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Tropical animal health and production
May 18, 2023;55 (3): 206.

Effect of different pasture species on welfare and behavior of slow-growing broiler chickens in free-range production system.

Nadia Bashir, Ahmet Şekeroğlu, Brian Tainika, Fatih Mehmet Gür, Mustafa Duman, Yunus Emre Şentürk
Author Information
  1. Nadia Bashir: Department of Animal Production and Technologies, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technologies, Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, 51240, Niğde, Turkey. ORCID
  2. Ahmet Şekeroğlu: Department of Animal Production and Technologies, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technologies, Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, 51240, Niğde, Turkey. ahmet.sekeroglu@ohu.edu.tr. ORCID
  3. Brian Tainika: Department of Animal Production and Technologies, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technologies, Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, 51240, Niğde, Turkey. ORCID
  4. Fatih Mehmet Gür: Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, 51240, Niğde, Turkey. ORCID
  5. Mustafa Duman: Department of Laboratory and Veterinary Health, Bor Vocational School, Niğde Omer Halisdemir University, 51240, Niğde, Turkey. ORCID
  6. Yunus Emre Şentürk: Department of Animal Production and Technologies, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technologies, Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, 51240, Niğde, Turkey. ORCID
PMID: 37198460 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-023-03616-1

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of various pasture species on the welfare and behavior of slow-growing broiler chickens in the free-range production system. After 21 days completely indoors, the birds were permitted access to outdoor pens cultivated with one of the following pasture treatments: Medicago sativa (A), Trifolium repens (WC), Lolium perenne (PR), and a mixture (Mix, A + WC + PR). The range availability was restricted between 08:30 and 16:30 daily. It was found that pasture type had a significant effect on the fluctuating asymmetry of the face and radius length (P < 0.01). Duration of tonic immobility and blood parameters did not differ among the pasture species and between sexes at 11 weeks of broiler age (P > 0.05). Pasture treatment had no significant effect on broiler behaviors (P > 0.05). However, the age of broilers had a significant effect on pecking, dustbathing, and scratching (P < 0.01). Pecking behavior was affected by the time of the day; morning and afternoon (P < 0.01). Location had a significant effect on pecking and stretching behaviors (P < 0.01). In the study, dustbathing behavior was significantly affected by the interaction between location and age (P < 0.01), age and time of the day (P < 0.01), and location, age, and time of the day (P < 0.05). Scratching behavior was significantly affected by the interaction between location and time of the day (P < 0.05) and location, age and time of the day (P < 0.01). Stretching behavior was significantly affected by the interaction between location and age (P < 0.05) and location, age and time of the day (P < 0.05). It was concluded that access to the studied pasture species does not affect the evaluated welfare traits and observed behaviors. Therefore, it is suggested that other pasture species should be investigated to identify their effect on slow-growing strains in the free-range production system.

Keywords

Fluctuating asymmetry Heterophil-lymphocyte ratio Leg health Slow-growing broiler Tonic immobility

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Grants

  1. TGT 2021/6-LÜTEP/Scientific Research Projects (BAP) Council of Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University

MeSH Term

Animals
Chickens
Medicago sativa
Animal Welfare
Lolium
Journal Article

Word Cloud

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