TY - JOUR

T1 - Welfare of broilers on farm

AU - EFSA AHAW Panel, null

AU - Nielsen, Søren Saxmose

AU - Alvarez, Julio

AU - Bicout, Dominique Joseph

AU - Calistri, Paolo

AU - Canali, Elisabetta

AU - Drewe, Julian Ashley

AU - Garin-Bastuji, Bruno

AU - Gonzales Rojas, Jose Luis

AU - Schmidt, Christian Gortázar

AU - Herskin, Mette S

AU - Miranda Chueca, Miguel Ángel

AU - Padalino, Barbara

AU - Pasquali, Paolo

AU - Roberts, Helen Clare

AU - Spoolder, Hans

AU - Stahl, Karl

AU - Velarde, Antonio

AU - Viltrop, Arvo

AU - Winckler, Christoph

AU - Tiemann, Inga

AU - de Jong, Ingrid

AU - Gebhardt-Henrich, Sabine Gabriele

AU - Keeling, Linda

AU - Riber, Anja Brinch

AU - Ashe, Sean

AU - Candiani, Denis

AU - García Matas, Raquel

AU - Hempen, Michaela

AU - Mosbach-Schulz, Olaf

AU - Rojo Gimeno, Cristina

AU - Van der Stede, Yves

AU - Vitali, Marika

AU - Bailly-Caumette, Eléa

AU - Michel, Virginie

N1 - https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2023.7788

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - This Scientific Opinion considers the welfare of domestic fowl (Gallus gallus) related to the production of meat (broilers) and includes the keeping of day-old chicks, broiler breeders, and broiler chickens. Currently used husbandry systems in the EU are described. Overall, 19 highly relevant welfare consequences (WCs) were identified based on severity, duration and frequency of occurrence: ?bone lesions?, ?cold stress?, ?gastro-enteric disorders?, ?group stress?, ?handling stress?, ?heat stress?, ?isolation stress?, ?inability to perform comfort behaviour?, ?inability to perform exploratory or foraging behaviour?, ?inability to avoid unwanted sexual behaviour?, ?locomotory disorders?, ?prolonged hunger?, ?prolonged thirst?, ?predation stress?, ?restriction of movement?, ?resting problems?, ?sensory under- and overstimulation?, ?soft tissue and integument damage? and ?umbilical disorders?. These WCs and their animal-based measures (ABMs) that can identify them are described in detail. A variety of hazards related to the different husbandry systems were identified as well as ABMs for assessing the different WCs. Measures to prevent or correct the hazards and/or mitigate each of the WCs are listed. Recommendations are provided on quantitative or qualitative criteria to answer specific questions on the welfare of broilers and related to genetic selection, temperature, feed and water restriction, use of cages, light, air quality and mutilations in breeders such as beak trimming, de-toeing and comb dubbing. In addition, minimal requirements (e.g. stocking density, group size, nests, provision of litter, perches and platforms, drinkers and feeders, of covered veranda and outdoor range) for an enclosure for keeping broiler chickens (fast-growing, slower-growing and broiler breeders) are recommended. Finally, ?total mortality?, ?wounds?, ?carcass condemnation? and ?footpad dermatitis? are proposed as indicators for monitoring at slaughter the welfare of broilers on-farm.

AB - This Scientific Opinion considers the welfare of domestic fowl (Gallus gallus) related to the production of meat (broilers) and includes the keeping of day-old chicks, broiler breeders, and broiler chickens. Currently used husbandry systems in the EU are described. Overall, 19 highly relevant welfare consequences (WCs) were identified based on severity, duration and frequency of occurrence: ?bone lesions?, ?cold stress?, ?gastro-enteric disorders?, ?group stress?, ?handling stress?, ?heat stress?, ?isolation stress?, ?inability to perform comfort behaviour?, ?inability to perform exploratory or foraging behaviour?, ?inability to avoid unwanted sexual behaviour?, ?locomotory disorders?, ?prolonged hunger?, ?prolonged thirst?, ?predation stress?, ?restriction of movement?, ?resting problems?, ?sensory under- and overstimulation?, ?soft tissue and integument damage? and ?umbilical disorders?. These WCs and their animal-based measures (ABMs) that can identify them are described in detail. A variety of hazards related to the different husbandry systems were identified as well as ABMs for assessing the different WCs. Measures to prevent or correct the hazards and/or mitigate each of the WCs are listed. Recommendations are provided on quantitative or qualitative criteria to answer specific questions on the welfare of broilers and related to genetic selection, temperature, feed and water restriction, use of cages, light, air quality and mutilations in breeders such as beak trimming, de-toeing and comb dubbing. In addition, minimal requirements (e.g. stocking density, group size, nests, provision of litter, perches and platforms, drinkers and feeders, of covered veranda and outdoor range) for an enclosure for keeping broiler chickens (fast-growing, slower-growing and broiler breeders) are recommended. Finally, ?total mortality?, ?wounds?, ?carcass condemnation? and ?footpad dermatitis? are proposed as indicators for monitoring at slaughter the welfare of broilers on-farm.

KW - broilers

KW - on farm welfare

KW - husbandry systems

KW - welfare consequences

KW - animal-based measures

KW - end the cage age

KW - mutilations

U2 - 10.2903/j.efsa.2023.7788

DO - 10.2903/j.efsa.2023.7788

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 36824680

VL - 21

SP - 1

EP - 236

JO - E F S A Journal

JF - E F S A Journal

SN - 1831-4732

IS - 2

M1 - e07788

ER -