Methods to address poultry robustness and welfare issues through breeding and associated ethical considerations

摘要: As consumers and society in general become more aware of ethical moral dilemmas associated with intensive rearing systems, pressure is put on the animal poultry industries to adopt alternative forms housing. This presents challenges especially regarding managing competitive social interactions between animals. However, selective breeding programs are rapidly advancing, enhanced by both genomics new quantitative genetic theory that offer potential solutions improving adaptation bird existing proposed production environments. The outcomes could lead improvement welfare increasing fitness for given environments, which might increased contentment decreased distress birds those systems. Genomic selection, based dense markers, will allow rapid traits expensive or difficult measure, have a low heritability, such as pecking, cannibalism, robustness, mortality, leg score, bone strength, disease resistance, thus has address many concerns. Recently selection include effects, known associative indirect effects (IGEs), received much attention. Group, kin, multi-level, multi-trait including IGEs all been shown be highly effective reducing mortality while productivity layers reduce eliminate need beak trimming. Multi-level was increases robustness indicated greater ability cope stressors. Kin easy implement improve well-being. Management practices conditions employed domestic continue change scientific results. tools necessary provide an best adapted these changing readily available should used, ultimately possible impacted.