Mansoura Veterinary Medical Journal

EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT ON BEHAVIOUR, PERFORMANCE, WELFARE, CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS AND LIPID PROFILE OF BROILER CHICKENS

Rana A. Elsayed, Department of Behaviour and Animal Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Gomhoria St., Mansoura, P.O. box 35516, Egypt
Asmaa S. Mohammed, Department of Behaviour and Animal Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Gomhoria St., Mansoura, P.O. box 35516, EgyptFollow
Ahmed F. Abou-Elnaga, Department of Behaviour and Animal Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Gomhoria St., Mansoura, P.O. box 35516, Egypt
Usama A. Abou-Ismail, Department of Behaviour and Animal Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Gomhoria St., Mansoura, P.O. box 35516, Egypt
Ragab A. Darwish, Department of Behaviour and Animal Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Gomhoria St., Mansoura, P.O. box 35516, Egypt
Mohammed M. Fouda, Department of Behaviour and Animal Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Gomhoria St., Mansoura, P.O. box 35516, Egypt

Document Type

Original Article

Keywords

Enrichment, Behaviour, Straw bales, Elevated platforms, Blood profile

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine how different environmental enrichment items affect broiler behavior, performance, welfare parameters, and blood profiles. MTHODS: A total of 200 one day old cobb 500 broiler chicks were used in a 35-d trail. Two hundred Cobb 500 broiler chicks were allocated into control and three treatment groups of 25 birds each in two replicates. The environmental enrichments items were straw bales in treatment A, elevated platforms (5 cm wooden platform) in treatment B and increased distance between feeder and drinker by 3.5 m in treatment C. Behavioural patterns of broiler chickens were monitored for four consecutive weeks. Food intake and mortality were recorded daily and body weight was recorded weekly. The gait score was assessed on days 32, 33, and 34, while footpad dermatitis, hock burns, and blood biochemistry were assessed on day 35. RESULTS: Broiler chickens reared under different environmental enrichment regimens appeared more active and exhibited maintenance behaviors (preening, wing flapping, and floor pecking) more frequently than the non-enriched control birds. No enrichment effect was observed for productive performance traits. Regarding welfare traits and blood profiles, there was an overall tendency toward a lower gait score and lower levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and non-high-density lipoprotein (non-HDL) in birds that experienced different enrichment tools. CONCLUSION: The addition of environmental enrichment tools (straw bales, elevated platforms, and increased distance between resources) appeared to motivate the birds for physical activities and to improve health and walking ability, without negatively influencing growth performance parameters.

How to Cite This Article

Elsayed, Rana A.; Mohammed, Asmaa S.; Abou-Elnaga, Ahmed F.; Abou-Ismail, Usama A.; Darwish, Ragab A.; and Fouda, Mohammed M. (2024) "EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT ON BEHAVIOUR, PERFORMANCE, WELFARE, CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS AND LIPID PROFILE OF BROILER CHICKENS," Mansoura Veterinary Medical Journal: Vol. 25: Iss. 1, Article 2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.35943/2682-2512.1225