One of the preliminary findings to come out of a study into the welfare of hens at depopulation is that catchers have a strong preference for working in free range and barn houses.
This, it would appear, is for their welfare and the welfare of the birds. The findings were revealed at a meeting hosted by Scottish Agricultural College who are leading the Defra-funded work. The study is examining several aspects of the depopulation process including the human aspects, the system of getting birds from laying house to processor and the effect on the birds of being caught and moved.
The human study is being carried out in conjunction with the Silsoe Research Institute, who have interviewed catchers from four companies. But while they may favour working with non-caged birds they are often frustrated by farmers’ failure to remove equipment such as floor feeders which hinder movement around the house.
Other factors reported as hindering the catching process included aerial perching and wet litter conditions in the pen area. Surprisingly, many free range farmers also failed to supply any suitable catching frames, or if they did, they were often in poor repair. Narrow doors and long walks are seen as a major hindrance to catchers, as is the lack of level hard-standing on some farms, particularly as modules become the norm. On a domestic note, the lack of toilets was mentioned by many catchers as unhelpful.
The second aspect of the study involves looking at the physical process of moving the birds, together with assessment of the effects on the birds. This has involved the gathering of data about the laying house, system of production, breed, lighting etc and the observation of the depopulation process.
For each of the depopulations observed (of which eight were from free range units) 150 birds were culled and taken for further analysis, and blood samples also taken.
Culled birds have been examined for evidence of both old and new bone fractures and this data will be correlated with factors unrelated to the catching process—such as the system of production, design of housing and breed—together with more directly related factors like the preparation of the house prior to depopulation and the method of driving, gathering and carrying the birds.
Early evidence suggests significantly better bone strength among birds that have spent their lives in free range and barn systems, as might be expected from the higher levels of physical activity and the delayed onset of lay. However, the less welcome news is that this active life among the physical hazards of a free range or barn house, and the potential for damage during the catching process, is resulting in significant levels of both old and new bone fractures.
Some free range producers will probably recall that work on bone strength done in the late 80s and 90s also found significant levels of damage in all systems of production. Hopefully, this wider-ranging study will eventually provide both an update on the previous work, together with further pointers towards ways in which both stress and injury to both birds (and catchers!) can be minimised.
