Health and welfare observation in new broiler hydrids in Sweden

Abstract: The stronger demand from consumers and welfare society to introduce new breeds that fit for higher welfare and better sustainability has been a strong factor to start introducing new breeds to the Swedish market and to meet these strong demands. Two breeds has been chosen as interesting breeds to be studied in the Swedish market. Several parameters like weight gain, health and welfare indicators between two slow growing (SG) organic broiler hybrids, Rowan Ranger (RR) and Hubbard (H) were studied compared using two different housing systems, these two hybrids were chosen to be studied because they were the latest genotypes in the Swedish market and many organic farmers use them in their poultry production. Evaluation of performance, welfare and sustainability of these new genotypes is the key factor for the future of sustainable poultry production. Two groups with 200 birds each were reared in a research centre facility until the age of ten weeks. Total body weight, carcass parts, plumage cleanliness, footpad dermatitis, hock burns, skeletal problems and gait score were recorded weekly with reporting the mortality and culled birds with the reason of culling. Welfare Quality® protocol had been used to record welfare parameters on birds. There were some significant differences in some Welfare Quality® parameters between both hybrids. There was a significant difference in live weight, where RR had higher live weight and breast meat yield than H, nevertheless, there were no significant differences in the slaughter weight between both hybrids apart from that males had higher mean body weight in both hybrids and production systems than females. Additionally, Welfare Quality indicators have been evaluated for both hybrids and production systems, RR showed to have more incidents of dirtiness in plumage and higher footpad dermatitis score comparing to H. Other welfare indicators did not significantly differ between hybrids or production systems.