project - EIP-AGRI Operational Group
New environmental and nutritional model at broiler chicken farms to reduce non-infectious lesions
Nuevo modelo de gestión ambiental y nutricional en granjas de pollos de engorde para la reducción de lesiones no infecciosas
Context
In the broiler chicken industry the quality of the end product and animal welfare are two aspects that are closely related and increasingly demanded by both end consumers and the industry itself. Current legislation on the protection and welfare of broiler chickens establishes contact dermatitis (food pad lesions, hock burn and breast blisters) as one of the main criteria for the assessment of the incidence of lesions.
The quality of the litter, nutrition and digestive health of the chickens are the key aspects to prevent pododermatitis. In fact, any of the factors that can increase the humidity of the litter, such as its material and quality, the water supply system, the digestibility of the chicken feed and the presence of diarrhoea, may contribute to its appearance.
The majority of detected cases of pododermatitis lesions are caused by wet litter and excessive amounts of ammonia released from the nitrogenous faeces of the birds.
Accordingly, in order to reduce the incidence of pododermatitis at farms, a study is proposed to determine: (1) the most suitable materials for the bed and how to handle them, and (2) a nutritional diet to improve the health of these chickens.
A broiler chicken farm (AGROBAIONA), a major agribusiness company (CORPORACIÓ AGROALIMENTÀRIA DE GUISSONA) and the Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA) have joined forces to work on this project
Objectives
The main objective of the project is to reduce the incidence of pododermatitis and improve animal welfare at intensive broiler chicken farms by means of a new management model based on different environmental and nutritional strategies. It will take into account various litter materials and handling methods and assess more digestible diets.
Objectives
El objetivo principal del proyecto es reducir la incidencia de pododermatitis y mejorar el bienestar animal en las explotaciones intensivas de pollos de engorde, mediante un nuevo modelo de gestión basado en diferentes estrategias ambientales y nutricionales. Por un lado, se tendrán en cuenta diferentes materiales y manejos del lecho. Y, por otro lado, se evaluarán dietas más digestibles.
Activities
Three actions will be undertaken to reduce the incidence of pododermatitis:
1) The use of different litter materials (or combinations of materials) with different particle sizes in order to achieve optimal absorption and dryness.
2) Determination of the best litter handling method (periodically turning it over, sanitisation, nitrogen reducers…).
3) Improvement of intestinal health with more digestible diets with different sources of protein or lower energy density.
Finally, the results of the project will be disseminated and transferred to the broiler chicken industry.
Activities
Se realizarán tres actuaciones con las que se espera reducir la incidencia de la pododermatitis:
1) Uso de diferentes materiales (o combinaciones de materiales) para el lecho, de diferentes medidas para mejorar la absorción y sequedad.
2) Determinación del mejor manejo de los lechos (volteo, higienización, reductores de nitrógeno…).
3) Mejora de la salud intestinal con dietas más digestibles con diferentes fuentes proteicas o con menor densidad energética.
Finalmente, en una cuarta actuación se transferirá y divulgará los resultados del proyecto al sector del pollo de engorde.
Project details
- Main funding source
- Rural development 2014-2020 for Operational Groups
- Rural Development Programme
- 2014ES06RDRP009 Spain - Rural Development Programme (Regional) - Cataluña
Location
- Main geographical location
- Barcelona
EUR 207831.6
Total budget
Total contributions from EAFRD, national co-financing, additional national financing and other financing.
Project keyword
Resources
Audiovisual materials
Contacts
Project coordinator
-
AGROBAIONA S.L.
Project coordinator