Commercial Poultry Production Stocking Density Influence on Bird Health and Performance Indicators

This study examines poultry production stocking density (SD) effect on bird welfare and economic performance. It is based on a large dataset from commercial production including observations for 2.2 million male broilers and 2.3 million female broilers from 37 production sites, with SD ranging from...

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Main Authors: Stéphane Bergeron, Emmanuelle Pouliot, Maurice Doyon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-07-01
Series:Animals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/8/1253
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spelling doaj-9bb4e613ea7d4e7c82c38d5889ca44282020-11-25T02:35:09ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152020-07-01101253125310.3390/ani10081253Commercial Poultry Production Stocking Density Influence on Bird Health and Performance IndicatorsStéphane Bergeron0Emmanuelle Pouliot1Maurice Doyon2Egg Industry Economic Research Chair, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, CanadaDepartment of Agricultural Economics and Consumer Science, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, CanadaDepartment of Agricultural Economics and Consumer Science, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, CanadaThis study examines poultry production stocking density (SD) effect on bird welfare and economic performance. It is based on a large dataset from commercial production including observations for 2.2 million male broilers and 2.3 million female broilers from 37 production sites, with SD ranging from 20.63 kg/m<sup>2</sup> to 41.15 kg/m<sup>2</sup>. The data collection was originally motivated by a processor’s economic concerns that increasing SD could cause slower broiler growth, higher condemnations, and lower grade meat. The data was examined using several linear regressions to determine how production parameters impacted these performance indicators. Results regarding foot pad lesion, condemnations, and mortality rates are consistent with those found in the literature. However, we find that daily weight gain is positively associated with SD, contrasting with past experimental results. The difference between the scope of commercial and experimental productions is discussed as a possible reason for these conflicting results.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/8/1253poultrystocking densityaveraged daily gaincommercial productionanimal welfareeconomic performance
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Stéphane Bergeron
Emmanuelle Pouliot
Maurice Doyon
spellingShingle Stéphane Bergeron
Emmanuelle Pouliot
Maurice Doyon
Commercial Poultry Production Stocking Density Influence on Bird Health and Performance Indicators
Animals
poultry
stocking density
averaged daily gain
commercial production
animal welfare
economic performance
author_facet Stéphane Bergeron
Emmanuelle Pouliot
Maurice Doyon
author_sort Stéphane Bergeron
title Commercial Poultry Production Stocking Density Influence on Bird Health and Performance Indicators
title_short Commercial Poultry Production Stocking Density Influence on Bird Health and Performance Indicators
title_full Commercial Poultry Production Stocking Density Influence on Bird Health and Performance Indicators
title_fullStr Commercial Poultry Production Stocking Density Influence on Bird Health and Performance Indicators
title_full_unstemmed Commercial Poultry Production Stocking Density Influence on Bird Health and Performance Indicators
title_sort commercial poultry production stocking density influence on bird health and performance indicators
publisher MDPI AG
series Animals
issn 2076-2615
publishDate 2020-07-01
description This study examines poultry production stocking density (SD) effect on bird welfare and economic performance. It is based on a large dataset from commercial production including observations for 2.2 million male broilers and 2.3 million female broilers from 37 production sites, with SD ranging from 20.63 kg/m<sup>2</sup> to 41.15 kg/m<sup>2</sup>. The data collection was originally motivated by a processor’s economic concerns that increasing SD could cause slower broiler growth, higher condemnations, and lower grade meat. The data was examined using several linear regressions to determine how production parameters impacted these performance indicators. Results regarding foot pad lesion, condemnations, and mortality rates are consistent with those found in the literature. However, we find that daily weight gain is positively associated with SD, contrasting with past experimental results. The difference between the scope of commercial and experimental productions is discussed as a possible reason for these conflicting results.
topic poultry
stocking density
averaged daily gain
commercial production
animal welfare
economic performance
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/8/1253
work_keys_str_mv AT stephanebergeron commercialpoultryproductionstockingdensityinfluenceonbirdhealthandperformanceindicators
AT emmanuellepouliot commercialpoultryproductionstockingdensityinfluenceonbirdhealthandperformanceindicators
AT mauricedoyon commercialpoultryproductionstockingdensityinfluenceonbirdhealthandperformanceindicators
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