Poultry Welfare
A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Poultry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2016) | Viewed by 84595
Special Issue Editors
Interests: welfare indicators; animal choice; animal cognition; chicken welfare
Interests: social behavior; maladaptive behavior; poultry welfare; social networks; animal personality; behavioural development; maternal effects; behaviour genetics; early-life conditions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
There has been a dramatic rise in worldwide consumption of poultry and poultry products in the past 50 years, and there are currently around 22 billion chickens, 1.3 billion ducks and nearly 400 million geese in the world. Breeding policies directed primarily towards increased meat and egg production have been pursued with great success, but at some cost to the birds. Problems with leg health, skeletal strength and disease resistance all need solutions. Rearing, housing and slaughter practices also have profound welfare implications. Great advances have been made in scientific assessment of poultry welfare, and new indicators and technologies are now available to establish the extent of current problems. Scientists are also working with the industry and consumers to develop policies and practices that protect birds’ physical health and allow for the expression of behavioural needs. Poultry welfare is now a topic of global interest and it is timely to track progress as solutions to welfare problems are proposed and tested.
Original manuscripts that address any aspects of poultry welfare are invited for this special issue. Topics of special interest are the validation of welfare indicators for poultry, emerging welfare issues, the role of genetics and early experience on later welfare, the optimal design of housing and management practices to protect health and allow for behavioural needs, and methods of humane (emergency) slaughter.
Prof. Dr. Christine Nicol
Dr. T. Bas Rodenburg
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- animal welfare
- laying hen
- broiler
- duck
- welfare indicator
- lameness
- fracture
- disease
- behavioural needs
- humane slaughter
- feather pecking
- genetic selection
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