Tiers Of Cages Research Articles

The Impact of Laying Hen Age, Egg-Laying Time, Cage Tier, and Cage Direction on Egg Quality Traits in Hens in an Enriched Cage System

The Impact of Laying Hen Age, Egg-Laying Time, Cage Tier, and Cage Direction on Egg Quality Traits in Hens in an Enriched Cage System

Influence of cage tiers height on cloaca temperature, performance, and egg quality of Isa-Brown laying hens reared in a humid tropical climate

Abstract This research was carried out to evaluate the influence of cage tiers height on cloaca temperature, performance and egg quality of Isa-Brown laying birds. A total of One hundred and eight (108) Isa-Brown laying birds were selected from a healthy stock. The poultry house contained conventional battery cages arranged in a three-tier design. One unit of the battery cage made up of three (3) tiers with three (3) cells per tier was setup to accommodate three (3) birds per cell and a total of 27 birds per unit cage. This setup was replicated for three additional cage units. The performance of the birds was evaluated in terms of the egg weight, egg mass, feed conversion ratio, hen day production, and total feed consumed. The results revealed no significant (P >0.05) difference among cage tiers in terms of egg weight and feed conversion ratio but egg mass, hen day production and total feed consumed were significantly influenced. Highest egg mass (38.96g), highest Hen Day production (78.66%) and highest daily feed intake (99.01g) were recorded in birds raised in the upper tier of the cage. For the period of the study, cloaca temperature ranged between 36 °C and 41 °C. Cloaca temperature was not significantly (P >0.05) affected by cage tiers height. In comparison to layers raised in low-tier cages, those raised in high-tier cages had higher egg production and better feed efficiency. These findings suggest that cage tier heights play an important role in the production performance of laying hens but cloaca temperature was not affected. However, further researches on the effect of cage tiers height on cloaca temperature should be carried out in a controlled setting

Effect of age, stocking density, genotype, and cage tier on feather score of layer pure lines

Effect of age, stocking density, genotype, and cage tier on feather score of layer pure lines

Cage Position and Response to Humans in Singly-housed Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta).

Traditional laboratory caging for nonhuman primates is typically configured in a 2-tiered manner, with caging arranged in 2 horizontal rows stacked vertically. Studies of the effects of cage row have yielded inconsistent results with respect to impacts on psychological well-being. This study tests whether rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) housed in the bottom tier of caging display poorer responses to attempted positive human interaction than those in the upper tier, suggesting that humans are a greater stressor for animals housed in bottom rows. The attempted positive social interaction took the form of offering a food treat by hand. This study involved 270 male and female singly-housed rhesus macaques, ranging in age from 2.4 to 27.4 y of age. Cage position was characterized not only with respect to tier, but also with respect to proximity of the cage rack to the room door. A single technician recorded whether the animal retrieved the treat within 10 s and also recorded all social behaviors directed toward the technician during the test. No effects of cage tier were detected, nor were effects of proximity to the door found. However, significant contrasts were detected with respect to subjects' sex, age, and lifetime tenure in indoor caging. Females were less likely than males to take treats from a human's hand, and were more likely to show fear. Both increased age and tenure in caging were associated with an increased probability of taking the treat. These findings may have implications for programs aiming to monitor and address fearful behavior.

Impact of light-emitting diode and compact fluorescent light source type and cage tier on layers reared in an enriched cage system Part 1: Production performance and egg quality

This study?s aim was to investigate the effects of age, light source type (light-emitting diode (LED), and compact fluorescent (FLO)), and cage tier on production performance and egg quality traits of layers reared in the enriched cage system. A total of 800 Nick Chick White layers were used in the study. A total of 800 eggs were used for egg quality traits at 25 and 45 weeks of age. The enriched cage tiers were coded as I, II, III, and IV from bottom to top. Layer age significantly affected egg mass, hen-day egg production rate, hen-house egg production rate, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, damaged egg ratio (P < 0.05), egg weight, shape index, shell thickness, albumen weight, yolk weight, shell weight, yolk color index, albumen ratio, yolk ratio, and shell ratio (P < 0.001). The higher egg mass, egg weight, albumen weight, yolk weight, shell thickness (P < 0.001), dirty egg ratio (P < 0.01), and lower FCR, yolk color index (P < 0.01), shell ratio (P < 0.01) were found in the FLO group when compared to the LED group (P < 0.05). Highest body weight was found in cage tier I at 45 weeks of age (P < 0.001). Level of cage tier significantly affected 50% egg production age, egg mass, hen-day egg production rate, hen-house egg production rate, and dirty egg ratio (P < 0.01). Level of cage tier significantly affected 5% egg production age, FCR, and shape index (P < 0.05). It can be concluded that the hens in the FLO group were better than the LED group in terms of some production and egg quality traits.

