Meta-analysis of the effects of intensive rearing environments on the performance and welfare of broiler chickens

Abstract

To better understand how relevant intensive systems' characteristics simultaneously affect the performance and welfare of broiler chickens, a meta-analysis of recent literature was carried out. The study determined the effects of gender, genetics, experimental initial age (EIA, d), stocking density (SD; kg/m2), group size (GS; n), bedding material (yes/no), duration of photoperiod (DP; h), divided scotoperiod (yes/no), feeding phases (1/2/3/>3), environmental control (EC; yes/no), environmental enrichment (yes/no), use of vaccines and other medications (yes/no), experimental duration (d), and relevant 2-way interactions on average daily gain (g/d), average daily feed intake (g/d), FCR (g: g), mortality (%), behavior (%), and gait score (mean value). Predictive equations for response variables were calculated using multiple regression models including a random experiment effect. Among other results, EIA × SD interaction indicated that relatively high SD may improve FCR at older ages, but parallel increased mortality would pose concerns about the actual productive benefits and welfare. Combining large GS and relatively low SD seem to improve performance and decrease flock disturbance. They would also increase leg problems, and so their actual benefits on welfare remain unclear. A gradual increase in FCR seems to occur with longer DP at older EIA (EIA × DP interaction), highlighting the importance of adapting light programs to flock age to optimize performance. The SD × DP and GS × DP interactions predicted increased FCR for longer DP at low SD or large GS, that is, with more effective space available. Longer DP combined with low SD or large GS would overall promote enhanced leg conditions, and therefore welfare. Predictions would not support scotoperiod division from both performance and welfare perspectives. The SD × EC interaction indicated that EC would benefit chicken performance at low SD, although EC would seem to increase leg problems. Our study highlights the complex, interactive nature of production systems' characteristics on broiler chicken performance and welfare.

Figure 1.

Predicted effects of the interactions between experimental initial age and experimental days (a), initial age and stocking density (b), and group size and stocking density (c) on the ADG of broiler chickens. Predictions calculated using the median of the rest of variables included in the models (RMSE = 0.25).

Figure 2.

Predicted effects of the interactions between stocking density and photoperiod duration (a), stocking density and environmental control (b), and photoperiod duration and group size (c) on the ADG of broiler chickens. Predictions calculated using the median of the rest of variables included in the models (RMSE = 0.25).

Figure 3.

Predicted effects of the interactions between experimental initial age and experimental duration (a), experimental initial age and stocking density (b), and experimental initial age and photoperiod duration (c) on the ADFI of broiler chickens. Predictions calculated using the median of the rest of variables included in the models (RMSE = 0.51).

Figure 4.

Predicted effects of the interactions between group size and stocking density (a), stocking density and photoperiod duration (b), stocking density and environmental control (c), and photoperiod duration and group size (d) on the ADFI of broiler chickens. Predictions calculated using the median of the rest of variables included in the models (RMSE = 0.51).

Figure 5.

Predicted effects of the interactions between experimental initial age and stocking density (a), experimental initial age and photoperiod duration (b), and group size and stocking density (c) on the FCR of broiler chickens. Predictions calculated using the median of the rest of variables included in the models (RMSE = 0.01).

Figure 6.

Predicted effects of the interactions between stocking density and photoperiod duration (a), and stocking density and environmental control on the FCR of broiler chickens. Predictions calculated using the median of the rest of variables included in the models (RMSE = 0.01).

Figure 7.

Predicted effects of the interactions between experimental initial age and experimental duration (a), and stocking density and experimental initial age (b) on the mortality of broiler chickens. Predictions calculated using the median of the rest of variables included in the models (RMSE = 0.06).

Figure 8.

Predicted effects of the interactions between photoperiod duration and stocking density on the gait score (a; model RMSE = 0.02), and stocking density and group size on the resting behavior (b; model RMSE = 0.51) of broiler chickens. Predictions calculated using the median of the rest of variables included in the models.