Welfare assessment of broilers through examination of haematomas, foot-pad dermatitis, scratches and breast blisters at processing

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2009

Authors

gouveia, kg (Author) Other; vaz-pires, p (Author) ICBAS; da costa, pm (Author) ICBAS

Journal

Title: Animal Welfare

Vol. 18

Pages: 43-48

ISSN: 0962-7286

Publisher: Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 18 Citations

Scopus - 26 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Agrarian Sciences > Veterinary science

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-N9N

Abstract (EN): Analysis of post mortem lesions is a common means for assessing poultry welfare during rearing and pre-slaughter handling. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of age, sex, rearing system, total number of birds on-form, period between catch and slaughter and distance from poultry house to processing plant on the incidence of foot-pad dermatitis (FPD), breast blisters (BB), bruises and scratches. Rearing systems consisted of extensive indoor (EI) and traditional free-range (TFR). Accordingly, birds were reared under non-intensive conditions (< 12 broilers m(-2)). In TFR, the maximum flock size was 4,800, birds hod continuous daytime access to open-air runs from at least the age of six weeks, and the minimum slaughter age was 81 days, whereas El rearing was exclusively indoor and birds were slaughtered at 56 days or later. Observations occurred daily after plucking and each bird was examined for. haematomas, scratches, FPD and BB. Logistic regressions were applied to study the relationship between variables. Forms holding between 10,000-20,000 birds were the most affected with FPD, BB and scratches. The oldest birds (91-100 days) showed the greatest incidence of FPD and scratches. TFR birds exhibited the highest prevalence of bruises and lowest of FPD. BB were most common among birds travelling between 31-60 km from poultry farm to processing plant while scratches were more frequent at greater distances (91-120 km). Male broilers were more predisposed to BB than females. Scratching increased relative to the number of hours that birds awaited slaughter. Despite the fact that only a relatively small number of broiler flocks were examined, these findings may have implications for the draft of future European legislation regarding poultry welfare.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6