Abstract

This study compared behavioural time budgets, presence of comfort behaviours and social behaviours in two different broiler genotypes (the fast-growing Ross 308 (R) and the slower-growing Rowan Ranger (RR)) fed organic diets with high (17.0% crude protein (CP)) or low (14.5% CP) protein content during a 10-week rearing period. 429-day-old chicks (218 R and 211 RR, respectively) were included in the study and behaviour was recorded at 2, 6 and 9 weeks of age. The results showed no effect of diet treatments but that R broilers were less active and sat, ate and drank more frequently than RR broilers, which stood and perched more frequently. However, both hybrids showed decreasing activity and foraging behaviour with increasing age, while time spent eating and sleeping was approximately similar over the entire rearing period.

Keywords

Behaviour; behavioural time budget; organic production; poultry; slower-growing hybrid; social; welfare

Published in

Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A - Animal Science
2016, Volume: 66, number: 3, pages: 168-176
Publisher: Taylor & Francis: STM, Behavioural Science and Public Health Titles

SLU Authors

• Wallenbeck, Anna

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Wilhelmsson, Sofia

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Jönsson, Lina

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Gunnarsson, Stefan

  • Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Yngvesson, Jenny

  • Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Genetics and Breeding


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09064702.2017.1303081

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/80668