Happy wings: Multifunctional elevated platforms to improve litter quality and broiler chickens welfare in commercial farm

Environmental enrichment using elevated platforms is one of the emerging approaches to improve the welfare of broiler chickens. Following promising results of these platforms with integrated additional functionalities i.e. cooling system, manure collection trays and sheltered area on litter quality and related welfare indicators in experimental settings, this study aimed to test these platforms in a commercial pilot farm. The objectives were a) to investigate the effects of the multifunctional platforms on litter quality, associated welfare indicators and performance, and b) to test whether a cheaper cooling system material (plastic instead of steel) affected the use of the platform. A commercial barn was divided into 4 compartments using chicken wire. A total of 10.000 one-day-old mixed chicks (Ross 308) were randomly allocated to these 4 compartments and reared for 36 days. Two compartments were enriched with six platforms each (three with steel cooling system and three with plastic cooling system) and two compartments served as control. 241 randomly selected birds from each compartment were weighed at d1 and d30. The number of broilers on the platforms was recorded daily. Litter quality was scored weekly and manure collected on the trays under the platforms was weighed and removed weekly or more frequently if needed. At d32, the dry matter content, the pH and electrical conductivity of the litter were evaluated. At d36, 40 birds per compartment were scored for plumage cleanliness, footpad dermatitis and hock burns. The platforms’ occupation and the manure collected under the platforms increased with age (p<0.001), but both did not indicate a preference between plastic and metal cooling systems (p=0.265, p=0.603 respectively). The platforms did not significantly affect performance parameters (weight, average daily gain and mortality rate), nor any of the litter characteristics apart from the subjective litter quality scores (at starter phase p=0.023, at grower and finisher phases p<0.001). Broilers from the enriched compartments, showed less footpad dermatitis (p<0.001), fewer hock burns (p<0.001) and cleaner feathers (p<0.001). In conclusion, this pilot study revealed that the enrichment of a commercial farm with elevated multifunctional platforms improved the litter quality and associated welfare indicators without compromising the performance of the broilers.