Welfare of broilers on farm

Søren Saxmose Nielsen; Julio Alvarez; Dominique Joseph Bicout; Paolo Calistri; Elisabetta Canali; Julian Ashley Drewe; Bruno Garin-Bastuji; Jose Luis Gonzales Rojas; Christian Gortázar Schmidt; Mette S. Herskin; Miguel Ángel Miranda Chueca; Barbara Padalino; Paolo Pasquali; Helen Clare Roberts; Hans Spoolder; Karl Stahl; Antonio Velarde; Arvo Viltrop; Christoph Winckler; Inga Tiemann; Ingrid de Jong; Sabine Gabriele Gebhardt-Henrich; Linda Keeling; Anja Brinch Riber; Sean Ashe; Denis Candiani; Raquel García Matas; Michaela Hempen; Olaf Mosbach-Schulz; Cristina Rojo Gimeno; Yves Van der Stede; Marika Vitali; Eléa Bailly-Caumette; Virginie Michel; EFSA AHAW Panel (EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare)

doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2023.7788

Welfare of broilers on farm

Søren Saxmose Nielsen, Julio Alvarez, Dominique Joseph Bicout, Paolo Calistri, Elisabetta Canali, Julian Ashley Drewe, Bruno Garin-Bastuji, Jose Luis Gonzales Rojas, Christian Gortázar Schmidt, Mette S. Herskin, Miguel Ángel Miranda Chueca, Barbara Padalino, Paolo Pasquali, Helen Clare Roberts, Hans Spoolder, Karl Stahl, Antonio Velarde, Arvo Viltrop, Christoph Winckler, Inga TiemannIngrid de Jong, Sabine Gabriele Gebhardt-Henrich, Linda Keeling, Anja Brinch Riber, Sean Ashe, Denis Candiani, Raquel García Matas, Michaela Hempen, Olaf Mosbach-Schulz, Cristina Rojo Gimeno, Yves Van der Stede, Marika Vitali, Eléa Bailly-Caumette, Virginie Michel, EFSA AHAW Panel (EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare)

Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences - ANIVET Behaviour, stress and welfare (BSW)

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

This Scientific Opinion considers the welfare of domestic fowl (Gallus gallus) related to the production of meat (broilers) and includes the keeping of day-old chicks, broiler breeders, and broiler chickens. Currently used husbandry systems in the EU are described. Overall, 19 highly relevant welfare consequences (WCs) were identified based on severity, duration and frequency of occurrence: ‘bone lesions’, ‘cold stress’, ‘gastro-enteric disorders’, ‘group stress’, ‘handling stress’, ‘heat stress’, ‘isolation stress’, ‘inability to perform comfort behaviour’, ‘inability to perform exploratory or foraging behaviour’, ‘inability to avoid unwanted sexual behaviour’, ‘locomotory disorders’, ‘prolonged hunger’, ‘prolonged thirst’, ‘predation stress’, ‘restriction of movement’, ‘resting problems’, ‘sensory under- and overstimulation’, ‘soft tissue and integument damage’ and ‘umbilical disorders’. These WCs and their animal-based measures (ABMs) that can identify them are described in detail. A variety of hazards related to the different husbandry systems were identified as well as ABMs for assessing the different WCs. Measures to prevent or correct the hazards and/or mitigate each of the WCs are listed. Recommendations are provided on quantitative or qualitative criteria to answer specific questions on the welfare of broilers and related to genetic selection, temperature, feed and water restriction, use of cages, light, air quality and mutilations in breeders such as beak trimming, de-toeing and comb dubbing. In addition, minimal requirements (e.g. stocking density, group size, nests, provision of litter, perches and platforms, drinkers and feeders, of covered veranda and outdoor range) for an enclosure for keeping broiler chickens (fast-growing, slower-growing and broiler breeders) are recommended. Finally, ‘total mortality’, ‘wounds’, ‘carcass condemnation’ and ‘footpad dermatitis’ are proposed as indicators for monitoring at slaughter the welfare of broilers on-farm.

Original language	English
Article number	e07788
Journal	EFSA Journal
Volume	21
Issue	2
Number of pages	236
ISSN	1831-4732
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2023.7788
Publication status	Published - Feb 2023

Keywords

animal-based measures
broilers
end the cage age
husbandry systems
mutilations
on farm welfare
welfare consequences

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10.2903/j.efsa.2023.7788Licence: CC BY-ND

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Nielsen, S. S., Alvarez, J., Bicout, D. J., Calistri, P., Canali, E., Drewe, J. A., Garin-Bastuji, B., Gonzales Rojas, J. L., Schmidt, C. G., Herskin, M. S., Miranda Chueca, M. Á., Padalino, B., Pasquali, P., Roberts, H. C., Spoolder, H., Stahl, K., Velarde, A., Viltrop, A., Winckler, C., ... EFSA AHAW Panel (EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare) (2023). Welfare of broilers on farm. EFSA Journal, 21(2), Article e07788. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2023.7788

