Hegelund, L.; Sørensen, J.T.; Kjær, J. and Kristensen, I.S. (2005) Use of the range area in commercial egg production systems: effect of climatic factors, flock size, age and artificial cover. British Poultry Science, February 2005, 46 (1), pp. 1-8.
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Summary
To evaluate the effect of climate, flock size, age and artificial cover on the use of range area, a study was conducted in 1994 to 1998, involving 5 farms with a total of 37 flocks of layers kept in commercial, free-range, organic systems. Flocks were visited regularly during the production period to record the number and distribution of hens on the range. 2. On average 9% of the flock used the range area, but with large variations both within and between flocks, and this was partly influenced by climatic factors. Range use was affected by temperature, wind, precipitation, season and age, and there was a tendency for reduced numbers of hens on the range with the time of day and increasing flock size. 3. Eight flocks (including houses and range areas) were divided into 8 paired units, and the range area of one unit in each of the flocks was provided with artificial cover. There were more hens on the range when artificial cover was present and the presence of cover attracted more hens away from the area immediately outside the hen house.
EPrint Type: | Newspaper or magazine article |
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Keywords: | Range area, organic egg production systems, climatic factors, flock size, age and artificial cover |
Subjects: | "Organics" in general |
Research affiliation: | Denmark > AU - Aarhus University > AU, DJF - Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Denmark > SOAR - Research School for Organic Agriculture and Food Systems |
Deposited By: | Kaspersen, Marion Evy Dyhrberg |
ID Code: | 5722 |
Deposited On: | 02 Oct 2005 |
Last Modified: | 12 Apr 2010 07:31 |
Document Language: | English |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Peer-reviewed and accepted |
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