Rearing conditions on broiler welfare. Effect of rearing conditions and litter type on reactivity, plumage conditions and foot-pad lesions of broiler chickens

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of 2 different rearing conditions (A and B) and 2 litter types (straw and wood shaving) on some welfare indicators such as broiler performances, reactivity and behaviour. The experiment was conducted on 2,400 broiler males, Ross 508, for a 7-week period. Barn A was reared according to the conditions usually adopted in commercial farms in Italy: the lighting program was 23:1 h (L:D), the maximum stocking density was 35 kg/m2. Barn B received a lighting program of 16:8 h, and was kept at a maximum stocking density of 28 kg/ m2. Half of the pens of each Barn was covered by wheat straw and the other half by wood shavings. The dependent variables were the behaviour of the birds, reactivity, body weight, plumage condition, and footpad lesions. Each variable was recorded at 15, 35 and 49 days of age. Analyses of the results indicated that the latency in emergency test was significantly higher during the second and third repetition in Barn B than in Barn A. Barn A scored the lowest values on plumage and foot-pad lesions particularly when straw litter was used. Feeding, drinking, moving and resting time frequencies showed significant differences between Barns. Daily activity rhythm of the broilers seemed to be more indicative of the species-specific ethogram in birds of Barn B.