WelFare Issues in Broiler Chickens What is Animal welfare? One health Concept. What are Broiler Chickens. Different Welfare Issues of Broilers

1. WELFARE
ISSUES IN
BROILERS
VAIBHAV BALI
V-2022-03-070
B.V.Sc & AH (1st Year)
DGCN CoVAS

2. OVERVIEW What is animal Welfare?
One health concept.
01
02
What is a Broiler
chicken?
Welfare issues in
Broiler chicken.
03
04

3. ANIMAL WELFARE
“Animal Welfare means how an
animal is coping with the condition
in which it lives.
An animal is in a good state of
welfare if it is healthy, comfortable,
well nourished, safe, and is able to
express innate behaviour and if it is
not suffering from unpleasant state
such as pain fear and distress.”
-WOAH/OIE

4. One health concept
“One Health is an integrated,
unifying approach that aims to
sustainably balance and optimize
the health of people, animals and
ecosystems.
It recognizes that the health of
humans, domestic and wild animals,
plants, and the wider environment
(including ecosystems) are closely
linked and interdependent.”
-WHO

5. A Broiler chicken is any chicken bred and
raised particularly for meat production.
It is a bird of about 6wk of age of either
sex with an average body weight of 1.8 to
2kg with a flexible breast bone cartilage,
pliable and tender meat.
What is a Broiler chicken?

6. ● Approximately 70% of chicken
raised for meat globally are raised
in intensive farming systems.
● Their short lives are often spent in
pain from their rapid weight gain in
overcrowded, filthy sheds with no
access to the outdoor, fresh air or
sunlight.
Welfare issues of Broiler Chicken

7. ● Broiler sheds are generally bare except for
water and food, with no natural light.
● There is poor litter management.
● Improper ventilation with cause high ammonia.
● Inadequate quality of feed and water.
● Overcrowding of birds.
● Poor thermal management.
INSIDE THE INTENSIVE CHICKEN SHED

8. One of the primary welfare issues affecting broiler
birds is genetic selection.
Selective breeding has resulted in the rapid growth
of broiler chickens. While this has increased meat
production efficiency, it has also caused several
welfare problems, including:
I. Genetic Selection:
WELFARE
ISSUES

9. A. Rapid Growth Rate:
-Broilers now reach market weight in
significantly shorter periods.
-Fast growth often outpaces skeletal
development, leading to weakened leg bones.
Birds may experience pain, difficulty walking,
and reduced mobility.
- Their bodies may struggle to support the
increased weight, resulting in discomfort and
pain.

10. B. Cardiovascular and Respiratory Issues:
-The accelerated growth rate often surpasses the
development of the cardiovascular and respiratory
systems.
- This lead to heart and lung problems.

11. C. SUDDEN DEATH SYNDROME
-Sudden death syndrome occur in rapidly growing young
broiler chickens.
-Also k/a Flip over disease.
-It is a metabolic disorder that predisposes bird to
cardiac arrhythmia.

12. Broiler birds are often raised in intensive farming
systems that prioritize high-density production.
However, these practices can result in several
welfare concerns:
II. Confinement and Overcrowding:
WELFARE
ISSUES

13. A. Lack of Space:
-Overcrowding restricts the birds’ movement and natural
behaviour.
- Reduced space hinders their ability to perform
important activities like walking, perching, and wing-
flapping.
-Hence their natural behaviour is comprised.

14. B. Health Issues:
-Increased contact between birds can lead to the
spread of diseases and infections.
- Inadequate ventilation in overcrowded spaces can
cause respiratory problems – Ammonia Toxicity

15. Broiler are often raised on litter in intensive farming.
Litter materials are bedding materials and are used
to provide thermal insulation, cushioning and to
absorb poultry excreta and spilled feed.
The litter has to be replaced regularly to check
bacterial growth, when left unchecked it can cause
Various health issues.
III. Poor litter management:
WELFARE
ISSUES

16. A. Foot Pad Dermatitis:
-High stocking densities and poor litter conditions
can cause foot pad lesions and infections.
-These conditions are painful and can affect the
bird’s ability to move comfortably.
- Other diseases such as hock burn, breast blister
are all consequences of poor litter management.

17. Broiler birds require environmental stimulation to
express their natural behaviours. However,
conventional farming practices often lack
appropriate enrichment:
IV. Lack of Environmental Enrichment:
WELFARE
ISSUES

18. A. Absence of Perching and
Roosting Opportunities:
- Broiler houses commonly lack
perches, denying birds the
opportunity to perch and rest.
- Perching is essential for comfort
and natural behaviours.
B. Limited Foraging
Opportunities:
- Broilers may lack access to
suitable litter or forage material,
preventing them from engaging in
natural behaviours like pecking and
scratching.

19. Broiler birds are transported in cages to the slaughter house.
Major issues associated with transportation stress in broiler are
as follow:
● Withdrawal period of feed prior and during transportation.
● Catching and crating of broiler for transportation.
● Exterior environment and microenvironment around broiler
loaded on trucks.
● Loading density in crates on trucks and lairage period before
slaughter.
V. Handling During transport:
WELFARE
ISSUES

20. Feed Restrictions in broiler parent birds is a welfare issue. Feed
Restrictions helps in optimum production with decreased instances of
obesity in birds.
Despite of positive gains, it can compromise animal welfare. Feed
Restricted broiler may feel hunger and may show abnormal behaviour
such as over drinking, increased pacing, pecking at fixtures and
increased aggression.
VI. Feed Restrictions in broiler Breeder
WELFARE
ISSUES

21. ● www.globalanimalpartnership.org
● www.ciwf.com
● www.compssioninfoodbuissness.com
● www.veterinariandigital.com
● www.thepoultrysite.com
● www.thepharmajournal.com
● www.mdpi.com
Reference

22. Thank You