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Research article2023Peer reviewedOpen access

Welfare of ducks, geese and quail on farm

Nielsen, Soren Saxmose; Alvarez, Julio; Bicout, Dominique Joseph; Calistri, Paolo; Canali, Elisabetta; Drewe, Julian Ashley; Garin-Bastuji, Bruno; Rojas, Jose Luis Gonzales; Schmidt, Christian Gortazar; Herskin, Mette; Michel, Virginie; Chueca, Miguel Angel Miranda; Padalino, Barbara; Roberts, Helen Clare; Spoolder, Hans; Stahl, Karl; Viltrop, Arvo; Winckler, Christoph; Berg, Charlotte; Edwards, Sandra;
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Abstract

This Scientific Opinion concerns the welfare of Domestic ducks (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus), Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata domesticus) and their hybrids (Mule ducks), Domestic geese (Anser anser f. domesticus) and Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) in relation to the rearing of breeders, birds for meat, Muscovy and Mule ducks and Domestic geese for foie gras and layer Japanese quail for egg production. The most common husbandry systems (HSs) in the European Union are described for each animal species and category. The following welfare consequences are described and assessed for each species: restriction of movement, injuries (bone lesions including fractures and dislocations, soft tissue lesions and integument damage and locomotory disorders including lameness), group stress, inability to perform comfort behaviour, inability to perform exploratory or foraging behaviour and inability to express maternal behaviour (related to prelaying and nesting behaviours). Animal-based measures relevant for the assessment of these welfare consequences were identified and described. The relevant hazards leading to the welfare consequences in the different HSs were identified. Specific factors such as space allowance (including minimum enclosure area and height) per bird, group size, floor quality, characteristics of nesting facilities and enrichment provided (including access to water to fulfil biological needs) were assessed in relation to the welfare consequences and, recommendations on how to prevent the welfare consequences were provided in a quantitative or qualitative way.

Keywords

On-farm animal welfare; ducks; geese; quail; foie gras; welfare consequences; end the cage age

Published in

EFSA Journal
2023, Volume: 21, number: 5, article number: e07992

    UKÄ Subject classification

    Animal and Dairy Science

    Publication identifier

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2023.7992

    Permanent link to this page (URI)

    https://res.slu.se/id/publ/126379