Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the differences in gut characteristics and digestibility of nutrients in birds that utilise the range differently. Two hundred, 63 week old, ISA brown birds at full lay were tagged with RFID (radio-frequency identification) transponders and studied for their use of the range over four weeks. Sixteen percent of the birds never accessed the range, while 63% of birds went out on the range every day. Birds that used the range were further characterised based on frequency and duration of visits to the range. Significant differences were seen, both for gizzard and gut weight, and digestibility of nutrients such as DM and energy between birds that never accessed the range and those that accessed it often. Birds that accessed the range more frequently but with shorter durations per visit showed improved gut characteristics, while birds that had a low frequency of visits but longer duration per visit showed better digestibility of nutrients.

Published in

Proceedings of Australian Poultry Science Symposium
2016, pages: 78-81
Title: 27th Annual Australian Poultry Science Symposium, Sydney, New South Wales, 14th-17th February 2016
Publisher: Poultry Research Foundation

Conference

27th Annual Australian Poultry Science Symposium

SLU Authors

• Hernandez, Carlos

  • Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
  • University of New England

UKÄ Subject classification

Animal and Dairy Science


Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/80068