Effects of free-range housing system and slow-growing genotype on gowth performance, animal welfare and behaviour, foot health and production economics in broiler meat production.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of free range housing system and slow growing broiler on growth performance, animal welfare and behaviour, foot health and production economics. In the study, slow growing and fast growing broilers with slatted floor and deep litter were used, so there were four main groups (2x2) and each main group was consisted of 5 replicates. Each replicates was consisted of 10 male chicks so 200 birds were used in total. The experimet was lasted for 8 weeks. In the study, live weight gain, feed consumption and death birds were recorded throughout the experiment. Foot pad and hock joint dermatitis, feather cover and dirtiness of breast and abdomen, gait condition and haemorrhage on carcass breast, pygostyle, shoulder and wing were scored to collect welfare data. Some natural behaviour such as feding, drinking and tonic immobility were measured to detect behavioural differences in the groups. Data about animal welfare and behaviour was collected at the last week of the experiment. In the study, 10 chick from each group were slaughtered and sent to laboratory for histopathological exemination and meat quality. Variable costs of each group and its percentages within total costs were calculated, gross profit and profitability were calculated in order to analyse economic performance. As expected, body weight and FCR of fast growing broiler was found to be better than slower growings (P<0.001, P<0.006) and the effect of housing system on live body weight and FCR was found to be significant (P<0.009, P<0.01). In general, welfare parameters were significantly found to be poorer in fast growing broilers. There were no significant differences for all welfare parameters investigated between two housing systems. There were significant differences for the feeding, drinking, mobility, standing and straching behaviour of the fast and slow growing broilers (P<0.001, P<0.001, P<0.001, P<0.001, P<0.006). The housing system had a significant effect on drinking, resting and feather care behaviour of the birds (P<0.003, P<0.046, P<0.001). According to histopathological findings, artrtis rate, foot pad and hock joint dermatitis were found to be frequent in fast growing broiler raised in free range housing group. Slow growing birds were found to be better in terms of economic performance. As a result of this study, eventhough fast growing broilers had a better production performance, slower growing broilers had a better economic performance depending on high sales price. The production and economical performance of both genotypes were found better in free range housing system.