Cage layer fatigue was first noticed after laying hens began to be housed in cages in the mid-20th century. Hens producing eggs at a high rate were most susceptible to the disease. Early research revealed that cage layer fatigue was associated with osteoporosis and bone brittleness. Severe osteoporosis leads to spontaneous bone fractures commonly in …
1. Tibia and humerus breaking strength of Lohmann Silver hybrids kept in conventional cages, furnished cages and an aviary with …
Limited opportunity for movement and load-bearing exercise for conventionally caged laying hens leads to bone loss and increased susceptibility to …
1. As a baseline study of the nature and incidence of keel deformities in laying hens, keel condition was examined in three different strains of hen from a total of 4 different caged environments (two commercial farms and two experimental farms). Incidence of keel deformity on farms in end of lay hens ranged from 2.6 …
Two experiments were conducted to study the effects of beak trimmer blade temperature (BT) and age at precision beak trimming (PBT) on the performance of two commercial strains of egg layers: Babcock B300 and Hy-Line W36. The birds were housed in cages during the rearing and laying periods. In experiment 1, only feed consumption was …
Commercial equipment used by the turkey industry at hatch sterilizes the germinal tissue of the claw with microwave energy and the beak tissue with infrared energy. This effectively trims the claws and beaks of the birds. Two strains of Leghorn chicks (1,200 each strain) were utilized to test this technique on chickens. Half were subjected …
Bird behaviour, production, physiological measurements of stress, and pain as indicated by neural transmission in, and anatomy of the trimmed beak have been used as criteria to determine if beak trimming compromises bird well being. In addition, the welfare of those hens that are pecked by beak-intact hens has been evaluated. The welfare of a …
Beak trimming is a management practise that has long been employed by the poultry industry to reduce the deleterious effects of cannibalism and feather pecking amoung flockmates of chickens. Most studies of beak trimming have concentrated on the production and economic performance aspects of this practise. Because of the current animal welfare debate, behavioural and …
A report by Professor W. Bessei on the animal welfare aspects.
The European Commission have released an article giving important background information on Avian Influenza.
Avian Influenza Situation Update
The OIE is currently investigating ways to inactivate the AI virus, and has asked the IEC to comment on its draft standards, which are outlined below.
The Poultry Health Research and Development Sector of the Dutch Animal Health Service have published a report into the ‘Survival …