A functional blend of botanical extracts to enhance enrichment use and natural behaviours in laying hens

植物提取物的功能性混合物，可增强蛋鸡的浓缩使用和自然行为

• 批准号: 561354-2020
• 负责人: Adewole, Deborah
• 金额: $ 2.03万
• 依托单位: Dalhousie University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Alliance Grants
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=721977
• 关键词: functional; blend; botanical; extracts; enhance

Egg producers in Canada are under pressure to move from conventional to alternative housing systems due to the ever-increasing food animal welfare requirements by animal welfare organizations and food service, retail, and grocery establishments. Indeed, the NFACC Canadian Codes of Practice for pullets and laying hens supports the transition to an enriched cage system, which is equipped by objects such as nest boxes, perches, and pecking blocks, to promote natural behaviours. Data suggest that animals in a more relaxed and positive mental state are more likely to explore and therefore make better use of their environment. Despite the provision of enrichments, even the most well-planned enrichment program is not always successful, with birds either showing no interest in the objects, not using the enrichments consistently, or with low frequency. This shows a possible role of bird 'affect' (i.e., mood) on enrichment use, but there is dearth of data in this area. Traditionally, it has been presumed that the enrichment objects possess either highly attractive or less attractive qualities that determine their usage. Certain botanical extracts have been scientifically shown to have anxiolytic and antidepressant effects via increasing levels of brain serotonin, thereby allowing birds to better cope with various environmental stressors. These extracts could help to elucidate and overcome the possible role of bird 'affect' in enrichment use. We propose studying the effects of a formulated blend of these botanical extracts on bird behaviour, enrichment usage, and stress response as a way to discover the possible role bird 'affect' and mental state may have on the level of success of an enrichment program. The project will employ an array of experimental, statistical, and analytical techniques thus offering outstanding opportunities for HQP training - 1 MSc student. Research results will be directly transmitted into use through a partnership with Probiotech international Inc - a big player in the poultry industry. Probiotech works with poultry farmers, feed manufacturers, premix companies, leading research institutes and universities around the globe to create products which improve animal performance and well-being, thus increasing farmers' profit.

由于动物福利组织和食品服务，零售和杂货店对食用动物福利的要求不断增加，加拿大的鸡蛋生产商面临着从传统住房系统转向替代住房系统的压力。事实上，NFACC加拿大小母鸡和产蛋鸡行为守则支持向富集笼系统过渡，该系统配备有巢箱、栖木和啄食块等物体，以促进自然行为。数据表明，处于更放松和积极精神状态的动物更有可能探索，因此更好地利用环境。尽管提供了浓缩，但即使是计划最周密的浓缩方案也不总是成功的，鸟类要么对物体不感兴趣，要么不一贯地使用浓缩，要么使用频率很低。这表明了鸟类“影响”的可能作用（即，情绪），但缺乏这方面的数据。传统上，人们认为浓缩物具有决定其用途的高吸引力或低吸引力的性质。某些植物提取物已被科学证明具有抗焦虑和抗抑郁作用，通过增加大脑血清素的水平，从而使鸟类更好地科普各种环境压力。这些提取物可能有助于阐明和克服鸟类“影响”在富集使用中可能发挥的作用。我们建议研究这些植物提取物的配方混合物对鸟类行为，富集使用和应激反应的影响，以发现可能的作用鸟的“影响”和精神状态可能对富集计划的成功水平。该项目将采用一系列实验，统计和分析技术，从而为HQP培训提供出色的机会-1硕士学生。研究结果将通过与Probiotech国际公司（家禽业的一个大公司）的合作直接投入使用。Probiotech与地球仪各地的家禽养殖户、饲料制造商、预混料公司、领先的研究机构和大学合作，创造改善动物性能和福祉的产品，从而增加农民的利润。