Productive performance and welfare indicators in pastured broiler chickens
Main Article Content
Keywords
pasture, welfare, productive performance.
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the productive performance and welfare indicators of pastured broiler chickens.
Methodology: One hundred sixty-eight straight-run broilers Ross 308 of 33 d of age were randomly assigned to two treatments: T1, confinement with ad libitum feeding and T2, system with eight hours of pasture access and concentrated feed restricted to 40% of the consumption of T1 chickens. Productive performance from 33 to 54 d of age, walking ability (Hc), latency to lie down (Lp), foot pad lesions (Qp), valgus/varus angulation (AngV), tendon breaking strength (RRTe) and tibia breaking strength (RRTi), were evaluated.
Results: Productive performance between treatments was different (P < 0.05). Chickens in T1 had a higher live weight at 54 d of age (3,379 ± 39 g) than T2 (2,223 ± 39 g). Likewise, feed conversion ratio from 33 to 54 d of age was lower in confined birds (2.05 ± 0.05 g/g) than in pastured chickens (2.28 ± 0.05 g/g). These latter birds showed a better (P < 0.05) Hc and Lp, but no differences were detected between treatments (P ? 0.05) for AngV, Qp and RRTe.
Implications of the study: The results are only valid for straight-run Ross 308 broiler chickens and under the specified management conditions.
Conclusion: Pasture-raised broiler chickens with restricted consumption of concentrated feed, have better welfare indicators (Hc and Lp), but worse productive performance.
