Academic Bibliography
https://biblio.ugent.be/
Ghent University Academic Bibliography2000-01-01T00:00+00:001monthlyNeighbourhood analysis as an indicator of spatial requirements of broiler chickens
https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/01HSB1ATQFEPM5MGFHR2WN52PZ
Buijs, Stephanie Keeling, Linda J.Vangestel, Carl Baert, JeroenTuyttens, Frank2011The appropriate stocking density for broiler chickens is a much discussed topic in animal welfare. To determine at which stocking density the level of crowding becomes aversive to 4-6-week-old broiler chickens, spatial distribution and behaviour of groups stocked at 8, 19, 29,40, 45, 51, 61 or 72 birds per 3.3 m(2) were analysed. Spatial distribution was evaluated using three different indices: inter-individual distances, nearest neighbour distances and Dirichlet polygon areas. The assumption was that broilers would increase the distance to their pen mates if high densities (i.e., close proximity to pen mates) were experienced as aversive, whereas they would decrease this distance if close proximity was experienced positively. Increased distances to pen mates would lead to increased nearest neighbour distances and a more homogeneous distribution (i.e., lower variation of inter-individual distances and of Dirichlet-polygon size) than expected by chance. The distribution expected by chance was determined from both a random distribution and a 'resource-corrected' random distribution (which incorporated environmental influences on spatial distribution but excluded social ones).
Behavioural observations showed that at higher stocking densities more sitting bouts (P = 0.003) and adjustments of the sitting and lying posture (P < 0.001) occurred. It was also found that nearest neighbour distance varied according to behaviour (P = 0.001). Birds that were eating/drinking were further apart from their nearest neighbour than birds that were foraging, preening, adjusting their sitting or lying posture or showing "other" behaviour.
The results from all three methods of spatial analysis suggested that broilers in groups >= 19 birds per 3.3 m(2) (ultimately equivalent to 15 kg/m(2)) started to experience the proximity of conspecifics as aversive at some point during the last 3 weeks of rearing. However, nearest neighbour distance analysis showed evidence of aversiveness earlier in life than the other methods of analyzing spatial distribution (variation in inter-individual distance and polygon size), suggesting that nearest neighbour distance is the more sensitive indicator of space requirements.
When uneven use of the different areas within the pen was reflected in the expected distribution (i.e., for comparisons to the resource-corrected random distribution) different results were obtained than when such measures were omitted (i.e., for comparisons to the random distribution). As such, this study emphasises the importance of accounting for environmental influences on distribution within a pen. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.application/pdfhttps://biblio.ugent.be/publication/01HSB1ATQFEPM5MGFHR2WN52PZhttp://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-01HSB1ATQFEPM5MGFHR2WN52PZhttp://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2010.11.017https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/01HSB1ATQFEPM5MGFHR2WN52PZ/file/01HSE70GYAAQVE15VFX4NBCXS8engElsevierNo license (in copyright)info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccessAPPLIED ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR SCIENCEISSN: 0168-1591ISSN: 1872-9045Veterinary SciencesSTOCKING DENSITYSOCIAL ATTRACTIONDOMESTIC-FOWLSPACEBEHAVIORWELFAREALLOWANCESFLOCKSLEVELSIZESpace allocationSpatial distributionCrowdingBroiler chickenBehaviourNeighbourhood analysis as an indicator of spatial requirements of broiler chickensjournalArticleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionAssessing attraction or avoidance between rabbits : comparison of distance-based methods to analyse spatial distribution
https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/01HSB1ATQ9171QVCB5E0NY0ZNX
Buijs, Stephanie Keeling, Linda J.Vangestel, Carl Baert, Jeroen Vangeyte, JuergenTuyttens, Frank2011application/pdfhttps://biblio.ugent.be/publication/01HSB1ATQ9171QVCB5E0NY0ZNXhttp://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-01HSB1ATQ9171QVCB5E0NY0ZNXhttp://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2011.08.019https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/01HSB1ATQ9171QVCB5E0NY0ZNX/file/01HSE75YC3K60Q8ZPRSWZYWXGWengAcademic Press LTD - Elsevier Science LTDNo license (in copyright)info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccessANIMAL BEHAVIOURISSN: 0003-3472Veterinary SciencesDirichlet polygon areainterindividual distancenearest-neighbour distanceOryctolagus cuniculusrabbitsocial behaviourspatial distributionEUROPEAN WILD RABBITORYCTOLAGUS-CUNICULUSLAYING HENSSPACING BEHAVIORSIZEORGANIZATIONPOPULATIONENCLOSURESDISPERSALFOODAssessing attraction or avoidance between rabbits : comparison of distance-based methods to analyse spatial distributionjournalArticleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionMeasuring thirst in broiler chickens
https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/1073173
Sprenger, MargotVangestel, CarlTuyttens, Frank2009Freedom from thirst has been long considered of paramount importance for animal welfare, however a feasible and sensitive animal-based indicator to assess thirst on-farm or at-slaughter, is not available. In this study, voluntary water consumption over time was investigated and validated as a non-invasive behavioural parameter for assessing thirst in broiler chickens. Thirty-two groups of four broilers were used in this study and the effect of three factors on water consumption from a test drinker was investigated: duration of water deprivation (0, 6, 12, or 24 h); familiarity with the test drinker, and age (35 or 37 days). Water consumption was measured after 30, 60, 90 and 120 min following the deprivation period. Water consumption increased with the length of the deprivation period and was greater in birds that had been habituated to the test drinker. The effect of familiarity was smaller for 24-h deprived groups compared to 6- and 12-h deprived groups. When birds were habituated to the drinker, they started to drink sooner than when the drinker was new. These findings illustrate the potential of simple, animal-based measures, such as water consumption over time to assess thirst in chickens and this behavioural test may form the basis of an on-farm test that could be included in integrated animal welfare assessment schemes.application/pdfhttps://biblio.ugent.be/publication/1073173http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-1073173http://doi.org/10.1017/s0962728600000981https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/1073173/file/1075599engNo license (in copyright)info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccessANIMAL WELFAREISSN: 0962-7286Agriculture and Food Sciencesthirstwater consumptiondehydrationanimal welfarebroilerswelfare assessmentMeasuring thirst in broiler chickensjournalArticleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion