Morphological asymmetry and broiler welfare

Detalhes bibliográficos
Autor(a) principal: Nääs,IA
Data de Publicação: 2008
Outros Autores: Sonoda,LT, Romanini,CEB, Morello,GM, Neves,HAF, Baracho,MS, Souza,SRLS, Menezes,AG, Mollo Neto,M, Moura,DJ, Almeida Paz,ICL
Tipo de documento: Artigo
Idioma: eng
Título da fonte: Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science (Online)
Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-635X2008000400003
Resumo: Health status, feed conversion ratio, and mortality are long known broiler chicken production indicators. However, further parameters are required by today's demanding meat markets, as these indicators are not sufficiently accurate to determine flock overall welfare. Morphological asymmetry has been pointed as an alternative welfare indicator as it reflects the ability of the bird to cope with the challenges that rearing conditions may impose. This study aimed at evaluating the possibility of using morphological asymmetry as a welfare indicator. Broilers from 28 to 42 days of age were used in the trial. Birds were randomly selected in a commercial poultry farm and transported to the laboratory. They walked over the force measurement platform in order to determined their feet force as a percentage of body weight. The following body parts of the live birds were measured by two different operators using a digital caliper: tarsometatarsus length, outertoe length, midtoe length, and backtoe length. In the corresponding carcasses, the following traits were measured: wattle width, eye length, and first secondary feather length. Data were submitted to statistical analyses and no correlation was found between specific feet trait measurements and walking ability. Considering the time budget involved in measuring morphological asymmetry, this procedure did not appear to be a practically feasible welfare indicator.
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spelling Morphological asymmetry and broiler welfareAnimal welfare assessmentbroiler feet forcebroiler leg abnormalitieswelfare indicatorHealth status, feed conversion ratio, and mortality are long known broiler chicken production indicators. However, further parameters are required by today's demanding meat markets, as these indicators are not sufficiently accurate to determine flock overall welfare. Morphological asymmetry has been pointed as an alternative welfare indicator as it reflects the ability of the bird to cope with the challenges that rearing conditions may impose. This study aimed at evaluating the possibility of using morphological asymmetry as a welfare indicator. Broilers from 28 to 42 days of age were used in the trial. Birds were randomly selected in a commercial poultry farm and transported to the laboratory. They walked over the force measurement platform in order to determined their feet force as a percentage of body weight. The following body parts of the live birds were measured by two different operators using a digital caliper: tarsometatarsus length, outertoe length, midtoe length, and backtoe length. In the corresponding carcasses, the following traits were measured: wattle width, eye length, and first secondary feather length. Data were submitted to statistical analyses and no correlation was found between specific feet trait measurements and walking ability. Considering the time budget involved in measuring morphological asymmetry, this procedure did not appear to be a practically feasible welfare indicator.Fundacao de Apoio a Ciência e Tecnologia Avicolas2008-12-01info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiontext/htmlhttp://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-635X2008000400003Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science v.10 n.4 2008reponame:Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science (Online)instname:Fundação APINCO de Ciência e Tecnologia Avícolas (FACTA)instacron:FACTA10.1590/S1516-635X2008000400003info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessNääs,IASonoda,LTRomanini,CEBMorello,GMNeves,HAFBaracho,MSSouza,SRLSMenezes,AGMollo Neto,MMoura,DJAlmeida Paz,ICLeng2009-03-18T00:00:00Zoai:scielo:S1516-635X2008000400003Revistahttp://www.scielo.br/rbcahttps://old.scielo.br/oai/scielo-oai.php||rvfacta@terra.com.br1806-90611516-635Xopendoar:2009-03-18T00:00Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science (Online) - Fundação APINCO de Ciência e Tecnologia Avícolas (FACTA)false
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Morphological asymmetry and broiler welfare
title Morphological asymmetry and broiler welfare
spellingShingle Morphological asymmetry and broiler welfare
Nääs,IA
Animal welfare assessment
broiler feet force
broiler leg abnormalities
welfare indicator
title_short Morphological asymmetry and broiler welfare
title_full Morphological asymmetry and broiler welfare
title_fullStr Morphological asymmetry and broiler welfare
title_full_unstemmed Morphological asymmetry and broiler welfare
title_sort Morphological asymmetry and broiler welfare
author Nääs,IA
author_facet Nääs,IA
Sonoda,LT
Romanini,CEB
Morello,GM
Neves,HAF
Baracho,MS
Souza,SRLS
Menezes,AG
Mollo Neto,M
Moura,DJ
Almeida Paz,ICL
author_role author
author2 Sonoda,LT
Romanini,CEB
Morello,GM
Neves,HAF
Baracho,MS
Souza,SRLS
Menezes,AG
Mollo Neto,M
Moura,DJ
Almeida Paz,ICL
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.contributor.author.fl_str_mv Nääs,IA
Sonoda,LT
Romanini,CEB
Morello,GM
Neves,HAF
Baracho,MS
Souza,SRLS
Menezes,AG
Mollo Neto,M
Moura,DJ
Almeida Paz,ICL
dc.subject.por.fl_str_mv Animal welfare assessment
broiler feet force
broiler leg abnormalities
welfare indicator
topic Animal welfare assessment
broiler feet force
broiler leg abnormalities
welfare indicator
description Health status, feed conversion ratio, and mortality are long known broiler chicken production indicators. However, further parameters are required by today's demanding meat markets, as these indicators are not sufficiently accurate to determine flock overall welfare. Morphological asymmetry has been pointed as an alternative welfare indicator as it reflects the ability of the bird to cope with the challenges that rearing conditions may impose. This study aimed at evaluating the possibility of using morphological asymmetry as a welfare indicator. Broilers from 28 to 42 days of age were used in the trial. Birds were randomly selected in a commercial poultry farm and transported to the laboratory. They walked over the force measurement platform in order to determined their feet force as a percentage of body weight. The following body parts of the live birds were measured by two different operators using a digital caliper: tarsometatarsus length, outertoe length, midtoe length, and backtoe length. In the corresponding carcasses, the following traits were measured: wattle width, eye length, and first secondary feather length. Data were submitted to statistical analyses and no correlation was found between specific feet trait measurements and walking ability. Considering the time budget involved in measuring morphological asymmetry, this procedure did not appear to be a practically feasible welfare indicator.
publishDate 2008
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2008-12-01
dc.type.driver.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
dc.type.status.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.uri.fl_str_mv http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-635X2008000400003
url http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-635X2008000400003
dc.language.iso.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv 10.1590/S1516-635X2008000400003
dc.rights.driver.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv text/html
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Fundacao de Apoio a Ciência e Tecnologia Avicolas
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Fundacao de Apoio a Ciência e Tecnologia Avicolas
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science v.10 n.4 2008
reponame:Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science (Online)
instname:Fundação APINCO de Ciência e Tecnologia Avícolas (FACTA)
instacron:FACTA
instname_str Fundação APINCO de Ciência e Tecnologia Avícolas (FACTA)
instacron_str FACTA
institution FACTA
reponame_str Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science (Online)
collection Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science (Online)
repository.name.fl_str_mv Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science (Online) - Fundação APINCO de Ciência e Tecnologia Avícolas (FACTA)
repository.mail.fl_str_mv ||rvfacta@terra.com.br
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