strength was better compared to that of hens in conventional cages. The housing system did not impact fearfulness; however, the deep-litter housing increased the sensitivity to touch or capture. Whole body and regional plumage condition scores of free-range hens elicited more favourable results than those kept in conventional cages. Because the plumage condition indicates welfare, the results proved the superiority of free-range over conventional rearing regarding welfare.
Conclusions: Concerning the parameters, such as egg production, animal welfare and fear level, overall data revealed the pros and cons of all housing systems investigated. We consider that this study's findings might contribute to the researchers and breeders seeking alternative housing for laying hens.
期刊介绍：
Veterinary Medicine and Science is the peer-reviewed journal for rapid dissemination of research in all areas of veterinary medicine and science. The journal aims to serve the research community by providing a vehicle for authors wishing to publish interesting and high quality work in both fundamental and clinical veterinary medicine and science.
Veterinary Medicine and Science publishes original research articles, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and research methods papers, along with invited editorials and commentaries. Original research papers must report well-conducted research with conclusions supported by the data presented in the paper.
We aim to be a truly global forum for high-quality research in veterinary medicine and science, and believe that the best research should be published and made widely accessible as quickly as possible. Veterinary Medicine and Science publishes papers submitted directly to the journal and those referred from a select group of prestigious journals published by Wiley-Blackwell.
Veterinary Medicine and Science is a Wiley Open Access journal, one of a new series of peer-reviewed titles publishing quality research with speed and efficiency. For further information visit the Wiley Open Access website.
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