New welfare outcome assessment introduced for laying hens

The RSPCA has been developing and using welfare outcome assessment on farm for some farm animal species, including laying hens, for several years. The food and farming industries are recognising the potential for welfare outcome assessment because it allows a greater focus on livestock and a more objective, accurate and direct picture of their welfare. Freedom Food is helping lead the industry in introducing welfare outcome assessments for laying hens as part of all Freedom Food assessments and RSPCA monitoring visits.

There are five outcome measures for the assessment of laying hens:

• Feather cover: assessors visually assess feather cover on a sample of 50 birds, looking at the back/rump and head/neck areas. Feather loss in these areas can help identify issues with injurious feather pecking or aggression in the flock.
• Aggressive behaviour: assessors look and listen out for aggressive behaviour such as fighting, severe pecking or chasing of other birds, usually coupled with vocalisations. High levels of aggression can increase stress in the flock and lead to wounds, injurious pecking and cannibalism.
• Beak trimming: assessors record if and when hens have been beak trimmed and note any birds seen that have severely trimmed beaks (more than 1/3 beak removed).
• Bird cleanliness: assessors visually assess a sample of 50 birds. Birds will make every effort to keep themselves clean, so dirt on feathers can be an indication of poor litter or range quality or highlight problems in the design of the perching or nesting areas.
• Management of sick or injured birds: assessors note any birds that would benefit from removal from the main flock into a hospital pen or should be culled. Early recognition and good management of sick or injured birds is key to good welfare and avoiding potential cannibalism.

In total, carrying out this welfare outcome assessment within your normal visits should take no more than 10-15 minutes. As well as giving you feedback on your results, we are looking into ways we can provide you with benchmarking, so your results can be compared with those from of other farms. Members are also encouraged to use the welfare outcomes assessment to monitor the welfare on their farm regularly themselves.

The RSPCA is providing free advice and support to members on how improvements can be made in the measures assessed (above). For more information contact Freedom Food on 0300 123 0014.

We are also keen to work with others, for example through existing industry networks, producer groups, fieldsmen, discussion groups, workshops and events, to help provide advice and support to improve performance on these welfare outcomes, as part of the AssureWel project which has been co-ordinating this welfare outcomes work. For more information contact the welfare outcomes Animal Welfare Advisor, Kate Still on 0117 3145174 or kstill@assurewel.org.

Welfare outcomes give us that extra focus on the birds. It's about looking at individuals and the detail of how the birds are doing. Members appreciate it because that's what matters to them. They're keen to hear anything we can find to help them improve their birds, so the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

Heather Rose, Freedom Food Assessor