We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Productive performance and welfare indicators in pastured broiler chickens.
- Authors
González-León, Marco Antonio; González-Cerón, Fernando; Arturo, Pro-Martínez; Sosa-Montes, Eliseo; Martínez-Martínez, Uriel; Rivas-Jacobo, Marco Antonio
- Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the productive performance and welfare indicators of pastured broiler chickens. Methodology: One hundred sixty-eight straight-run broilers Ross 308 of 33 d of age were randomly assigned to two treatments: T1, confinement with ad libitum feeding and T2, system with eight hours of pasture access and concentrated feed restricted to 40% of the consumption of T1 chickens. Productive performance from 33 to 54 d of age, walking ability (Hc), latency to lie down (Lp), foot pad lesions (Qp), valgus/varus angulation (AngV), tendon breaking strength (RRTe) and tibia breaking strength (RRTi), were evaluated. Results: Productive performance between treatments was different (P<0.05). Chickens in T1 had a higher live weight at 54 d of age (3,379±39 g) than T2 (2,223±39 g). Likewise, feed conversion ratio from 33 to 54 d of age was lower in confined birds (2.05±0.05 g/g) than in pastured chickens (2.28±0.05 g/g). These latter birds showed a better (P<0.05) Hc and Lp, but no differences were detected between treatments (P≥0.05) for AngV, Qp and RRTe. Implications of the study: The results are only valid for straight-run Ross 308 broiler chickens and under the specified management conditions. Conclusion: Pasture-raised broiler chickens with restricted consumption of concentrated feed, have better welfare indicators (Hc and Lp), but worse productive performance.
- Subjects
BROILER chickens; KEY performance indicators (Management); CHICKEN diseases; CHICKENS; PASTURES; PECTORALIS muscle; TIBIA; FOOT orthoses
- Publication
Agro Productividad, 2019, Vol 12, Issue 8, p35
- ISSN
2448-7546
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.32854/agrop.v0i0.1448