Ir. E.A.M. Bokkers : Behavioural motivations and abilities in broilers - Wageningen UR


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5 Mar 2004 13:30

Unit: Wageningen University

Location: Aula (gebouw 362), Gen. Foulkesweg 1, Wageningen

Promotor: prof.dr.ir. B. Kemp (Adaptation Physiology)

Co Promotor: dr. P. Koene

Broilers are kept commercially for poultry meat production. The aim of this thesis was to gain more insight into the influence of motivation and ability on behavioural activity in broilers. The distinction between motivation and ability is relevant for the interpretation of the pronounced decrease in behavioural activity during their six weeks of life in terms of welfare. Broilers were observed in their homepen and in special tests where they had to work for food. Broilers showed all normal juvenile chicken behaviours. However, as the birds grew older the time spent on different behaviours changed as compared to reference birds. Moreover, many behavioural patterns were shown in a sitting instead of a standing posture. Performance in the tests depended on motivational state and physical ability of the birds. The main conclusion was that broilers are restricted to display behaviours for which they are motivated imposed by their high motivation to eat, which is associated with their fast growth and high body weight at young age, and by environmental conditions in which they are usually kept.

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