title: [Comparative studies of commercial breeding methods for game pheasants (Phasianus colchicus spec.) with regard to the animal welfare aspects of extensive and intensive husbandry].
abstract: The study presents the effects that different rearing methods of commercial pheasantries have on pheasants. The techniques applied by 17 commercial pheasantries in Northern Germany are specified. These techniques were exemplarily simulated on pheasants reared under defined conditions in special aviaries. The results illustrate the impact of the different rearing methods on the condition and constitution on the birds seen from the point of view of animal welfare. Only about 35% (20,400) of all pheasants reared (85,000) in commercial pheasantries were kept under conditions which allowed a physical and behavioural development that nearly complied with the stipulation of the animal protection laws. In approximately 65% of all the pheasants were not enabled to adapt themselves to the food or climate of the habitat they would have to live in after their release. The study proves that most of the currently applied rearing techniques as well as the methods for preventing feather picking are not compatible with the law on the protection of animals.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Wildtierforschung, Tierärztlichen Hochschule Hannover.
authors.forename: V U
authors.initials: VU
authors.lastname: Fehlberg
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sodeikat
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schulze
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pohlmeyer
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000827:Animal Welfare / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001717:Birds / Q000502:physiology*; D005858:Germany
vernacular_title: Vergleichende Untersuchungen kommerzieller Aufzuchtmethoden von Jagdfasanen (Phasianus colchicus spec.) unter Berücksichtigung tierschutzrelevanter Aspekte der Extensiv- und Intensivhaltung.