A5032120784- Animal Nutrition and Physiology
- Odor and Emission Control Technologies
- Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Meat and Animal Product Quality
- Effects of Environmental Stressors on Livestock
- Livestock and Poultry Management
- Indoor Air Quality and Microbial Exposure
- Air Quality and Health Impacts
- Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Air Quality Monitoring and Forecasting
- Advanced Chemical Sensor Technologies
- Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics
- Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact
- Pharmacological Effects and Assays
- Aquaculture Nutrition and Growth
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- Infection Control and Ventilation
- Energy, Environment, Agriculture Analysis
- Vehicle emissions and performance
- Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
- Greenhouse Technology and Climate Control
- Virus-based gene therapy research
- Wind and Air Flow Studies
Royal Veterinary College
2012-2024
University of London
2006-2013
Animal Welfare Institute
2011
Universidad de Londres
2006-2008
Silsoe Research Institute
1998-2007
The zootechnical performances of broilers at the end rearing period depend in part on quality day-old chicks placement. is highly affected by incubation conditions, hatch time (which determines spent hatcher under high temperature and humidity), handling after hatch. This article first presents an overview most relevant pre-incubation factors that affect chick quality: egg size, weight, eggs, sex embryos, age breeders, conditions duration storage. It then reviews important time, hatchability...
Disease control measures require poultry to be killed on farms minimize the risk of disease being transmitted other and, in some cases, protect public health. We assessed welfare implications for use high-expansion gas-filled foam as a potentially humane, emergency killing method. In laboratory trials, broiler chickens, adult laying hens, ducks, and turkeys were exposed air-, N2-, or CO2-filled high expansion (expansion ratio 300:1) under standardized conditions. Birds equipped with sensors...
This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a 12-h light, dark (12L : 12D) photoperiod green light during day 1 18 incubation time, on embryo growth, hormone concentration and hatch process. In test group, monochromatic provided by total 204 light-emitting diodes (522 nm) mounted in frame which placed above top tray eggs give even spread illumination. No light–dark cycle used control group. Four batches (n=300/group per batch) from fertile Ross 308 broiler breeders were this...
Abstract Controlled atmosphere (gas) stunning (CAS) has the potential to improve welfare of poultry at slaughter but there is a lack consensus about which gas mixtures are most humane. The aim this study was evaluate consequences different approaches. Individual broilers were exposed capable inducing unconsciousness and euthanasia while their behavioural, cardiac, respiratory neurophysiological responses measured simultaneously. approaches investigated included anoxia (N 2 or Ar with < 2%...
Abstract 1. The relationship between the physical activity and leg health of broiler chickens was assessed on a semi-commercial scale. 2. Three batches birds (2128 per batch) were raised under two lighting regimes during photoperiod; either step-wise change light intensity alternating an illuminance 200 10 lx or constant lx. focal individuals (24 observed at 2, 4 6 weeks age, weekly, based gait score, prevalence burns hock foot pad, angulation rotation intertarsal joint. Cortical bone...
This experiment studied the effect of transportation duration 1-d-old chicks on dehydration, mortality, production performance, and pododermatitis during growout period. Eggs from same breeder flock (Ross PM3) were collected at 35, 45, 56 wk age, for 3 successive identical experiments. In each experiment, newly hatched received 1 treatments hatchery before placement in on-site rearing facility: no corresponding to direct less than 5 min (T00), or 4 (T04) 10 h (T10) transportation. The housed...
Broiler chickens are prone to a range of complex health and welfare issues. To support informed selection traits whilst minimising impact on production efficiency address major gap in understanding, we systematically explored associations between behavioural indicators broiler welfare. One conventional (CNV, n = 350) two slow-growing breeds (SGH SGN, respectively 400) were reared from hatch pens 50 birds. Birds assessed for (gait, plumage cover dirtiness, pododermatitis, hockburn, leg...
