Assessing Environmental Control Strategies in Cage-Free Egg Production Systems: Effect on Spatial Occupancy and Natural Behaviors.

摘要: Animal welfare concerns have been a challenging issue for producers and international marketing. In laying hen production, cage-free systems (CFS) identified as an alternative to ensure the hens' well-being. Nevertheless, in CFS, important environmental issues reported, decreasing indoor air quality. Environmental control strategies (ECS) designed enhance quality CFSs. However, little information exists about effect of these ECSs on natural animal behaviors. Four one were tested experimental previously track behavioral variables using video recordings over seven time-lapses 1 hour per day. Spatial occupancy (SO) behaviors (LHB) registered. One statistical analysis was applied evaluate ECS SO LHB multinomial response model. Results show lower chances use litter area within reduction allowance treatment (T17) (p < 0.05). Neither four nor implemented this experiment affected hens. stress patterns high activity reported T17 treatment. This study shows that it is possible without disrupting