Risk factors for poor health and performance in European broiler production systems.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Conventional broilers are currently one of the most efficient protein converters. Although decades of progress in genetic selection and feed formulation have lead to high standards of efficient broiler production, still a lot of variability is found between farms and between successive flocks. The aim of this study was to investigate risk- and/or protective factors for poor health and performance in conventional broiler-farms in Europe by developing eight multivariable linear mixed models. Three different models were used to investigate mortality (overall, first week, after first week), three models for performance variables (growth, feed conversion, European production index) and two models were related to slaughterhouse data (i.e. dead on arrival and condemnation rate)

SUBMITTER: Van Limbergen T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7425143 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature