Projects / Programmes
Animal welfare including health of poultry and pigs in conventional and alternative housing systems
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 4.02.03 |
Biotechnical sciences |
Animal production |
Ethology and technology in stock-breeding |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B400 |
Biomedical sciences |
Zootechny, animal husbandry, breeding |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 4.02 |
Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences |
Animal and Dairy science |
animal welfare, poultry, pigs, health, housing systems, protocol
Researchers (19)
Organisations (5)
Abstract
Sustainable development, which includes environmental and climatic conditions, and an emphasis on animal welfare, has been gaining an increased importance in the development of agriculture-livestock production in Europe. At the same time the consumers, when deciding to purchase animal products, pay more and more attention to the housing conditions farm animals were exposed to. Different rearing conditions in conventional or alternative systems, especially in group housed animals, affect differently the development of behavior abnormalities such as cannibalism in laying hens and pigs, as well as the onset of dermatitis in broilers and general welfare. There is no legislation (laws or directives) available in Slovenia to ensure the welfare of animals in various housing systems of poultry and pigs. Therefore, in this project we will test the protocols and indicators as a non-invasive way to assess the welfare of poultry and pigs, and establish critical limits of animal welfare, including health care, with emphasis on an individual animal. With this we will make the first scientific assessment of the welfare of poultry and pigs in conventional and alternative housing systems in Slovenia and get the first detailed insight into the state of welfare on the commercial farms. Also, individual housing systems will be described the first time in terms of animal welfare, which will enable housing systems and the corresponding animal products to be better recognized. Furthermore, the project will test innovative approaches to reduce cannibalism as the use of repellents in laying hens and by testing different ways of creating groups of pigs after weaning. At the same time, we will monitor indicators of stress, such as biomarkers of oxidative stress in the blood and saliva of pigs and the concentration of corticosterone and immunoglobulins feathers and eggs in laying hens or broilers. As for laying hens in practice, in addition to cannibalism, keel bone damage represents a big welfare problem, so one of the project key objectives will include the monitoring thereof in the various housing systems. We will also prepare recommendations on the possibilities of their prevention. The last, but not the least key objective of the project is an interdisciplinary approach to investigate the problem of welfare including health care of poultry and pigs. The project will consist of the three scientific organizations from two different universities in Slovenia that will closely work with the industry. Together we want to introduce technological innovations that will allow the animal-friendly rearing conditions and provide safer food for consumers.
Significance for science
21.1.1. Pig production
In the last decade a new findings in the fields of animal behaviour and veterinary science followed by the changes in the market/consumers trends, have rise a need of a new pig-welfare model, which focuses on the husbandry changes towards providing the environment in which the animal can express the natural behaviours. The new model, in addition, provide an omission of the breeding measures which results in a permanent animal deformations – e.g. surgical castration, tail/teeth clipping etc. The new knowledge and innovations on the field of animal welfare would, therefore, contributed importantly to the improvement of the extant pig-breeding systems and consequently an animal health. Indeed, a new breeding system would provide an enriched living environment in which natural and social behaviours can be expressed. Consequently, an improved breeding system would also prevent animals from deviate behaviours (frustrations) that often results in aggression, and ultimately in injuries (also self-inflicted), various diseases and parasitoses. Oral fluid sampling is a non-invasive method of sample collection for further testing. No information about determination of oxidative stress levels via oral fluid was found in available scientific literature. Possibility of determining oxidative stress from oral fluid would be a novelty in the field of oral fluid testing and would represent one more measurable parameter in oral fluid diagnostics. This would be one step closer to possible elimination of stressful blood drawing in pigs and significant contribution to welfare improvement.
21.1.2 Poultry production
A number of genetic, nutritional, management and environmental strategies are being promoted as an alternative to beak trimming. The alternatives have some potential to be effective in various management situations, but there is no guarantee that cannibalism and feather pecking will be prevented. Recognising that the requirement to stop routine beak trimming is representing a major technical challenge to the poultry industry the goal of the study is to develop an animal-friendly method for preventing feather pecking and cannibalism and eliminating beak trimming by using repellents. Pilot studies (Harlander-Matauschek and Rodenburg, 2011) have demonstrated that the use of repellents appears to reduce short-term feather pecking. However, more research is necessary to conclusively establish the impact of particular repellents on plumage condition.
Significance for the country
21.2.1. Pig production
Number of pigs in Slovenia has been gradually declining over the last years. Pork self-sufficiency has reached only 25%. One of the reasons for that trend is poor health status of Slovenian pig herds in correlation with inadequate welfare situation. Implementation of easy-to-use protocols for assessing animal welfare, setting limits for taking measures and actually implementing measures for improving welfare quality would help improving the productivity of Slovenian pig farms, therefore improving domestic economic competitiveness.
21.2.2. Poultry production
It is in the Slovenian and international industry's interest, from an economic as well as a welfare perspective, to continue exploring alternative methods for dealing with problem of feather pecking and cannibalism. Study will not only lead to production methods that are more acceptable to society but can be effective in improving farm profits by eliminating costs for beak trimming, allowing better hen performance and reducing mortalities. More profitable egg production will undoubtely encouraged poultry producers to adopt proposed innovative strategies in practice.
Most important scientific results
Final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Final report