Impact of light-emitting diode and compact fluorescent lighting type and cage tier on layers reared in an enriched cage system, part 2: some welfare traits

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of lighting type [light-emitting diode (LED) and compact fluorescent (FLO) light] and cage tier on welfare traits such as feather score, body and comb wounds, bumble foot and footpad dermatitis, beak damage, keel bone deformity, finger damage, aggressive pecking behavior, and the avoidance distance test (ADT) in laying hens reared in an enriched cage system. A total of 400 layers were used to determine these traits at 25 and 45 weeks of age. A total of 80 layers were used to determine tonic immobility (TI) duration and induction number. The dust accumulation rate (DAR I and DAR II) was recorded to determine the activity of layers under different lighting sources at 25, 35, and 45 weeks of age. The highest DAR I and DAR II were determined in the FLO group at 35 and 45 weeks of age (P < 0.05). The worst comb wound and highest ADT were found in the FLO group at 25 weeks of age (P < 0.05). In the FLO group the mean feather score, comb wound, and finger damage were worse than in the LED group (P < 0.01). In addition, aggressive pecking behavior (P < 0.01) was observed more in the FLO group at 45 weeks of age (P < 0.05). The breast and vent feather scores (P < 0.001), mean body feather score, comb wound, and footpad dermatitis of hens at 45 weeks of age (P < 0.05) were worse in lower cage tiers. In conclusion, using LED light in poultry houses helps to increase some of the welfare parameters. Cage tier significantly affects the welfare parameters, and this effect is clearer around 45 weeks of age in layers.

Spatial behavior of the thermo-luminous conditions of facility laying hens in naturally ventilated vertical system

ABSTRACT The facilities for laying hens should be designed to provide thermal comfort and satisfactory luminosity for the production of quality eggs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the spatial behavior of thermal conditions and light intensity of facilities for laying hens with vertical cages naturally conditioned during winter and summer. Air temperature, air relative humidity and light intensity data were collected in 75 points distributed evenly through the longitudinal direction of the installation in three tiers of cages (first, third and sixth). Each point represented a set of coordinates (x, y, z), being the x-axis the lines (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5), y-axis the sections (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5) and z-axis the tiers (N1, N2, N3). The spatial behavior of the thermal conditions of the facility was held during the coldest period of winter and the warmest period of summer. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial scheme. In the winter, the temperature showed homogeneous behavior among sections and variable among lines. In the summer, the spatial variability of temperature and humidity was more accentuated than in the winter, mainly among tiers. For both seasons, the center of the facility presented lower light intensity than the lateral. From the spatial behavior of the thermal conditions of the facility laying hens, it is possible to verify the magnitude and variability of temperature, relative humidity and light intensity, identify vulnerable and deficit thermal regions and contribute to decision-making related to thermal conditioning and luminosity of the facility.

Effect of cage tier and age on performance, egg quality and stress parameters of laying hens

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of cage tier and age on performance characteristics of layer hybrids, egg quality and some stress parameters. Ninety laying hens (hybrid ATAK-S) of similar bodyweights were used in the experiment. They were housed in three-tier conventional battery cages (bottom, middle and top) with 600 cm2/per bird. The experiment was conducted on hens from the age of 18 weeks to 42 weeks. Layers at the age of 18 weeks were randomly allocated to conventional three-tier battery cages with five replicates of six hens per treatment in a completely randomized design. In the bottom, middle and top tiers, 5% age of yield was observed as 151, 146 and 156 days, respectively; 50% age of yield was 162.4, 158.6 and 161.8 days; 5% yield age bodyweight (BW) as 1597.8, 1460.5 and 1599.2 g; 50% yield age BW as 1708.7, 1666.4 and 1671.7 g, respectively. The effects of cage tiers on week 42 BW, feed conversion ratio (FCR), tonic immobility (TI), egg weight (EW), egg yield (EY), and most external and internal quality traits of the hens’ eggs were found to be insignificant. Except for shape index (SI) and albumen pH, internal and external quality traits of eggs were significantly affected by age of the hens. In addition, there were significant effects of age on the FCR, EY, EW and oviposition time. The effects of cage tier on tonic immobility (TI) in week 42 and viability were found to be insignificant, but TI in week 30 was found to be significant. It can be concluded that cage tier did not have significant effects on egg yield, egg quality and indicators of stress parameters studied in the experiment. However, these parameters were affected by the age of the hens at the beginning of the laying period.Keywords: Cage tiers, layer hybrids, hybrids age, egg quality

Using video image analysis to count hens in cages and reduce egg breakage on collection belts

