On the topic of broilers welfare, Mona Giersberg (University of Utrecht) shared the results of various current studies regarding the improvement of chicken welfare from hatch to slaughter. Conventional hatching, where broiler chicks lack early access to feed and water, negatively impacts welfare, particularly increasing footpad dermatitis. Alternative hatching systems, like early nutrition in hatcheries or on-farm hatching, improve welfare outcomes. However, the hatching method has little effect on other indicators like fear responses. To monitor welfare on farms, sensor and vision-based tools track activity and gait, offering more precise individual assessments. For laying hens, vision-based tracking systems aim to reduce harmful behaviors. The aWISH project was also mentioned, since it focuses on linking farm and slaughterhouse data to monitor welfare indicators like footpad dermatitis and wing fractures.
Ingrid De Jong (Wageningen University & Research) presented results about the “Effect of extensification factors on broiler welfare and meat quality”, where two trials were shown, one comprising stocking density and roughage provision, and another comprised environmental enrichment and breed. For both trials, the measurements were equal: performance, behaviour, fearfulness, play at three similar body weights, welfare indicators and meat quality at slaughter. The results in trial 1 showed that reduced stocking density resulted in more foraging, less resting, better gait scores, cleaner broilers, less footpad dermatitis and less hock burn. In trial 2, the slow-growing breed showed more active and foraging behaviour; had better gait, less footpad dermatitis, less hock burns and better cleanliness scores. Thus, reducing stocking density and a slow-growing breed had most beneficial effects on welfare.