POULTRY

Author: BÒTTOW ROLL VÍCTOR FERNANDO.
Year: 2004.
University: ZARAGOZA [www.unizar.es].
Place of defense: FACULTAD DE VETERINARIA.
Place of preparation: FACULTAD DE VETERINARIA.

Summary: The main aim of this thesis has been to study in depth aspects etológicos, health, production and product quality in different strains of commercial laying hens housed in two models of enriched cages and conventional cages. To achieve this goal were conducted five studies are presented below. In the first trial was to evaluate the effect of the design of the cages etológicamente modified Spanish manufacturing compared with the conventional two strains of commercial chickens with regard to behavior and productive results. New bird cages allowed to expand their repertoire Behavioral, although it verified the need to improve some aspects of the design. Production rates were very similar in both types of cages, except the size of the egg, which decreased significantly in the enriched. On the other hand, there were significant differences between the two strains in some respects productive and also in their behavior, especially in the use of resources installed on enriched cages. In the second trial was conducted for the purpose of analyzing the pattern of trade and microbiological of eggs produced for strains of laying hens ISA Brown and Hy Line Plus housed in cages conventional (CR) or enriched (MEC models and Aviplus). The percentage of dirty eggs were higher in MEC and increased with the age of the birds. The percentage of breaks showed no significant difference between cages. The percentage of eggs XL was significantly higher in the CR and ISA Brown. Between 31 and 55 weeks old commercial quality was similar, except the egg weight, higher in the CR. From 69 weeks, the proportion of yolk was significantly higher in the CR. ISA Brown performed better in thickness, and frequency of defects in shell. We found no contamination of the contents of the egg shell was low in all treatments (less 3 log units), except in eggs laid in 'bed bath' and those who were held in cages MEC. The eggs laid in JC, and nidales in cages MEC showed shells with lower bacterial load. In the third trial were evaluated aspects etológicos, productivity and quality of eggs in two strains of commercial layers (ISA Brown -semipesados and Hy Line W98-light) housed in cages enriched model Aviplus. There were significant differences between the two strains in some respects productive and also in their behavior, especially in the use of resources installed in the enriched cage. Hens semipesadas used more areas of hangers and bath bed, while light areas of the nest and drinkers. The motivation for conducting the bath bed was higher and with more intensity in the lineage semipesada. There were also differences in the frequency of certain behavioral patterns, most notably that the chickens carried the light pattern bathing on the mesh cage. The light layers had much higher levels of fear that semipesada and worse conservation plumage from 35 weeks of age. Eggs from the lineage semipesada presented throughout the cycle of machas a higher percentage of flesh and blood, while the strength parameters of the shell (density, thickness and weight) were always higher in this race. The average weight, the mass daily kg and eggs produced by hens light throughout the cycle were, respectively, 3.7, 2.8 and 800 grams less than that of semipesadas. In the fourth trial evaluated the effectiveness of devices cut nails located in two different positions. To this end, there are upright and horizontal bands lifa and plates, 8 cerám 783 ica in two models enriched cages. Cages that lacked conventional devices limado were considered the control group. The results showed that the devices were wearing nail efficient to shorten the nails and for the maintenance of plumage, especially if located on the deflectors eggs in a horizontal position. However, this position may adversely affect the welfare due to increased lesions on the feet and mortality of the birds. In the fifth of the trials was to evaluate the effect of the system of rearing (in the soil or drums) on the performance of the birds (ISA Brown) housed in enriched cages. The productive variables were similar between the various systems of rearing but some measures of quality of eggs, for example, eggs dirty, broken and quality of the shell were slightly worse in the chickens reared in the soil. This suggests that the revenue of the producer of eggs can be affected by the system of breeding birds. The behavioral adaptation to enriched cages cycle was successful in making the two systems for breeding and found no signs of welfare problems as a result of breeding conditions used in this study.