Science-based criteria could improve poultry welfare

The Center for Food Animal Well-Being, a part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, focuses on providing applied research results to producers and consumers to help improve the health and welfare of poultry and livestock.

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David Tadevosian I shutterstock.com
David Tadevosian I shutterstock.com

The Center for Food Animal Well-Being, a part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, focuses on providing applied research results to producers and consumers to help improve the health and welfare of poultry and livestock.

“Animals are under our domain and it is our responsibility to take care of them,” explained Shawna Weimer, Ph.D., who was recently named director for the Center. “A big part of the Center will be providing evidence and science-based recommendations that will hopefully be incorporated into animal welfare standards.”

The value of science-based poultry welfare criteria

It can be difficult to accurately assess the welfare of poultry and other livestock. Most farm animals are prey animals, which means that they have evolved to instinctively hide pain.

Science-based criteria – through the study of enrichment, growth rate, behaviors and more – could help create objective ways that producers can use to measure and assess poultry welfare.

“The Center for Food Animal Well-Being will be a source of information,” concluded Weimer.

“Also, we’re a resource to help. There’s a big research component to the center. Applied research is what yields real, usable, practical results for the poultry industry.”

Focused on poultry welfare with commercial applications

Research at the Center for Food Animal Well-Being will work to develop science-based criteria and research-based data for a variety of commercial applications across the poultry industry. 

Previous projects include challenging broilers with Salmonella typhimurium, the effects of environmental enrichments on leg health and behavior and the impact on industrial circulation fans on welfare and footpad dermatitis.

Ultimately, the Center will focus on developing approaches to improve animal health, handling and productivity through husbandry practices. The research will primarily be conducted on poultry.

“It really depends on what the industry needs help with,” Weimer said. “The research funded through the Center will always be focused on being helpful to the industry.”

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