The aim of the project is to develop a nutritional concept to reduce the incidence of feather pecking and cannibalism of layers. First of all we need to know more about the mode of action of nutrional factors on behaviour and physical and neuroendocrine parameters. Secondly we hope to find a feeding strategy, which will result in a good balance between feather pecking and performance. And finally we want to validate the new feeding strategy under applied conditions.
[Results:]
From literature we can conclude that nutrional factors can help to reduce the incidence of feather pecking. Perspective full factors seem to be
1) the energy content of the diet,
2) the NSP-content of the diet,
3) the feed form and 4) the supply of roughage. |
