Marisa Erasmus

IntroductionSlow-growing broilers have recently gained traction in mainstream broiler production in some European countries due to their improved leg health and welfare compared to conventional broilers (Rayner et al., 2020; Abeyesinghe et al., 2021; Baxter et al., 2021). Slow-growing broilers have been shown to have a better gait, lower prevalence of hock burn and footpad dermatitis (Rayner et al ...

IntroductionAnimal welfare pertains to the quality of life of an animal, denoting the cumulative positive and negative experiences of an animal1. The welfare of farmed animals impacts their development and productivity, shaping both public perception and consumer behavior regarding animal products. Thus, animal welfare lies at the intersection of public and producer interests. Maintaining public t ...

Walking on eggshells - assessing anxiety in chickens Extension collaborative for the poultry industry-Attention bias test-Applications-Research findingsAnxiety is the most common mental health disorder in people  (Bandelow & Michaelis, 2015). Chickens may also experience anxiety, but it is difficult to measure and research has been mainly focused on assessing fear. However, we can get in ...

This issue will cover:-What are behavioral needs?-What is dustbathing?-Dustbathing in commercial housing systemsSubstrate preferencesEnriched cages-Can dustbathing control ectoparasites?Behavioral needs encompass behaviors that chickens are strongly motivated to perform, and if they are unable to perform these highly motivated behaviors it could result in frustration (Duncan, 1998). Behavioral nee ...

   In this issue:Introduction to the gut microbiomeThe function of prominent bacterial phylaIntroduction to the gut-brain axisHow microbial imbalance affects poultry welfarePractical strategies to improve the gut health of poultryWhat is the gut microbiome?A microbial community, their collective genetic material and metabolites, within the digestive tract of an animal that usually has a ...

What is live haul?Turkeys are typically raised for 10 to 20 weeks, depending on bird sex, size, and product criteria for markets. Once the market weight is achieved, turkeys are herded, loaded, and transported to slaughter plants for stunning and processing.These events of herding, loading, and transporting turkeys are commonly referred to as “load out” or “live haul” (henc ...

The egg industry in the United States maintains approximately 300 million hens each year (United Egg Producers, 2025). For every laying hen that is hatched, approximately one male counterpart also hatches. However, as roosters do not produce eggs, they are typically culled, or euthanized, at hatch. However, the culling of these day-old male chicks raises ethical concerns. In an attempt to find an ...

1. IntroductionThe laying hen industry in the United States consists of approximately 330–340 million laying hens [1] that must first go through the growing phase known as the pullet phase. The pullet phase accounts for approximately 25% of a laying hen’s lifetime [2] and encompasses approximately 0–16 weeks of age (WOA). During this time, the pullet reaches sexual maturity and g ...

Animal welfare audits are performed to evaluate whether a hatchery, farm, or processing plant is meeting the specific animal welfare standards of a certification program.These programs may be internal to a certain company, or they could be a requirement for animal welfare certification. These certification programs have their own set of standards and audits, which are typically created in collabor ...

Damaging behaviors in poultry include feather pecking, vent pecking, and toe pecking. While feather and vent pecking are well-known welfare problems in poultry that have received significant attention from researchers and farmers, toe pecking remains relatively unknown. Therefore, this article aims to shed light on toe pecking.Toe pecking (TP) occurs when a laying hen pecks at her toes or the toes ...