Stock people working in modern cage layer sheds spend more than half their daily work time directly checking hens to monitor health and welfare. In addition, mechanical egg collection belts must be checked for potential blockages that may result in cracked or broken eggs during the collection process. These are important tasks in the profitable management of modern multi-tier cage systems. However, where the upper tiers of cages are above stockperson eye level, the effectiveness of humans to perform these tasks accurately may be questioned. We investigated whether video image analysis (VIA, the ability of a computer to ‘see’) could automatically perform two common tasks – that of counting the number of hens per cage and scanning the egg collection belt to identify foreign (non-egg) objects. Cameras were attached to the robotic feeder that moved along the front of the cages. Views of the interior of the cages and the egg collection belt were recorded on digital video as the robotic feeder moved. Two VIA prototypes were evaluated, initially at the research institute and subsequently at a commercial farm. Using the respective automatic detection algorithms that were developed for the research, 79% of targets (hen legs) in cages were correctly counted, while 95% of foreign objects on the egg collection belt were detected. The results demonstrate that VIA can be used to monitor egg belts for potential blockages, and has potential as technology to count hens.

Corticosterone and fear behaviour in white and brown caged laying hens

1. Physiological and behavioural measures of stress in caged hens on a commercial farm were compared between White Leghorn and brown Hyline strains, and between three tiers of cages. 2. Blood and faecal samples were collected from undisturbed birds for corticosterone measurements. Plasma corticosterone responses to a stressor were measured by the collection of blood samples after 15, 30, and 60 min of a handling stressor. Tonic immobility and novel object tests were used to measure fear behaviour. 3. Plasma corticosterone in undisturbed hens and faecal corticosterone did not differ between White Leghorn and brown Hyline hens, whereas the plasma corticosterone response to a handling stressor was greater in White Leghorns. The duration of tonic immobility, latency to first head movement and number of head movements in tonic immobility tests were greater in white than brown birds, whereas the number of inductions was less for tonic immobility tests. There were no differences between the strains in their responses to a novel object. 4. There were no differences between tiers in plasma corticosterone or corticosterone responses or tonic immobility responses, and no consistent differences in responses of birds to a novel object. 5. This is the first study in which plasma and faecal corticosterone concentrations and fear behaviour have been measured together in laying hens, and the first description of plasma corticosterone responses to handling over 60 min for caged laying hens on a commercial farm. The study has shown the value of measuring endocrine and behavioural variables together to provide objective data on characteristics of different strains of hens.

Temporal Patterning of Oral Stereotypies in Restricted-fed Fowls: 1. Investigations with a Sibgle Daily Meal

Intwo experiments, 24 immature female broiler breeder fowls housed in two 12-cage battery units in identical rooms received a single daily ration which they ate in 10 min, according to a programme of food restriction. From regular 15-min videorecordings, measurements were made of times spent in mutually exclusive activities (sitting, standing, head out, pacing, preening, object pecking, drinker activity). In Experiment 1, feeding time was 09.00 h in one room and 13.00 h in the other, and all birds were videorecorded in every hour of the (14-h) photoperiod on two lternate days. Differences in behaviour before and after feeding were independent of feeding time. In both rooms, head out and pacing increased before feeding, and object pecking and drinker activity (oral stereotypies) commenced immediately afterwards and then declined. Individual variation in the oral stereotypies was significant, and individuals' mean levels of both stereotypies together were consistent on the two days, but their hourly patterns were less so. Experiment 2 tested the notion of homeostatic control of oral stereotypies, by feeding all birds at 09.00 h and measuring their responses to removal of drinkers and empty feeders (main targets of the stereotypies) for either 0, 1.5 or 3 h before 15.00 h. Each cage tier received each treatment once, over three alternate days when all birds were recorded on video between 12.00 and 18.00 h (lights ofQ. During removal of feeders and drinkers, partial suppression of object pecking and total suppression of drinker activity were balanced by corresponding increases in sitting, head out and preening. After the return of feeders and drinkers, preening declined and both stereotypies showed evidence of post-inhibitory rebound, but there was no difference between 1.5 and 3 h removal treatments. The results concur with earlier evidence indicating that preening can substitute with oral stereotypies, and it is suggested they may demonstrate homeostasis in total (substitutable) oral activity over the whole test. Conceivably, homeostasis of arousal may underlie changes in broiler breeder behaviour before and after feeding time.

SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES ON CAGED SINGLE COMB WHITE LEGHORN LAYERS

Pullets from two-way crosses between three highly inbred lines of Single Comb White Leghorns were housed in two sizes of commercial laying cages, two pullets per cage. Individual bird egg production records were kept when birds were 68–72 wk of age. During this period, peck order within each cage, fearfulness and body weight of each individual were determined. Differences between matings for fearfulness, body weight and egg production were not significant. However, in the case of egg production, both the mating × cage size and mating × cage tier interactions were significant. The genotype × environment interactions were interpreted to be due, in part, to varied behavioral response to the environment. Dominant birds had both a higher rate of egg production and heavier body weight than their subordinate cage mates. Birds housed in the larger cages (516 cm2 per bird) were less fearful than those in the smaller cages (412 cm2 per bird). Lower fearfulness was associated with higher egg production.

