Barren housing and high stocking densities may contribute to negative affective states in broiler chickens, reducing their welfare. We investigated the effects of environmental complexity density on broilers’ attention bias (measure anxiety) tonic immobility fear). In Experiment 1, individual birds were tested for (n = 60) 2, groups three 144). Tonic testing was performed days 12 26 36) day 19 72) 2. no differences observed test. from high-complexity pens began feeding faster more resumed...

Affective state can bias an animal's judgement. Animals in positive affective states interpret ambiguous cues more positively ("optimistically") than animals negative states. Thus, judgement tests determine through their responses to cues. We tested the effects of environmental complexity and stocking density on broiler chickens a multimodal test. Broilers were trained approach reinforced locations signaled by one color not unreinforced different color. Trained birds for latencies three...

The objective was to evaluate the impacts of a complex environment and stocking density on Ross 708 broiler chicken behaviors. Eight pens contained either high complexity (HC) or low (LC) environments, (HD) (LD) density. Through focal-animal sampling, frequency duration behaviors were recorded continuously for 5 min at two timepoints one day in weeks 2, 4, 7. Birds active 30% observed time, with birds showing more activity HC compared LC. spent time preening foraging than LC pens, which...

A complex system of neural pathways, collectively known as the microbiota–gut–brain (MGB) axis, interconnects gut microbiota, gastrointestinal system, and brain along with its periphery. Previous studies have demonstrated that modulation MGB axis can influence stress-related behaviors such anxiety. This connection becomes apparent in scenarios like agonistic behavior laying hens, which is characterized by aggressive head feather pecks, ultimately result cannibalism death. The objective was...

Many benefits have been found in supplementing essential oils such as oregano oil (EOO) to poultry, including increased body weight gain, antioxidant activity, and better gastrointestinal morphology. However, few studies tested the influence of EOO supplementation on laying hens reported conflicting results regarding its efficacy improving their health performance. Therefore, we aimed explore effects dietary performance, (GIT) traits, blood lipid, capacity during rearing phase. A total...

Commercial housing conditions may contribute to chronic negative stress in broiler chickens, reducing their animal welfare. The objective of this study was determine how secretory (fecal) and plasma immunoglobulin-A (IgA) levels fast-growing broilers respond positive conditions. In three replicated experiments, male Ross 708 (n = 1650/experiment) were housed a 2 × factorial high or low environmental complexity stocking density. experiments 1 3 but not experiment 2, tended positively impact...

Laying hens can experience a progressive increase in bone fragility due to the ongoing mobilization of calcium from bones for eggshell formation. Over time, this escalates their susceptibility fracture, which reduce mobility and cause pain. The provision perches as an exercise opportunity could potentially enhance strength, but timing exposure during birds’ development may modulate its impact. objective study was investigate enduring impacts perch on musculoskeletal health laying hens. A...

The objectives of the current study were to quantify laying hen sternal carina (keel) and tibiotarsal bone muscle quality using clinical CT, tissue level, biomechanical measures; test associations among transverse sectional area, mineral density, measures quality; determine whether CT would be predictive quality.60 40-week-old Hy-Line brown hens used.Associations imaging, keel tested multivariate correlational analyses. Bivariate generalized regressions performed quality.Low positive...

Technology, like body-worn sensors, enables data collection from similar-looking individuals in large groups but may alter behavior. We aimed to evaluate the impact of sensors on broiler Broilers were housed 8 pens (10 birds/m2). At 21 days-old, 10 birds/pen fitted with a harness contained sensor (HAR), while remaining 10-birds unharnessed (NON). Behaviors recorded days 22–26 using scan sampling (126 scans/day for 5 days). Percent birds performing behaviors calculated daily each group...

On-farm euthanasia of poultry, including turkeys, may not be possible for most people as birds gain weight; thus alternative mechanical methods have been developed. Our objective was to compare cervical dislocation with the Koechner Euthanizing Device (KED), captive bolt Turkey Euthanasia (TED), head-only CO2 (CO2), and electric potential humane euthanizing individual, heavy turkeys. We assessed their impact on loss brain stem reflexes, acute distress (corticosterone, CORT), kill success,...

Perches can enhance laying hen welfare, but their effectiveness might be age-dependent. We investigated early and late perch access effects on anxiety fear in pullets through attention bias (AB) tonic immobility (TI) tests. Pullets (n = 728) were raised with or without multi-level perches: CP (continuous access: 0-37 weeks), EP (early 0-17 LP (late 17-37 NP (no access). AB was conducted weeks 21 37 84/week), TI performed 20, 25, 112/week). hens fed quicker than EP, LP, at (p ≤ 0.05). feeding...

Boron supplementation may improve the musculoskeletal health of pullets before entering lay phase. This study aimed to evaluate effects different boron amounts on performance, muscle deposition, tibia cross-sectional area (CSA) and mineral density (BMD), ash percent, breaking strength, bone mineralization (bone-specific alkaline phosphatase [BALP] pro-collagen type 1 n-terminal propeptide [P1NP]) a white-feathered strain pullets. A total 528 Hy-Line W-36 were distributed across 24 pens fed...

Prior research suggests exercise during pullet rearing can mitigate lay-phase bone fractures by strengthening muscles, enhancing balance, and increasing mass. This study aimed to confirm that Hy-Line brown pullets with multi-tier perches show increased activity improved musculoskeletal health. Pullets (n = 810) were randomly allocated housing systems, either (P; n 15 pens) or without (NP; pens), spanning from 0-17 weeks of age. At 5, 11, 17 weeks, individual birds meticulously monitored for...

Abstract Affective state can bias an animal’s judgement. Animals in positive affective states interpret ambiguous cues more positively (“optimistically”) than animals negative states. Thus, judgement tests determine through their responses to cues. We tested the effects of environmental complexity and stocking density on broiler chickens a multimodal test. Broilers were trained approach reinforced locations signaled by one color not unreinforced different color. Trained birds for latencies...

Abstract Affective states of animals can be assessed through judgement bias tests, evaluating responses to ambiguous situations. In this study, rainbow trout (n = 108) were housed in recirculating aquaculture systems under commercial conditions while trained at tank-level discriminate between a positively reinforced chamber (feed) one location and negative (positive punishment; chase by net for 1s) the opposing location. Fish from successful tanks (2 out 5 tanks) then treatment either high...