Abstract
This study examines the impact of various housing systems on broiler chicken productivity, welfare, and overall performance. As poultry farming faces an increasing demand for meat production, understanding how different housing arrangements affect broiler growth, health, and behavior is essential. Four housing systems were analyzed such as traditional cages, deep litter, free-range, and environmentally controlled systems. Data were collected over 42 days, focusing on key performance indicators, such as weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), mortality rates, and behavioral scores. The study used a randomized experimental design, with 400 broiler chicks randomly assigned to each housing system. The results indicated significant variations across the systems. The controlled-environment group showed the highest weight gain and the lowest FCR, suggesting improved production efficiency. However, while fostering better behavioral welfare through natural behaviors, such as foraging and dust bathing, the free-range system exhibited higher mortality rates. While efficient in terms of space, traditional cages had moderate welfare scores and were less favorable in promoting natural behaviors. Deep litter systems provided moderate welfare benefits and weight gain but were less efficient in feed conversion. Statistical analyses confirmed that all housing systems significantly affected broiler performance, with the controlled environment outperforming other systems regarding weight gain and feed efficiency, whereas the free-range system excelled in welfare. The study concluded that housing systems required balancing productivity, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability and highlighted the need for more research to optimize broiler housing designs for diverse production contexts.
Published Version
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