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Behavioral differences between two broiler hybrids

Last changed: 30 March 2020

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.

29-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.

Link to the publication

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09064702.2017.1303081

Reference

A. Wallenbeck, S. Wilhelmsson, L. Jönsson, S. Gunnarsson & J. Yngvesson. (2017). 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. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A - Animal Science, DOI: 10.1080/09064702.2017.1303081

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