The Interactions of Cage Size, Cage Level, Social Density, Fearfulness, and Production of Single Comb White Leghorns

Pullets representing ten matings of Single Comb White Leghorns were housed in three sizes of double tier cages. Egg production and fearfulness were measured on a cage basis when the birds were 60 to 64 weeks of age. Livability from 20 to 64 weeks was measured within matings, cage sizes and cage tiers. There were significant differences among matings for both egg production and fearfulness. Hens housed in the top tier of cages layed at a lower rate and were more fearful than those housed in the bottom tier. Increasing the number of birds per cage while holding area per bird constant tended to influence both egg production and fearfulness more than did holding number of birds constant and changing the area per bird. Livability was not significantly influenced by mating, cage tier or cage size. Within matings, fearfulness and egg production as well as fearfulness and livability tended to be negatively related. Over matings within either cage size or cage tier there was no relationship between these factors, indicating a genetic component to the relationship between fearfulness and either egg production or livability.

Feather pecking and cannibalism in a caged layer flock.

1. The progress of feather pecking and cannibalism was recorded from hatching to end of lay in a flock of caged layers and the influence of group size, floor area allowance and cage tier upon the incidence of these activities during lay assessed. 2. The largest group suffered more cannibalism and feather pecking than smaller groups, floor area allowance and tier being less important factors. 3. A significant trend was found for one death from cannibalism to be followed by more in the same cage.4. It was concluded that feather pecking and cannibalism are separate phenomena, although the same cage conditions increased the incidence of both. 5. Cannibalism may be divided into vent pecking and cannibalism affecting other parts of the body, the former is independent of feather pecking and the latter, though usually preceded by feather pecking, is only indirectly associated with it.

Performance of Broilers in Cages

Four tiers of cages were built with two cages per tier. Each cage measured 0.61×0.91 m. The top three tiers of cages were floored with rubber-covered nylon with holes of 0.95 cm. punched into the fabric every 0.64 cm. The bottom tier of cages was floored with 1.27×12.7 cm. plastic mesh. The droppings were allowed to fall through each cage tier and were collected under the bottom cages. Broilers were placed in the cages at a density of 3.7 dm.2 per broiler, and in two floor pens with rice hull litter at a density of 9.3 dm.2 per broiler.No significant differences were found for 8-week live body weights among the floor and cage reared broilers although the cage reared broilers were heavier than those grown on the floor. At 9 weeks of age, the caged broilers were heavier (P < 0.05) than broilers grown on the floor. The occurrence of breast blisters was higher (P < 0.05) on broilers grown on plastic mesh than on birds grown on litter or rubber-covered nylon. There was no difference among the cage and the floor reared broilers as to tibia breakage strength as measured by an Allo-Kramer shear press. No significant difference was found among the cage and floor reared broilers for feed efficiency. The floor reared broilers had fewer broken wings (P < 0.05) than cage reared broilers when processed in a commercial processing plant.After the broilers were processed, there was a greater (P < 0.05) number of downgrades due to breast blisters for broilers grown on plastic mesh and on the floor when compared with broilers grown on rubber-covered nylon. Floor reared broilers had a stronger humerus (P < 0.05) than did broilers reared in cages when measured by an Allo Kramer shear press.

The Effect of Humidity and Flooring Type on the Moisture Content of Broiler Excrements

THE variations in moisture level of poultry excreta were recently reviewed by Johnson and Mountney (1969). However, little information is available as to the effects of various types of flooring on the moisture content of excreta.The following experiments were conducted in part to determine the effect of humidity and flooring type on the moisture content of excreta from broilers.EXPERIMENTAL METHODSTwo experiments using broiler type chicks and fed a high energy ration were conducted in four controlled 1.8×2.4× 2.4 m. environmental chambers. Each environmental chamber contained six 45.7×45.7×91.4 cm. wire cages. Within each chamber the cages were located at three levels with two cages per level. Relative humidity (RH) was measured and maintained with hair element humidistats and pneumatically controlled dry steam humidifiers. Air entered each chamber through perforations in two of the side walls. The tiers of cages in each chamber were located adjacent to one of.

A Method for Calculating the Area of Breeding and Growing Accommodation Required for a Given Output of Small Laboratory Animals

A method is given for the calculation of the area of animal accommodation needed to produce a given output of small laboratory animals. This method depends on determining the number of cages needed according to productivity, the age of animals at time of use, the proportion of animals not suitable for use, and the stocking density of the growing stock for the output needed. The area needed to hold this number of cages can then be calculated according to the shelf length taken by the cages, working space required, numbers of tiers of cages, and the proportion of animals that will be wasted due to fluctuations in supply and demand. An example is given and compared with actual results, and the effects of errors in the estimation of some of the variables are discussed.