Use of an elevated platform with perforated surface and manure belt by fast-growing broilers on commercial farms

Abstract

Like other members of the species Gallus gallus, fast-growing broilers are motivated to perch. However, broilers in the European Union are kept in unstructured barns, with no opportunity to sit elevated and rest undisturbed. A possible solution to this problem is elevated platforms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of an elevated platform with perforated surface and manure belt by fast-growing broilers. On 2 commercial farms, an elevated platform was installed in 1 barn per farm. Approximately 35,000 Ross 308 broilers were housed in each barn for 3 fattening periods. On 1 d per wk, the number of broilers per m² on the platform and the ramp was determined every 30 min from video recordings. Besides, focal animals were observed to analyze their behavior on the platform at different ages and during light and dark periods. Broilers used the elevated platform and the ramp from the first week until the end of the fattening period (platform: 9.92 broilers per m², ramp: 6.47 broilers per m²), with a peak in the fourth week of life (platform: 13.00 broilers per m²). In wk 2, 4, and 5, platform use was higher during the light period than during the dark period. Broilers stayed longer on the platform in the dark period (dark: 01:54:23 [hh:mm:ss], light: 00:19:54 [hh:mm:ss]). In every phase of the fattening period, broilers on the platform were inactive to a high proportion (on average 80.60%). This indicates that broilers used the platform also for resting behavior. Thus, the elevated platform with perforated surface and manure belt is a suitable option to structure broiler barns. It allows the broilers to sit elevated and provides additional space. Factors such as a shallow ramp incline of 20°, wide ramps, and appropriate material used for the surface and ramps may have contributed to its high use by broilers of all ages. Further research is needed to evaluate the design of platforms that allow broilers to rest undisturbed.

Keywords: behavior; broiler; elevated platform; environmental enrichment; perforated surface.

Figure 1

Elevated platform with perforated surface, manure belt, and ramps at d 21 (A) and d 3 (B) of the fattening period on farm A.

Figure 2

Camera view of the elevated platform and the ramps on farm B with the observed area outlined in red.

Figure 3

Number of broilers per m² depending on the week of life and the location in the observed area. Results are presented as boxplots (data range, median, and lower and upper quartile; outliers are shown in the graph as dots and means as crosses). Differences at P < 0.05 between the platform and ramp within the week of life are marked by asterisks.

Figure 4

Number of broilers per m² on the platform depending on the lighting phase and the week of life. Results are presented as boxplots (data range, median, and lower and upper quartile; outliers are shown in the graph as dots and means as crosses). Differences at P < 0.05 between dark and light periods within the week of life are marked by asterisks.

Figure 5

Duration of Locomotion in the different phases of the fattening period and lighting phases. Results are presented as boxplots (data range, median, and lower and upper quartile; outliers are shown in the graph as dots and means as crosses). Differences at P < 0.05 are marked by asterisks.

Figure 6

Frequency of Sitting during the different phases of the fattening period and lighting phases. Results are presented as boxplots (data range, median, and lower and upper quartile; outliers are shown in the graph as dots and means as crosses). Differences at P < 0.05 are marked by asterisks.