Extreme crowding in laying hens during a recurrent smothering outbreak
Extreme crowding in laying hens during a recurrent smothering outbreak
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DOI：
10.1002/vetr.245
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发表时间：
2021-04-19
影响因子：
2.2
通讯作者：
Asher, Lucy
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Herbert, George T.;Redfearn, William D.;Asher, Lucy
母鸡聚集在一起的一种行为，如果导致死亡，就被称为窒息。窒息是鸡蛋行业的一个相当大的问题，但还没有得到充分的研究。方法在反复窒息爆发期间，连续拍摄了35天的商业放养鸡群。我们描述了观察到的打桩行为及其与生产力和畜群健康指标的潜在关联。结果共捕获48个桩，最大密度为187.93只/m(2)，单桩密度可达1204只。在34个观察日中，有33天在同一房屋位置发生打桩，这是打桩行为规律性的第一个证据。尽管鸟类密度极高，但我们没有发现打桩极限与生产力之间的关联，但发现了与水：饲料比和温度范围的关联。本研究描述了文献中报道的最极端的打桩现象，并为这一问题行为及其后果提供了新的见解。
Background Piling, a behaviour where hens crowd together, is referred to as smothering if mortalities result. Smothering is a considerable concern for the egg industry, yet is vastly understudied.Methods During an outbreak of recurrent smothering, continuous video footage captured a commercial, free-range flock over 35 days. We describe the piling behaviour observed and potential associations with productivity and flock health indicators.Results Forty-eight piles were filmed, with a maximum density of 187.93 birds/m(2) and up to 1204 birds in one pile. Piling occurred in the same house location on 33 of 34 observation days, the first evidence of regularity in piling behaviour. Despite extreme bird densities, we did not find associations between piling extremity and productivity but did find associations with water:feed ratio and temperature range.Conclusion This study describes the most extreme level of piling reported in literature and offers new insights into this problem behaviour and its consequences.