饲养密度和鸡笼局部遮光对肉种鸡产蛋期行为与福利的影响
The Influence of Density and a Partially Shadowed Layer on the Behaviour and Welfare of Broiler Breeders in Battery Cages During Laying
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摘要: 用行为录像记录分析仪(The Observer Video-Pro,Noldus)观察和测定肉种鸡在产蛋期行为的变化。对两种不同饲养密度(或者空间供给:单鸡笼组,1 600 cm2/只;双鸡笼组,800 cm2/只)及鸡笼后部局部遮光与对照组进行比较实验结果表明,单鸡笼组肉种鸡的转身、挠头等行为均显著多于双鸡笼组,而展翅行为显著少于双鸡笼组;遮光组的肉种鸡采食行为显著多于未遮光组;遮光单鸡笼组肉种鸡,其产蛋行为趋向选择暗光区域。研究提示,虽然密度对蛋鸡行为的效应大于遮光的效应,但是局部遮光能够在一定程度上增加盒式笼养鸡的环境丰富度,降低密度增大引起的拥挤效应,可能缓解其较差的福利状态。Abstract: This study compared the behavioural differences of broiler breeders reared under two different densities (Singly-caged: 1 600 cm2 per hen; Paired: 800 cm2 per hen), and in shadowed cages with a half-covering layer on their tops versus controls in order to evaluate the laying preferences of the species in dark versus light regions. The results showed that singly-caged broiler breeders displayed turn-around and head-scratch behaviours more than paired breeders, while singly-caged breeders presented wing-flap behaviours less than paired breeders. Single and paired breeders spent both more time eating in cages which were partially covered than those in control cages. Singly-caged breeders were more likely to lay in the dark region in shadowed cages than paired breeders. These results suggested that broiler breeders exhibited normal behaviours more often when raised in a larger living space and in shadowed cages. Although stocking density has more impact on behaviour and welfare for broiler layers than light environment, being shadowed can reduce overcrowding effect and may alleviate the worse welfare appearance for caged broiler breeders.