Effects of outdoor ranging on external and internal health parameters for hens from different rearing enrichments

• DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8720
• Publication Date: 2020-03-06T08:45:15Z
• Authors: Md Saiful Bari; Yan C.S.M. Laurenson; Andrew M. Cohen-B...; Stephen W. Walkde...; Dana L.M. Campbell
• Keywords: RFID; 2. Zero hunger; Keel damage; QH301-705.5; Animal Growth and Development; R; 0402 animal and dairy science; Welfare; 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences; Body composition; 3. Good health; Free-range; CT scanning; Medicine; Biology (General); Agricultural Science; Animal Management

In Australia, free-range layer pullets are typically reared indoors, but adult layers go outdoors, and this mismatch might reduce adaptation in laying environments. Enrichments during rearing may optimise pullet development subsequent welfare as hens. the outdoor environment, hens have greater opportunities for exercise natural behaviours which contribute to improved health welfare. However, environment also result potential exposure parasites pathogens. Individual variation range use thus dictate individual This study was conducted evaluate whether varied their external internal due enrichments following use. A total of 1386 Hy-Line Brown ® chicks were indoors across 16 weeks with three enrichment treatments including a control group standard housing conditions, novelty providing novel objects that changed weekly, structural custom-designed structures increase spatial navigation perching. At age moved system housed nine identical pens within treatments. All leg-banded microchips daily ranging assessed from 25 64 via radio-frequency identification technology. 64–65 age, 307 selected based on patterns 54 days up weeks: indoor (no ranging), low (1.4 h or less daily), high (5.2–9 daily). The parameters evaluated assessment body weight, plumage, toenails, pecking wounds, illness, post-mortem organs keel bones whole-body CT scanning composition. had lowest feather coverage ( p < 0.0001) higher number comb wounds P = 0.03) than rangers fewer 0.04), shortest toenails most 0.0001), lower weight High decreased both fat muscle (both 0.0001). spleen weights 0.01) neither differed showed highest empty gizzard 0.04). Both no effect bone damage (all ≥ 0.19). There significant interactions between any measured 0.07). Overall, some effects hen at later stages production cycle greatest impact.