European Commission logo
français français
CORDIS - Résultats de la recherche de l’UE
CORDIS

Variations in stress responsivity in hens: matching birds to environments

Description du projet

Étudier les facteurs responsables du stress chez les poules

Le bien-être des oiseaux dans l’industrie avicole est d’une importance vitale, car il affecte la qualité des œufs, la productivité et la santé des poules. De plus, les consommateurs veulent acheter des œufs provenant de poules élevées dans des conditions de bien-être élevées. Toutefois, selon les experts, les poules pondeuses élevées en batterie pourraient être exposées à un stress chronique, en raison de conditions de stabulation induisant des résultats indésirables, comme des dommages plus importants au bréchet et au picage des plumes. Le projet CHICKENSTRESS, financé par l’UE, vise à étudier les facteurs responsables du stress des poules et ce qui les rend résistantes au stress. Le projet créera un réseau international d’experts dans les domaines de la recherche sur le cerveau aviaire, de la génétique, du bien-être des poules pondeuses et de l’industrie avicole. Il formera des chercheurs possédant des connaissances avancées en élevage de poules, en facteurs environnementaux liés à la production d’œufs et en bien-être des poules.

Objectif

Because of the high demand for eggs, large numbers of hens are farmed in modern egg production. Because of the intensity of this form of farming, the public has justifiably been concerned about the welfare of these birds. Higher welfare also leads to higher quality eggs, higher productivity, and lower incidence of disease and therefore lower need for antibiotics.
We aim to reduce the chronic stress experienced by hens. To this end, we will investigate the neurobiological, genetic and developmental factors that lead to higher stress resilience, and the environmental (housing) factors that lead to chronic stress. Europe has led the world in hen welfare with the complete ban of battery cages (European Union Council Directive 1999/74/EC). However, the replacement housing systems have their own potential welfare challenges. Our goal is to identify these challenges and develop improvements for implementation by industry.
We will train a new generation of innovative and entrepreneurial early-stage researchers, able to face different challenges related to poultry farming and to apply scientific knowledge and ideas to products and services for economic and social benefit. To do this, we will constitute an international network of groups with expertise in avian brain research, genetics, welfare and egg farming. The training will be complemented by secondments in different laboratories of the network, workshops, and industrial secondments in the poultry industry.
The new generation of professionals will apply this knowledge and experience to improve poultry housing systems, welfare, and product quality, which will grow the sector's resilience in addressing growing societal demands for higher animal welfare and healthier diets. Moreover, they will contribute to strengthen Europe's human capital in R&I, increase Europe's attractiveness as a leading research destination, improve Europe's competitiveness and growth, and engage in an improved knowledge-based economy and society.

Coordinateur

UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
Contribution nette de l'UE
€ 303 172,56
Adresse
KINGS GATE
NE1 7RU Newcastle Upon Tyne
Royaume-Uni

Voir sur la carte

Région
North East (England) Northumberland and Tyne and Wear Tyneside
Type d’activité
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Liens
Coût total
€ 303 172,56

Participants (11)

Partenaires (8)