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Dustbathing in food particles does not remove feather lipids.

B Scholz1, J B Kjaer2, S Petow2

  • 1Institute of Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Doernbergstrasse 25/27, 29223 Celle, Germany britta.scholz@fli.bund.de.

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|June 5, 2014
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Summary

Food particles used as litter for laying hens increase feather lipid concentration (FLC), negatively impacting plumage health. Lignocellulose is a more suitable alternative for dustbathing material in poultry farming.

Keywords:
dustbathingfeather lipid concentrationfood particlelaying henwelfare

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Area of Science:

  • Animal Science
  • Poultry Husbandry
  • Animal Welfare

Background:

  • European Union regulations mandate dustbathing material for caged laying hens since 2012.
  • Producers commonly use food particles as litter, despite potential unsuitability due to fat content.
  • Dustbathing's primary function is to remove lipids from poultry plumage.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the effect of food particles versus lignocellulose on feather lipid concentration (FLC) in laying hens.
  • To evaluate the suitability of different litter substrates for dustbathing behavior and plumage maintenance.

Main Methods:

  • Two identical trials involving 84 laying hens of two genotypes per trial.
  • Hens housed in compartments with grid floors and dustbathing trays containing either food particles (F) or lignocellulose (L).
  • Feather samples collected at various time points, including before and after dustbathing access, and compared to controls.

Main Results:

  • Dustbathing in food particles (F) significantly increased feather lipid concentration (FLC) compared to lignocellulose (L) and controls (P < 0.001).
  • Lignocellulose (L) did not significantly differ from control groups in FLC (P = 0.103).
  • FLC increased immediately after dustbathing in food particles, whereas it decreased after dustbathing in lignocellulose.

Conclusions:

  • Food particles are unsuitable as litter material for laying hens due to their tendency to cause lipid accumulation on plumage.
  • Lignocellulose presents a more appropriate substrate for dustbathing, supporting natural feather maintenance.
  • Findings highlight the importance of substrate choice for maintaining poultry feather quality and health.