Implementation of the Welfare Quality on-farm protocol for ...€¦ · 0. Normal, dextrous and agile 1. Slight abnormality, but difficult to define 2. Definite and identifiable abnormality

Cervia, Italy, 18-22 May 2009

8th European Symposium on Poultry WelfareWorging Group 9 of the WPSA

EU Food-CT-2004-506508

Implementation of the Welfare Quality®:on-farm protocol for assessing broiler welfareFerrari P.1, Butterworth A.2, De Jong I.C.3, Brown S.N.2, Ferrante V.41 CRPA, Research Centre on Animal Production, Italy 2 University of Bristol, UK3 University of Wageningen, The Netherlands 4 University of Milan, Italy

8th European Symposium on Poultry WelfareWorging Group 9 of the WPSACervia, Italy, 18-22 May 2009

Integration of animal welfare in the food quality chain:

from public concerns to improved welfare

and transparent quality

Fork to farm approach

Based uponconsumer demands andmarketing requirements of retailers

Integrated project


Integrated project

� approx.150 scientists

� 17 million with € 14.6 million EU contribution

� 44 partners

� 17 countries (13 EU, 4 Latin America)

� 2004-2009


Welfare Quality aims to:�accomodate societal concerns and market demands�to develop reliable on-farm monitoring systems�to develop product information systems�to develop practical species-specific strategies toimprove animal welfare

Integrated project


Aims of a welfare assessment

Animals

on farms

during transport

at slaughter

Animal based measures: assessment of animal welfare

Product information

Consummers

Retailers

Environment based measures: identification of causes of poor welfare

Remedial solutions proposed

Producers

Assessors

Advisors

Animals

on farms

during transport

at slaughter

Animal based measures: assessment of animal welfare

Product information

Consummers

Retailers

Environment based measures: identification of causes of poor welfare

Remedial solutions proposed

Producers

Assessors

Advisorsadvice

certification


Consensus on « what is in animal welfare»:multidimensional concepte.g. Five freedoms (FAWC 1992)�Freedom from hunger and thirst�Freedom from discomfort�Freedom from pain, injury and disease�Freedom to express normal behaviour�Freedom from fear and distress

WQ assessment tool


Welfareprinciples

Welfarecriteria

1 Absence of prolonged hungerGood feeding

2 Absence of prolonged thirst3 Comfort around resting4 Thermal comfortGood

housing5 Ease of movement6 Absence of injuries7 Absence of diseaseGood health8

Absence of pain induced by managementprocedures

9 Expression of social behaviours10 Expression of other behaviours11 Good human-animal relationship

Appropriatebehaviour

12 Positive emotional state

WQ assessment tool


Overall assessment

Mea

sure

s

Crite

ria

Overallassessment

Princp

les

~30 412 1

Rawdata

Scale0 - 100

Scale0 - 100

Welfarecategories

Not classifiedAcceptable Enhanced

Excellent

Experts consulted:animal and social scientists from WelfareQuality®

+ stakeholders (Advisory Committee)


Measures to assess broiler welfare

Welfare Criteria Measures

1Absence ofprolongedhunger

Feed withdrawal time before slaughterAt slaughterhouse % of emaciatedrejected birds

Goodfeeding

2 Absence ofprolonged thirst

Drinker spaceFeed withdrawal time before slaughter

3 Comfortaround resting

Plumage cleanliness, litter quality, dustsheet test

4 Thermalcomfort

Panting, huddling

Goodhousing

5 Ease ofmovement

Stocking density


Welfare Criteria Measures

6Absence ofinjuries

Lameness, hock burn, foot pad dermatitis onfarm and at slaughter

7Absence ofdisease

On farm mortality, culls on farmAscites, dehydration, septicaemia, hepatitis,pericarditis, abscess from slaughterhouserejection records

Good health

8

Absence of paininduced bymanagementprocedures

No measure

9Expression ofsocialbehaviours

No measure

10Expression ofotherbehaviours

Cover on the range, free range

11Goodhuman-animalrelationship

Touch Test Ratio (TTR)

