The effects of management program and social rank on behavior and productivity of white leghorn layers in cages.
The effects of three management programs for behavioral and production performance traits of caged layers were evaluated. Management programs consisted of 5 birds per cage; (1) in deep cages, (2) shallow cages, both with full feed, and (3) shallow cages with restricted feeding. Feeding frequencies, aggressive activity, egg production, egg weights, body weights, and egg shell strengths were determined for social ranks within cage groups. Feed usage was determined for management programs only. Social rank effects for feeding frequencies were observed (P less than or equal to .05) with reduced feedings for the lowest rank in Programs 1 and 3. Egg production was significantly (P less than or equal to .05) reduced for the lowest social rank with the feed restriction program. No differences for body weights, weight gains, egg size, and shell breaking strength were observed among social ranks. Management program significantly (P less than or equal to .05) affected aggressive activity, body weights and feed usage. Birds in shallow cages with full feeding recorded the fewest number of total aggressive acts, whereas birds in shallow cages with feed restriction recorded the most total aggressive acts. Birds in shallow cages with full feeding had larger body weights, weight gains, and used more feed.
D000374:Aggression; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002645:Chickens / Q000502:physiology*; D004032:Diet; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006608:Hierarchy, Social; D006799:Housing, Animal; D006801:Humans; D010058:Oviposition; D012930:Social Dominance