16. Ranging in free-range laying hens: animal welfare and other considerations

J.-L. Rault

16. Ranging in free-range laying hens: animal welfare and other considerations

于Professionals in food chains

著者：

J.-L. Rault

J.-L. Rault Institute of Animal Husbandry and Animal Welfare, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.

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类型:: 章节

Page Range:: 116–120

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-869-8_16

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The demand for products from free-range farm housing systems has increased. Despite this, there is little scientific knowledge about how much laying hens go outside (i.e. ‘range’) and its implications for animal welfare. This presentation covers a combination of studies on the topic of free-range egg farming from an animal welfare point of view. The aim is to illustrate through the case study of Australian free-range eggs the challenge of aligning farming practices, consumers’ expectation and other market forces. Contrary to previous studies that reported low range use (5 to 30%) based on the proportion of the flock outside at one time, recent studies that followed individual hens with radio frequency identification systems revealed that most hens (85 to 95%) accessed the range. Hence, better methods are required to assess range use, and more hens range that commonly believed. Online forum discussions were run as a virtual version of focus group between stakeholders. The results highlighted that the general public and animal advocacy groups emphasised the psychological and natural aspects of poultry welfare, whereas industry-related members emphasised its health aspects. Video observations on commercial farms revealed that the main behaviours displayed by hens while on the range did not differ in terms of nature, but rather in terms of frequency from the behaviours shown inside the shed. This only partly addresses the consumer belief that free-range allows for more ‘natural’ behaviours. From the hens’ point of view, the welfare implications of ranging appeared minimal, from the measures collected to date (fear, stress, fitness). Nevertheless, hens varied substantially in their range use, leaving the question of ‘why do hens range?’. The scientific evidence suggests that free-range offers the choice to the hens, and the market suggests that it also offers a choice to the consumers. However, consumers’ expectation that laying hens should spent most of their time outside may not necessarily match the laying hens’ wants. Whether animal welfare science, through its current tools and approaches, is able to inform all societal questions on animal use and on a timely manner is a topic for discussion.

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Professionals in food chains

ISBN:: 9789086868698

出版社:: Wageningen Academic

印刷出版日期:: 13 Jun 2018

Subjects
- Life Sciences
  - General
  - Food & Health

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16. Ranging in free-range laying hens: animal welfare and other considerations

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