Some aspects of chicken behavior and welfare

Brazil is the world leader in broiler production and export. It achieved this position mainly to its excellent supply chain structure and climate, which favor poultry and grain production throughout its territory. Although Brazilian egg production is not as important as broiler production, this segment presents great potential of increasing its share in the global market. However, as elsewhere in the world, Brazilian poultry production faces the challenge to balance two elements within its supply chain: cruelty and productivity. The consumers of the European Union (EU) are very concerned with animal welfare issues. In order to increase its share in the European market, and eventually in the world market, Brazilian poultry producers must understand the effects of production systems on poultry welfare, and try to develop systems that are suited for its climate and other production conditions. There is a consensus that the natural behaviors performed by poultry in intensive production systems allow better welfare. This objective of this review is to present scientific research studies that relate different behaviors to chicken welfare. Poultry behavior is a reflex of their welfare status at a particular moment, and it is related to internal (physiological) and external (environmental) factors. Several natural behaviors that favor welfare, as well as undesirable behaviors, may be stimulated by environmental enrichment. The correct interpretation of the behaviors expressed by poultry, including their frequency, duration, and sequence, may be used to estimate their welfare. Animal production is an import sector of Brazilian economy. It significantly contributes to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), in terms of products destined both to domestic consumption and exports. New technologies applied to products and management practices have been developed for field application, aiming at improving producers' productivity and profitability. In order to comply with the European Union's (EU) guidelines for animal protein production, Brazilian poultry production needs to undergo a process of adaptation. In May, 2007, the EU Commission established its new guidelines for animal welfare in poultry production, pressured by consumer demand. In the EU, there is a growing concern among consumers as to how poultry are reared and slaughtered. European consumers are in the fore front of the demand of high quality products produced with under better welfare conditions, and have spread this concern throughout the world. Beaumont et al. (2010) mentioned that European consumers frequently perceive that standard commercial poultry production has poor animal welfare practices. According to Nääs et al. (2008), Brazilian poultry production today needs to find a balance between cruelty and productivity. In fact, ensuring animal welfare may provide better financial results, as it increases the producer's profit margins and allows maintaining Brazilian chicken export quotas to the EU. França (2008) noted that biological studies that define ethical limits and guidelines for poultry production foster the development of new production practices that may ensure good product quality and productivity without putting bird welfare at risk. Gonyou (1994) states that, when animal welfare started to be studied, the only behavioral factors considered were those related to feeding and reproduction. These first studies used as indicators of animal welfare reduced life expectancy, impaired growth, impaired reproduction, body damage, disease, immunosuppression, adrenal activity, behavior anomalies, and self-narcotization (Broom, 1991). However, current studies evaluate additional indicators, such as natural behaviors, behavioral needs, preferences, behavioral problems, emotional state, cognitive abilities, etc. In the field of ethology, the expression of natural behavior is a frequently used tool used to estimate the welfare of poultry destined to human consumption. According to Bracke & Hopster (2006), natural behavior can be defined as the behavior the animal normaly presents when exposed to conditions similar to its natural habitat. Natural behaviors are pleasurable and promote biological functions that are meaningful to the animal's welfare. The definition of natural behavior, though, does not include the bird's behavior when sick, in flight or during aggression, since these are not considered pleasurable situations. Considering layer behavioral needs in the design of housing facilities optimize their welfare. Mishra et al. (2005) verified that ISA Brown layers spent, during 24 hours, around 97% of the time in the nest, feeding, walking, resting, or dust bathing, and that 57% of these behaviors did not depend on environmental enrichment. It was also observed that hens had preferred behavioral sequences, which included foraging and comfort behaviors, such as wing-stretching and preening. The present review aims at discussing, albeit not exhaustively, scientific research studies on the behavior of Gallusgallus domesticus and its relationship to welfare. The following behaviors are reviewed: feather pecking, scratching, dust bathing, nesting, locomotion activities, and aggressive behaviors. These behaviors are the most frequently observed in commercial broiler, broiler breeder, and layer farming, and therefore, monitoring their incidence may contribute to measure poultry welfare.

Haemonchus contortus: A multiple-resistant Brazilian isolate and the costs for its characterization and maintenance for research use

The aim of this work was to determine the resistance level of Haemonchus contortus isolated from the Santa Inês flock of the Embrapa (Brazilian government's Agricultural Research Company), Southeast Livestock Unit (CPPSE), as well as to determine costs of characterizing and maintaining this isolate in host donors. Forty-two male Santa Inês lambs were experimentally infected with 4000 H. contortus infective larvae of the field isolate of CPPSE, called Embrapa2010, and divided into six treatment groups, which received triclorfon, albendazol plus cobalt sulfate, ivermectin, moxidectin, closantel and levamisole phosphate, as well as a negative control group (water). Egg per gram (EPG) counts were performed at 0, 3, 7, 10 and 14. days post treatment when the animals were slaughtered for parasite count. The data were analyzed using the RESO statistical program, considering anthelmintic resistance under 95% of efficacy. EPG and worm count presented a linear and significant relation with 94% determination coefficient. The susceptibility results obtained by RESO through both criteria (EPG and worm count) were equal, except for closantel, showing that the isolate Embrapa2010 is resistant to benzimidazoles, macrocyclic lactones and imidazothiazoles. The need of a control group did not appear to be essential since the result for susceptibility in the analyses with or without this group was the same. Suppression in egg production after treatment did not occur in the ivermectin and moxidectin groups. In the control group, the establishment percentage was just 12.5 because of the low number of third-stage larvae, resistance (innate and infection immunity) of the animals studied plus good nutrition. Drug classes presented similar efficacy between adults and immature stages. The costs for isolate characterization were calculated for 42 animals during 60. days. The total cost based on local market rates was approximately US$ 8000. The precise identification of Brazilian isolates and their establishment in host donors would be useful for laboratorial anthelmintic resistance diagnoses through in vitro tests, which has an annual cost of approximately US$ 2500 for maintenance in host donors. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.

Comparison of eggs, larvae, and pupae of plutella xylostella (lepidoptera: Plutellidae) as prey for podisus nigrispinus (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Performance of laying hens and economic viability of different climatization systems

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Tamanho, produção de ovos e distribuição espacial de microcrustáceos litorâneos e limnéticos em pequenos reservatórios rasos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Caracterização da comunidade de microcrustáceos e avaliação de potenciais predadores vertebrados e invertebrados em dois reservatórios na região noroeste do Estado de São Paulo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação de diferentes programas de restrição alimentar para matrizes pesadas

Pós-graduação em Zootecnia - FCAV

Modelos de dimensão finita e infinita para avaliação da produção de ovos em aves de postura

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Ajuste de modelos não lineares e estimativas de parâmetros genéticos para produção de ovos de uma linhagem de poedeiras White Leghorn

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Biomassa de rubrivivax gelatinosus como suplemento de rações para galinhas poedeiras

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Avaliação de microminerais orgânicos no desempenho reprodutivo de matrizes pesadas e respostas da progênie

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Suplementação de ração de codornas com selênio, zinco e manganês de fonte orgânica

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Comportamento de casais Rhynchotus rufescens em cativeiro: relação com imobilidade tônica e eficiência reprodutiva

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Mn, Zn e Se associados a moléculas orgânicas na alimentação de galinhas poedeiras no segundo ciclo de produção

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Efeito da utilização da fitase sobre o desempenho, qualidade dos ovos, avaliação econômica e excreção de fósforo e nitrogênio de poedeiras comerciais alimentadas com rações contendo ingredientes alternativos

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)