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title = "Welfare of broilers on farm",

abstract = "This Scientific Opinion considers the welfare of domestic fowl (Gallus gallus) related to the production of meat (broilers) and includes the keeping of day-old chicks, broiler breeders, and broiler chickens. Currently used husbandry systems in the EU are described. Overall, 19 highly relevant welfare consequences (WCs) were identified based on severity, duration and frequency of occurrence: {\textquoteleft}bone lesions{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}cold stress{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}gastro-enteric disorders{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}group stress{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}handling stress{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}heat stress{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}isolation stress{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}inability to perform comfort behaviour{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}inability to perform exploratory or foraging behaviour{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}inability to avoid unwanted sexual behaviour{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}locomotory disorders{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}prolonged hunger{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}prolonged thirst{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}predation stress{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}restriction of movement{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}resting problems{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}sensory under- and overstimulation{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}soft tissue and integument damage{\textquoteright} and {\textquoteleft}umbilical disorders{\textquoteright}. These WCs and their animal-based measures (ABMs) that can identify them are described in detail. A variety of hazards related to the different husbandry systems were identified as well as ABMs for assessing the different WCs. Measures to prevent or correct the hazards and/or mitigate each of the WCs are listed. Recommendations are provided on quantitative or qualitative criteria to answer specific questions on the welfare of broilers and related to genetic selection, temperature, feed and water restriction, use of cages, light, air quality and mutilations in breeders such as beak trimming, de-toeing and comb dubbing. In addition, minimal requirements (e.g. stocking density, group size, nests, provision of litter, perches and platforms, drinkers and feeders, of covered veranda and outdoor range) for an enclosure for keeping broiler chickens (fast-growing, slower-growing and broiler breeders) are recommended. Finally, {\textquoteleft}total mortality{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}wounds{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}carcass condemnation{\textquoteright} and {\textquoteleft}footpad dermatitis{\textquoteright} are proposed as indicators for monitoring at slaughter the welfare of broilers on-farm.",

keywords = "animal-based measures, broilers, end the cage age, husbandry systems, mutilations, on farm welfare, welfare consequences",

author = "Nielsen, {S{\o}ren Saxmose} and Julio Alvarez and Bicout, {Dominique Joseph} and Paolo Calistri and Elisabetta Canali and Drewe, {Julian Ashley} and Bruno Garin-Bastuji and {Gonzales Rojas}, {Jose Luis} and Schmidt, {Christian Gort{\'a}zar} and Herskin, {Mette S.} and {Miranda Chueca}, {Miguel {\'A}ngel} and Barbara Padalino and Paolo Pasquali and Roberts, {Helen Clare} and Hans Spoolder and Karl Stahl and Antonio Velarde and Arvo Viltrop and Christoph Winckler and Inga Tiemann and {de Jong}, Ingrid and Gebhardt-Henrich, {Sabine Gabriele} and Linda Keeling and Riber, {Anja Brinch} and Sean Ashe and Denis Candiani and {Garc{\'i}a Matas}, Raquel and Michaela Hempen and Olaf Mosbach-Schulz and {Rojo Gimeno}, Cristina and {Van der Stede}, Yves and Marika Vitali and El{\'e}a Bailly-Caumette and Virginie Michel and {EFSA AHAW Panel (EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare)}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by Wiley-VCH GmbH on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.",

year = "2023",

month = feb,

doi = "10.2903/j.efsa.2023.7788",

language = "English",

volume = "21",

journal = "EFSA Journal",

issn = "1831-4732",

publisher = "John Wiley & Sons Ltd",

number = "2",

}

Nielsen, SS, Alvarez, J, Bicout, DJ, Calistri, P, Canali, E, Drewe, JA, Garin-Bastuji, B, Gonzales Rojas, JL, Schmidt, CG, Herskin, MS, Miranda Chueca, MÁ, Padalino, B, Pasquali, P, Roberts, HC, Spoolder, H, Stahl, K, Velarde, A, Viltrop, A, Winckler, C, Tiemann, I, de Jong, I, Gebhardt-Henrich, SG, Keeling, L, Riber, AB, Ashe, S, Candiani, D, García Matas, R, Hempen, M, Mosbach-Schulz, O, Rojo Gimeno, C, Van der Stede, Y, Vitali, M, Bailly-Caumette, E, Michel, V & EFSA AHAW Panel (EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare) 2023, 'Welfare of broilers on farm', EFSA Journal, vol. 21, no. 2, e07788. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2023.7788

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T1 - Welfare of broilers on farm

AU - Nielsen, Søren Saxmose

AU - Alvarez, Julio

AU - Bicout, Dominique Joseph

AU - Calistri, Paolo

AU - Canali, Elisabetta

AU - Drewe, Julian Ashley

AU - Garin-Bastuji, Bruno

AU - Gonzales Rojas, Jose Luis

AU - Schmidt, Christian Gortázar

AU - Herskin, Mette S.

