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Journals / Harran Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi / 2025 / Volume: 14 Issue: 2

Prevalence Of Health-Based Welfare Indicators, Feather And Keel Bone Damages In Commercial Broiler Breeder Hens

Ticari damızlık etçi tavuklarda hayvan sağlığı refah göstergeleri ile tüy ve göğüs kemiği hasarlarının yaygınlık düzeyi

Metin Petek(BURSA ULUDAG UNIVERSITY)0000-0003-4560-2438
Enver Çavuşoglu(BURSA ULUDAG UNIVERSITY)0000-0002-9018-3511
Pages
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Publication Date
2025-12-24
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

It was found that the flocks' average dead-on-arrival (DOA) mortality rate ranged from 0.072 to 0.125%.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:This study was made to investigate the on-farm welfare of commercial broiler breeder hens using data collected during ante-mortem inspections of flocks at a commercial slaughterhouse in Bursa, Türkiye, during spring season between February to April.
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Key Findings & Data:In total, 160 hens randomly selected from four flocks (Ross308; 40 hens from each flock) were subjected to a comprehensive visual examination by an observer to assess welfare conditions.
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Conclusion & Impact:It was found that the flocks' average dead-on-arrival (DOA) mortality rate ranged from 0.072 to 0.125%.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Broiler breeder · Feather loss · Keel bone damage

Abstract

This study was made to investigate the on-farm welfare of commercial broiler breeder hens using data collected during ante-mortem inspections of flocks at a commercial slaughterhouse in Bursa, Türkiye, during spring season between February to April. In total, 160 hens randomly selected from four flocks (Ross308; 40 hens from each flock) were subjected to a comprehensive visual examination by an observer to assess welfare conditions. Feather coverage on various body parts and tails of the hen was assessed to determine the level of feather loss. Keel bone condition was evaluated through palpation and visual inspection to identify any deviations or keel fractures. It was found that the flocks' average dead-on-arrival (DOA) mortality rate ranged from 0.072 to 0.125%. Body weight uniformity values in the flocks indicated less variability among the hens (from 8.98 to 14.07%). The distribution of hens having various levels of feather damage was found to be significantly different among the body regions of hens in all flocks. Severe feather damage was commonly observed on all flocks' back, tail, breast-abdomen, and belly-cloaca as a percentage of 78, 83, 97, and 90%, respectively. The average prevalence of keel bone deviation and fracture across the flock was found to be 13 and 33%, respectively. In conclusion, the study revealed a very high prevalence of severe feather damage and keel-tip deformities in the observed broiler breeder flocks. Further study involving more flocks and higher densities hens would be very beneficial.

Özet

Bu çalışma, ticari etçi damızlık tavuklarda verim dönemi hayvan refahı düzeyini incelemek amacı ile yapılmıştır. Veriler Bursa ilinde faaliyet gösteren ticari bir kesimhanede kesim öncesi dört farklı damızlık sürüden toplanmıştır (n=160). DOA ortalama ölüm oranının %0,072 ile %0,125 arasında değiştiği, canlı ağırlık bir örneklik düzeyinin %8,98 ile %14,07 arasında değiştiği bulunmuştur. Tüy kaybı ve göğüs kemiği deformasyonlarını incelemek için tavukların değişik vücut bölümleri bireysel olarak gözlem ve palpasyon yolu ile skorlama yapılarak değerlendirilmiştir. Farklı seviyelerde tüy hasarına sahip tavukların dağılımının tüm sürülerde tavukların vücut bölgeleri arasında farklı olduğu bulunmuştur. Tüm sürülerde tavukların sırt, kuyruk ve göğüs-karın bölgesinde yaygın olarak ciddi tüy hasarı gözlemlenmiştir. Tavukjların %13'ündegöğüs kemiği eğikliği, %33'ünde göğüs kemiğinde kırık gözlemlenmiştir. Sonuç olarak, etçi damızlık tavuklarda çok yüksek oranda hafif ya da şiddetli düzeyde tüy hasarı olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Daha fazla sürüde ve daha fazla tavuk üzerinde yeni çalışmaların planlanmasının faydalı olacağı düşünülmektedir.

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Cite This Article

Petek, M., Çavuşoglu, E. (2025). Prevalence Of Health-Based Welfare Indicators, Feather And Keel Bone Damages In Commercial Broiler Breeder Hens. Harran Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, Volume: 14 Issue: 2. https://doi.org/10.31196/huvfd.1674007

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