Abstract
The environment is very important for the performance of laying hens; thus, techniques are required to improve production systems, providing better welfare for poultry and consequent increase in the quality of the final product, the egg. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of rearing system, on the floor and in cage, on the performance and egg internal and external quality of laying hens. A total of 320 Hysex Brown laying hens, with 34-43 weeks days of age, was distributed in a completely randomized design, with two treatments, floor and cage, with 10 replicates each. The parameters evaluated were: individual feed intake, egg production per replicate, feed conversion per dozen eggs, egg weight; weight and percentage participation of shell, albumen and yolk, specific gravity, body weight variation and viability of birds. The results show that the birds raised on the floor showed best results as to egg production, besides the best internal and external quality, with greater weight of egg, yolk, albumen, shell and with lower losses of eggs. Because of the negative effects of the cage system, in general, hens presented lower results when compared to results of those raised on the floor.
Highlights
The animal rearing model has been a topic discussed in recent years
To create a system that produces comfort and well-being for birds, it is necessary to maintain a relationship between well-being, stress and animal behavior, and for this it is important to conceptualize the term animal welfare
The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of the rearing system, on the floor and in cages, and of the environment on performance and egg internal and external quality of laying hens
Summary
The animal rearing model has been a topic discussed in recent years. This objection towards the creation of chickens in cage, the most common method theses days, is mainly related to the restriction of the freedom of birds due to the lack of space, contact with the siol and no interaction with other birds, making natural activities impossible (Pereira, 2013).To create a system that produces comfort and well-being for birds, it is necessary to maintain a relationship between well-being, stress and animal behavior, and for this it is important to conceptualize the term animal welfare. The animal rearing model has been a topic discussed in recent years. This objection towards the creation of chickens in cage, the most common method theses days, is mainly related to the restriction of the freedom of birds due to the lack of space, contact with the siol and no interaction with other birds, making natural activities impossible (Pereira, 2013). To create a system that produces comfort and well-being for birds, it is necessary to maintain a relationship between well-being, stress and animal behavior, and for this it is important to conceptualize the term animal welfare. The importance of allowing these animals to express. Animal Sciences, v. 40, e37677, 2018 their natural behavior, preventing them from creating some kind of atypical behavior and hampering their development
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