AU - Miranda Chueca, Miguel Ángel

AU - Padalino, Barbara

AU - Pasquali, Paolo

AU - Roberts, Helen Clare

AU - Spoolder, Hans

AU - Stahl, Karl

AU - Velarde, Antonio

AU - Viltrop, Arvo

AU - Winckler, Christoph

AU - Tiemann, Inga

AU - de Jong, Ingrid

AU - Gebhardt-Henrich, Sabine Gabriele

AU - Keeling, Linda

AU - Riber, Anja Brinch

AU - Ashe, Sean

AU - Candiani, Denis

AU - García Matas, Raquel

AU - Hempen, Michaela

AU - Mosbach-Schulz, Olaf

AU - Rojo Gimeno, Cristina

AU - Van der Stede, Yves

AU - Vitali, Marika

AU - Bailly-Caumette, Eléa

AU - Michel, Virginie

AU - EFSA AHAW Panel (EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare)

PY - 2023/2

Y1 - 2023/2

N2 - This Scientific Opinion considers the welfare of domestic fowl (Gallus gallus) related to the production of meat (broilers) and includes the keeping of day-old chicks, broiler breeders, and broiler chickens. Currently used husbandry systems in the EU are described. Overall, 19 highly relevant welfare consequences (WCs) were identified based on severity, duration and frequency of occurrence: ‘bone lesions’, ‘cold stress’, ‘gastro-enteric disorders’, ‘group stress’, ‘handling stress’, ‘heat stress’, ‘isolation stress’, ‘inability to perform comfort behaviour’, ‘inability to perform exploratory or foraging behaviour’, ‘inability to avoid unwanted sexual behaviour’, ‘locomotory disorders’, ‘prolonged hunger’, ‘prolonged thirst’, ‘predation stress’, ‘restriction of movement’, ‘resting problems’, ‘sensory under- and overstimulation’, ‘soft tissue and integument damage’ and ‘umbilical disorders’. These WCs and their animal-based measures (ABMs) that can identify them are described in detail. A variety of hazards related to the different husbandry systems were identified as well as ABMs for assessing the different WCs. Measures to prevent or correct the hazards and/or mitigate each of the WCs are listed. Recommendations are provided on quantitative or qualitative criteria to answer specific questions on the welfare of broilers and related to genetic selection, temperature, feed and water restriction, use of cages, light, air quality and mutilations in breeders such as beak trimming, de-toeing and comb dubbing. In addition, minimal requirements (e.g. stocking density, group size, nests, provision of litter, perches and platforms, drinkers and feeders, of covered veranda and outdoor range) for an enclosure for keeping broiler chickens (fast-growing, slower-growing and broiler breeders) are recommended. Finally, ‘total mortality’, ‘wounds’, ‘carcass condemnation’ and ‘footpad dermatitis’ are proposed as indicators for monitoring at slaughter the welfare of broilers on-farm.

AB - This Scientific Opinion considers the welfare of domestic fowl (Gallus gallus) related to the production of meat (broilers) and includes the keeping of day-old chicks, broiler breeders, and broiler chickens. Currently used husbandry systems in the EU are described. Overall, 19 highly relevant welfare consequences (WCs) were identified based on severity, duration and frequency of occurrence: ‘bone lesions’, ‘cold stress’, ‘gastro-enteric disorders’, ‘group stress’, ‘handling stress’, ‘heat stress’, ‘isolation stress’, ‘inability to perform comfort behaviour’, ‘inability to perform exploratory or foraging behaviour’, ‘inability to avoid unwanted sexual behaviour’, ‘locomotory disorders’, ‘prolonged hunger’, ‘prolonged thirst’, ‘predation stress’, ‘restriction of movement’, ‘resting problems’, ‘sensory under- and overstimulation’, ‘soft tissue and integument damage’ and ‘umbilical disorders’. These WCs and their animal-based measures (ABMs) that can identify them are described in detail. A variety of hazards related to the different husbandry systems were identified as well as ABMs for assessing the different WCs. Measures to prevent or correct the hazards and/or mitigate each of the WCs are listed. Recommendations are provided on quantitative or qualitative criteria to answer specific questions on the welfare of broilers and related to genetic selection, temperature, feed and water restriction, use of cages, light, air quality and mutilations in breeders such as beak trimming, de-toeing and comb dubbing. In addition, minimal requirements (e.g. stocking density, group size, nests, provision of litter, perches and platforms, drinkers and feeders, of covered veranda and outdoor range) for an enclosure for keeping broiler chickens (fast-growing, slower-growing and broiler breeders) are recommended. Finally, ‘total mortality’, ‘wounds’, ‘carcass condemnation’ and ‘footpad dermatitis’ are proposed as indicators for monitoring at slaughter the welfare of broilers on-farm.

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KW - broilers

KW - end the cage age

KW - husbandry systems

KW - mutilations

KW - on farm welfare

KW - welfare consequences

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DO - 10.2903/j.efsa.2023.7788

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SN - 1831-4732

VL - 21

JO - EFSA Journal

JF - EFSA Journal

IS - 2

M1 - e07788

ER -

Welfare of broilers on farm

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Keywords

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