Laser Enrichment Device Stimulates Broiler Laser-Following Behavior While Increasing Individual Bird Locomotion and Pen-Wide Movement

Genetic selection for fast growth rate and high breast muscle yield in modern broilers has unintended effects on animal welfare behavior, namely terms of inactivity leg disorders. We hypothesized that exercise stimulated through environmental enrichment could positively stimulate pen-wide activity improve bird welfare. The study objectives were to implement a laser device motivate active feeding behaviors throughout the pen. Twelve hundred Ross 708 randomly assigned (LASER; enrichment, or CON; no enrichment) 49 d. Seventy focal birds 14 video-recorded pens behavioral analysis, including home pen behavior walking distance. Pen-wide was also measured during 4-min periods, four times daily, d0–8, 1 day weekly, wk 1–6. Focal gait scored 1–6, euthanized d42 tibia bone mineral content, density, breaking strength analysis. Time spent increased LASER-enriched compared CON 3–5 by up 214% (wk 4), percent time at feeder 761% 4 ( P < 0.05). Peak following (LASER-enriched only) observed d0 (8.52%). Over peak laser-following 3 (3.07% birds). Percent moving periods d0, 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, with increase 68.7% d1 (laser-following not) 3, pens, an 69.7% No differences found measures. These data indicate voluntary locomotion 5 relatively small actively movement above level study.