1. Poultry on farms are sometimes required to be killed in an emergency, such as during a disease epidemic, yet none of the available methods ideal. Whole-house carbon dioxide (CO2) administration has practical advantages, but gives rise welfare concerns. 2. The study measured body temperature, respiration, cardiac and brain activity (EEG) responses 10 adult hens placed tiered cages deep pit house while entire flock (28,000 end-of-lay hens) was with CO2. Video thermographic images were also...
1. The effects of controlled atmosphere stunning on behavioural and physiological responses, carcase meat quality broiler chickens were studied experimentally in a full scale processing plant. 2. gas mixtures tested single phase hypercapnic anoxic mixture 60% Ar 30% CO2 air with <2% O2, biphasic hyperoxygenation mixture, comprising an anaesthetic phase, 40% CO2, N2, followed by euthanasia 80% 5% 15% N2. 3. Birds stunned + more often observed to flap their wings earlier, jump, paddle legs,...
1. The effects of controlled atmosphere stunning on the behaviour, physiology and carcase meat quality broiler chickens were studied experimentally in a pilot scale plant. 2. Gas mixtures tested were: single phase anoxic mixture (90% Ar air, <2% O2); hypercapnic (60% Ar, 30% CO2 biphasic hyperoxygenation (anaesthetic phase, 40% CO2, O2, N2; euthanasia 80% 5% 15% N2). 3. Anoxic resulted least respiratory disruption, mandibulation motionlessness, but most head shaking, leg paddling twitching....
Commercially farmed animals are frequently housed in conditions that impose a number of concurrent environmental stressors. For pigs indoors, elevated levels mechanical noise, atmospheric ammonia and low light intensities commonplace. This experiment examined the effects on growing chronic exposure to combinations commercially relevant these potential Four-week-old hybrid female (n = 224) were under experimentally manipulated nominally either <5 or 20 ppm concentration (24 h), intensity 40...
Abstract 1. Commercial laying hens are commonly housed in noisy and dim environments, yet relatively little is known about whether these conditions, particularly combination, have any effect on welfare or egg production. 2. The study was designed to investigate chronic exposure continuous noise (60 dB(A) vs. 80 dB(A)) and/or light intensity (150 lux 5 lux) during the critical period of coming into lay (16–24 weeks age) influenced behaviour (activity, resting feather maintenance),...
This study investigated variations in eggshell temperature (T(egg)) during the hatching process of broiler eggs. Temperature sensors monitored embryo by registering T(egg) every minute. Measurements carried out on a sample 40 focal eggs revealed drops between 2 to 6°C last 3 d incubation. Video cameras recorded and served as gold standard reference for manually labeling hatch times chicks. Comparison time individuals synchronization with 99% correlation coefficient an absolute average...
Abstract Nine hundred and sixty weaned pigs were exposed for 5·5 weeks to controlled concentrations of airborne dust ammonia in a single, multi-factorial experiment. Production health responses measured but only the former are reported here. The treatments concentration either 1·2, 2·7, 5·1 or 9·9 mg/m 3 (inhalable fraction) an 0·6, 10·0, 18·8 37·0 p. m., which representative commercial conditions. experiment was carried out over 2·5 years used eight batches, each comprising five lots 24...
Nine hundred and sixty weaned pigs were exposed for five weeks to controlled concentrations of atmospheric ammonia dust in a single, multifactorial experiment. The treatments mean concentration either 1·2, 2·7, 5·1 or 9·9 mg/m3 (inhalable fraction) 0·6, 10·0, 18·8 37·0 ppm, representative commercial conditions. experiment was carried out over two years the used eight batches, each consisting lots 24 pigs. Each treatment combination replicated once, an additional control lot (nominally 0 ppm...
The effects of common and concurrent environmental stressors on the social behaviour farm animals are poorly understood. Here, we report results a multifactorial experiment designed specifically to examine individual, additive or interactive elevated ammonia, noise low light (LL) levels growing pigs. Social was measured in terms nature, frequency duration both initiated response behaviours for 4 weeks following mixing groups. General activity patterns, group cohesion discrimination were also...