title: Floor space covered by broiler chickens kept at stocking densities according to Council Directive 2007/43/EC.
abstract: It is controversially discussed whether the stocking densities set by the EU Directive 2007/43/EC allow a species-appropriate housing of broiler chickens. To calculate the exact area broilers occupy due to their physical size and shape, planimetric measurements using a colour-contrast method were carried out. In total, 1949 photographs of standing and 1482 of squatting chickens, taken from a top view, were analysed. A computer program counted the pixels representing the previously weighed animal in the photograph and calculated the animal area. The average area covered by chickens with 400 g live weight was 116.64±13.12 cm(2) in a standing and 138.61±12.92 cm(2) in a squatting position. These areas increased linearly as a function of live weight to 452.57±58.89 cm(2) (R(2)=0.90 standing) and 513.54±42.70 cm(2) (R(2)=0.82 squatting) at the end of the study (3200 g live weight). Squatting chickens occupied more space compared with a standing position in most of the tested weight classes (P<0.05). Depending on target weights, stocking densities and body positions, broilers occupied 48.5-77.7 per cent of 1 m(2) Thus, from a physical point of view, simultaneous resting is possible at any stocking density provided by the EU Directive and at common target weights.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare and Farm Animal Behaviour, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Giersberg
authors.affiliation: Institute for Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare and Farm Animal Behaviour, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hartung
authors.affiliation: Institute for Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare and Farm Animal Behaviour, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kemper
authors.affiliation: Institute for Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare and Farm Animal Behaviour, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Spindler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002645:Chickens; D005062:European Union; D005430:Floors and Floorcoverings / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006799:Housing, Animal / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011187:Posture
keywords: Law relating to animals; Poultry; Welfare