EFFECTS OF STRAIN AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ON THE WELFARE PARAMETERS OF BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

This study was embarked upon to determine the effect of strain (Marshall and Abor Acres) and management system (without or with access to pasture) on welfare parameters of broiler chickens. A total of 204 randomly selected day-old chickens were allotted to four treatment groups, each replicated three times, with 17 birds per replicate in a factorial arrangement. The trial lasted 8 weeks. Data collected included tonic immobility, number of wing flaps and flapping duration, gait score, foot pad lesion and hock burns. The welfare parameters were subjected to analysis of variance to test the interaction effect of strain and management system. Strain and management interaction significantly (P<0.05) influenced welfare parameters such as tonic immobility, duration of wing flaps and hock burns in broiler chickens. On the average, Arbor Acres birds are better in welfare parameters compared to their Marshall counterparts.