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

由于动物福利组织、食品服务、零售和食品杂货店对食品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转向替代住房系统的压力。事实上，NFACC加拿大小鸡和蛋鸡操作规范支持向强化笼系统过渡，该系统配备了巢箱、栖木和啄块等物体，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，从而更好地利用它们的环境。尽管提供了浓缩，即使是最精心设计的浓缩计划也并不总是成功的，鸟类要么对物体不感兴趣，要么不持续使用浓缩，要么频率很低。这表明鸟类的“影响”（即情绪）可能对富集使用起作用，但在这方面缺乏数据。传统上，人们认为浓缩物要么具有极具吸引力的特性，要么具有不那么有吸引力的特性，这决定了它们的用途。科学证明，某些植物提取物通过提高大脑血清素水平具有抗焦虑和抗抑郁作用，从而使鸟类更好地应对各种环境压力。这些提取物有助于阐明和克服鸟类“影响”在富集利用中的可能作用。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，作为发现鸟类“影响”和精神状态在富集计划成功程度上可能发挥的作用的一种方式。该项目将采用一系列实验、统计和分析技术，从而为HQP培训提供了绝佳的机会- 1名硕士学生。研究成果将通过与Probiotech国际公司的合作直接投入使用，该公司是家禽业的一个重要参与者。Probiotech与全球家禽养殖户、饲料制造商、预混料公司、领先的研究机构和大学合作，开发提高动物生产性能和福利的产品，从而增加养殖户的利润。

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.