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The Influence of Different Types of Environmental Enrichment on the Performance and Welfare of Broiler Chickens and the Possibilities of Real-Time Monitoring via a Farmer-Assistant System

Author

Listed:
  • Fabian Spieß

    (Institute for Animal Nutrition, University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Foundation, 30173 Hannover, Germany)

  • Bernd Reckels

    (Institute for Animal Nutrition, University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Foundation, 30173 Hannover, Germany)

  • Amr Abd-El Wahab

    (Department of Nutrition and Nutritional Deficiency Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt)

  • Marwa Fawzy Elmetwaly Ahmed

    (Department of Hygiene and Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt)

  • Christian Sürie

    (Farm for Education and Research Ruthe, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, 31157 Ruthe/Sarstedt, Germany)

  • Monika Auerbach

    (Clinic for Poultry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, 30559 Hannover, Germany)

  • Silke Rautenschlein

    (Clinic for Poultry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, 30559 Hannover, Germany)

  • Ottmar Distl

    (Institute for Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, 30559 Hannover, Germany)

  • Joerg Hartung

    (Institute of Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare and Farm Animal Behaviour, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, 30625 Hannover, Germany)

  • Christian Visscher

    (Institute for Animal Nutrition, University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Foundation, 30173 Hannover, Germany)

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of environmental enrichment on the growth performance, litter and/or air quality as well as animal welfare indicators of broilers. Control groups (CG) and trial groups (TG) were housed under identical conditions during six fattening runs, with the TG having three types of environmental enrichment and a Farmer-Assistant System (FAS). A representative number of 50 birds were weighed and litter samples were taken at d 14, 21 and 28. Additionally, the same broilers were examined for foot pad dermatitis (FPD) on those days. The average bodyweight of the birds in the CG was significantly lower (1671 g) only at d 28 compared to TG (1704 g); at d 14, d 21 and d 33 at the slaughterhouse, no significant differences were observed. The dry matter content in the litter did not significantly differ between CG and TG. Birds housed in CG had significantly higher FPD scores at d 14 (1.24) and d 21 (2.19) compared to those housed in TG (0.73 and 1.52, respectively). No effects on air quality parameters, such as CO 2 and NH 3 , were seen between the groups. Overall, our study shows no negative influences of environmental enrichment on growth performance, litter and air quality.

Suggested Citation

  • Fabian Spieß & Bernd Reckels & Amr Abd-El Wahab & Marwa Fawzy Elmetwaly Ahmed & Christian Sürie & Monika Auerbach & Silke Rautenschlein & Ottmar Distl & Joerg Hartung & Christian Visscher, 2022. "The Influence of Different Types of Environmental Enrichment on the Performance and Welfare of Broiler Chickens and the Possibilities of Real-Time Monitoring via a Farmer-Assistant System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-17, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:9:p:5727-:d:811821
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Beth A Ventura & Frank Siewerdt & Inma Estevez, 2012. "Access to Barrier Perches Improves Behavior Repertoire in Broilers," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(1), pages 1-7, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Michael Selle & Fabian Spieß & Christian Visscher & Silke Rautenschlein & Arne Jung & Monika Auerbach & Jörg Hartung & Christian Sürie & Ottmar Distl, 2023. "Real-Time Monitoring of Animals and Environment in Broiler Precision Farming—How Robust Is the Data Quality?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-14, November.
    2. Fabian Spieß & Bernd Reckels & Christian Sürie & Monika Auerbach & Silke Rautenschlein & Ottmar Distl & Joerg Hartung & Jan Berend Lingens & Christian Visscher, 2022. "An Evaluation of the Uses of Different Environmental Enrichments on a Broiler Farm with the Help of Real-Time Monitoring via a Farmer-Assistant System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-16, October.

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