Behaviour in one fast-growing and one slower-growing broiler (Gallus gallus domesticus) hybrid fed a high- or low-protein diet during a 10-week rearing period

• Published in: Acta agriculturae Scandinavica. Section A, Animal science Animal science, 2016-07, Vol.66 (3), p.168-176
• Main Authors: Wallenbeck, A., Wilhelmsson, S., Jönsson, L., Gunnarsson, S., Yngvesson, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Behavior; Behaviour; behavioural time budget; Chicks; Diet; Forage; Foraging behavior; Genetics and Breeding; Genetik och förädling; Genotypes; High protein diet; Hybrids; Low protein diet; organic production; Physical growth; poultry; Proteins; slower-growing hybrid; social; welfare
• ISSN: 0906-4702; 1651-1972; 1651-1972
• DOI: 10.1080/09064702.2017.1303081

This study compared behavioural time budgets, presence of comfort behaviours and social behaviours in two different broiler genotypes (the fast-growing Ross 308 (R) and the slower-growing Rowan Ranger (RR)) fed organic diets with high (17.0% crude protein (CP)) or low (14.5% CP) protein content during a 10-week rearing period. 429-day-old chicks (218 R and 211 RR, respectively) were included in the study and behaviour was recorded at 2, 6 and 9 weeks of age. The results showed no effect of diet treatments but that R broilers were less active and sat, ate and drank more frequently than RR broilers, which stood and perched more frequently. However, both hybrids showed decreasing activity and foraging behaviour with increasing age, while time spent eating and sleeping was approximately similar over the entire rearing period.