Appropriatebehaviour

12Positiveemotional state Qualitative behavioural assessment (QBA)

Measures to assess broiler welfare


Implementation of WQ protocol

CRPA + UNIVERSITY OF MILAN > 18 Italian intensive f armsUNIVERSITY OF WAGENINGEN > 18 Dutch intensive farmsUNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL > 10 English free range farms

2,202,252,302,352,402,452,502,552,602,652,702,75

Dutchintensive

farms (18)

Italianintensivefarms (18)

English freerange farms

(10)

kg


Plumage cleanliness score : 1÷4 (1=clean 4=dirty)54

40

17

2,5 2,3 0,70

10

20

30

40

50

60

Dutch intensivefarms (18)

Italian intensivefarms (18)

English free rangefarms (10)

Cleanliness 3+4 (%) Cleanliness score



Litter qualityscore : 1÷50. Completely dry andflaky2. Dry but not easy tomove with foot3. Leaves imprint of footand will form a ball ifcompacted, but balldoes not stay togetherwell4. Stick to boots andsticks readily in a ball ifcompacted5. Sticks to boots oncethe cap or compactedcrust is broken

3,9

2,52,9

0,00,51,01,52,02,53,03,54,04,5



English freerange farms (10)

Litter quality score



Lameness (gait score):0. Normal, dextrous and agile1. Slight abnormality, butdifficult to define2. Definite and identifiableabnormality3. Obvious abnormality, affectsability to move4. Severe abnormality, onlytakes a few steps5. Incapable of walking

2,02,2

1,7

0,0

0,5

1,0

1,5

2,0

2,5






Hock burn :0÷4 (absent to severe)

0 0 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4

7

6

1,0 0,80,1

5,4

5,6

5,8

6,0

6,2

6,4

6,6

6,8

7,0




0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Hock burn 3+4 (%) Hock burn score



Foot Pad Dermatitis Score:0÷4 absent to severe

0 2 41 3

53

35

15

1,5 1,8 0,70

10

20

30

40

50

60

Dutchintensive

farms (18)

Italianintensivefarms (18)

English freerange farms

(10)

FPD 3+4 (%)FPD score



% On farm mortality (death + culled)% Death On Arrival at slaughter

2,8

3,9

2,2

0,1 0,30,1

0,0

0,5

1,0

1,5

2,0

2,5

3,0

3,5

4,0

4,5




(%)

Mortality (%) DOA (%)



Avoidance Touch Test Ratio: number of birdstouched/number of birds in reach


0,53

0,220,26

0,0

0,1

0,2

0,3

0,4

0,5

0,6





Novel Object Test: number of birds less than 20 cm fromthe novel object is counted every 30 s for 2 mins


38

13

24

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40




NO

T (

nr.)


QBA - Qualitative Behaviour AssessmentObserve how the birds behave for 10 minutes at theentrance and in the middle of the house and score 23adjectives qualifying the animal behaviour such as:�Active�Relaxed�Helpless�Comfortable�Fearful �Agitated�Confident�Depressed�Calm



Measures during transport and at slaughter:� Feed and water withdrawal time� Journey time� Waiting time in lairage area



Measures during transport and at slaughter:� Stocking density in crates� Panting huddling (% of birds)



Measures at slaughter:� Check of the stunner settings� Stunning efficiency at the sticking point, duringbleeding and at the entrance of the scalding tank



Measures at slaughter:� Hock Burn Score� Foot Pad Dermatitis Score� Breast Burn Score



Potential applications

Broad categories of potential applications foranimal welfare assessment systems:� As a research tool� To enforce legislation� In Voluntary / Certification systems� To Advice farmers to improve management� Product information systems

Cervia, Italy, 18-22 May 2009

8th European Symposium on Poultry WelfareWorging Group 9 of the WPSA

EU Food-CT-2004-506508

Thanks for your kind attention

Implementation of the Welfare Quality on-farm protocol for ...€¦ · 0. Normal, dextrous and agile 1. Slight abnormality, but difficult to define 2. Definite and identifiable abnormality

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