Page 2 of 2
The future
Much remains to be done, but the framework is in place for progress to be made. Superior welfare can be predicted for all poultry species in the years ahead, but the speed with which progress towards the ideals will be made is less certain. Some obvious obstacles may not be easily overcome. The serious problem of cannibalism may be gradually reduced by breeding programmes, system design and husbandry intervention, but the underlying problem may prove to be insuperable. It has been suggested, for instance, that it may only be possible to eliminate cannibalism by genetic modification (GM) of the breeding stock. This, however, may not be acceptable. Meanwhile, improved, more accurate beak treatments, such as using infrared or laser beams, may help to alleviate the lasting pain and stress caused by traditional hot blade beak cutting.
Other examples of serious physical welfare threats that may be difficult to eliminate are contact dermatitis in all poultry species loose-housed on litter, leg weakness disorders in fast growing broilers, and red mite in all systems. Regarding skeletal damage in laying hens, Bristol University researchers recently announced a new 3-year project 'Production of "welfare friendly" eggs - improving bone health and reducing bone breakage in laying hens using an omega-3 modified diet'. In the longer term, the findings of this study might alleviate one of the serious welfare problems of free-range laying hens mentioned above. Mental stress, and distress due to birds’ positions within certain social hierarchies being formed, can also be a problem, probably more in some systems than others. Some promising research work is emerging in these fields but future success to eliminate these welfare problems is not yet totally assured. One important approach to achieve progress in such areas will be networking and collaboration between workers and institutes to bridge the gaps between basic and applied research and development. Another approach, currently showing promise, is to tackle practical welfare problems using large scale epidemiological studies involving many poultry farms.
Role of WPSA Working Group 9
Accurate forward prediction of poultry welfare achievement is difficult beyond a few years – 2034 seems a long way off! However, as chairperson of WG9, the author feels confident that this group will continue to play an important role in the enhancement of poultry welfare in the years ahead. WG9 currently has 36 members in 22 European countries. As well as having expertise in 41 listed areas and disciplines involved in poultry welfare and management, members of this group regularly collaborate in EU-wide poultry welfare projects: recent and current examples are LayWel, the EFSA opinion on the welfare of laying hens and & Welfare Quality.Additionally, WG9 currently has two sub-groups working on the improvement of furnished laying cages, and on the reduction of contact dermatitis in broilers. It continues to encourage researchers to examine and study further possible avenues of poultry welfare improvement.
Another important aspect of the role of WG9 is to organise quadrennial poultry welfare symposia in various venues throughout Europe. These are well attended and provide the most prominent forum at which to report and discuss recent poultry welfare research and development. The 8th symposium was held this year in Italy. Future planned symposia include the 9th in Sweden in 2013 and the 10th in France in 2017. These, together with welfare sessions at other poultry events, such as the WPSA European Poultry Conference in 2010, and other methods of dissemination, should ensure that poultry welfare research contributes positively to improve the wellbeing of poultry throughout Europe and beyond for many years to come.
« Previous Page | Page 2 of 2
Source: World Poultry, vol. 25, no.09, 2009.
Comments (1)